Northern Ireland

The Latest

Nationalists attack police on April 8, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Christian leaders in N. Ireland call for ‘unified’ negotiations, peaceful solutions

Apr 13, 2021

The Catholic archbishop of Northern Ireland on Tuesday joined with other Christian leaders in calling for a “unified” response to... Read more

Irish High Cross at the Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Credit: Marie-Lise Van Wassenhove via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

Religious leaders in N Ireland hopeful for more in-person services 

Apr 7, 2021

With public religious services resuming in Northern Ireland, leaders have welcomed the return to worship and emphasized the dangers of... Read more

Irish diocese delays First Communions until autumn over Covid concerns

Mar 25, 2021

The Diocese of Derry has announced that First Communions, customarily held in spring, will be postponed so as to discourage... Read more

Baby Feet. Credit: Morgan via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

Catholic bishops condemn plan to impose ‘extreme’ abortion services on N Ireland

Mar 22, 2021

Catholic bishops have strongly criticized plans to impose “extreme and discriminatory” abortion services on Northern Ireland. Read more

London.

UK government may push to legislate again on abortion in N Ireland

Mar 20, 2021

The British government may push to legislate further on the provision of abortion in Northern Ireland, as it holds that... Read more

On St Patrick's Day, Ireland's religious leaders stress progress and continued engagement

Mar 17, 2021

Christianity can shed light on the path forward for the peace process in Ireland, religious and political coexistence, and understanding... Read more

Parliament Buildings in Belfast, seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Bill restricting abortion for disability reasons passes first vote in Northern Ireland Assembly

Mar 17, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted in favor of a bill which would restrict abortions on the basis of non-fatal... Read more

Parliament buildings, Stormont, Belfast   Credit: Stephen Barnes/Shutterstock

Discrimination abortion restrictions proposed in Northern Ireland

Feb 16, 2021

Lawmakers in Northern Ireland are seeking to ban abortions in cases of non-lethal fetal abnormality.   Read more

The human cost of N Ireland’s abortion regulations: over 700 unborn lives

Nov 3, 2020

Seven months after Northern Ireland’s expansive legal abortion law took effect, pro-life advocates have lamented the lives lost and called... Read more

 St. Brigid’s, Glassdrummond, one of the three churches of the Parish of Upper Creggan.

‘It’s quite sad at the moment’: coronavirus curbs deprive part of border parish of public Masses

Oct 15, 2020

As the clock struck midnight on Oct. 6, Fr. Dermot Maloney’s parish underwent a dramatic transformation -- though it remained... Read more

Photo

‘It places Christ at the center’: All-Ireland Primate’s rosary crusade against COVID-19

Oct 9, 2020

By Luke Coppen

The Primate of All Ireland has launched a nationwide Family Rosary Crusade, encouraging Catholics to pray the rosary daily in... Read more

NI health department warns of risks of unregulated at-home medical abortion

Sep 25, 2020

Northern Ireland's Department of Health told a Belfast daily on Friday that women who self-administer medical abortions at home are... Read more

A pupil from Holy Cross Girls' School with a soldier from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

‘Somebody has to make a big move’: Catholic priest who walked Belfast gauntlet on reconciliation

Sep 5, 2020

On Sept. 3, 2001, Fr. Aidan Troy set off with a group of children in the Ardoyne district of north... Read more

The House of Parliament in London.

In final vote, UK Parliament approves N Ireland legal abortion rules

Jun 17, 2020

The British Parliament has given final approval to permissive abortion rules in Northern Ireland, in effect since March, despite the... Read more

‘Huge disappointment’ as UK House of Lords backs Northern Ireland abortion regulations

Jun 16, 2020

The House of Lords backed new abortion regulations for Northern Ireland by an overwhelming majority Monday, after the Northern Ireland... Read more

UK government doubles down on N Ireland abortion regulations

Jun 5, 2020

While saying that abortion regulation is a devolved issue, the British Minister of State for Northern Ireland emphasized at Westminster... Read more

Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assembly rejects ‘imposition’ of abortion regulations on Northern Ireland

Jun 3, 2020

The Northern Ireland Assembly voted Tuesday in favor of a motion rejecting the “imposition” of abortion legislation by the Westminster... Read more

Heidi Crowter, right, with other demonstrators. Courtesy, Don't Screen Us Out

Bishops join woman with Down syndrome in call to change N Ireland abortion law

Jun 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Bishops in Northern Ireland have strongly backed a call by a campaigner with Down syndrome to reject a law permitting... Read more

House of Lords committee raises concerns over N Ireland abortion regulations

Apr 29, 2020

A legislation scrutiny committee of the House of Lords last week published a report on the abortion regulations imposed on... Read more

Parliament Buildings in Belfast, seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

N Irish bishops encourage legislators to debate abortion law

Apr 23, 2020

The bishops of Northern Ireland wrote to members of the region's legislature Wednesday urging them to debate the abortion regulations... Read more