Amidst concern among human rights groups for the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines, an Irish priest has been kidnapped by a gang of armed men there.

In the face of growing pressure for inclusive schooling in Ireland and outrage over the latest child abuse scandals involving Catholic orders, bishops in Ireland are defiantly seeking to maintain their grip on schooling in the country.

Local churches have been backing five Irish traveller families living on an unofficial site in Wickford, Essex, who now face eviction because the land they bought is within a green zone area. They have lodged an appeal.

The rejection by Irish voters of a treaty to reform the European Union has exposed serious deficiencies in the workings of the 27-nation body, says the head of a grouping of European Protestant churches.

Levels of religious knowledge throughout Ireland are decreasing significantly, and in Northern Ireland are even lower than in the Republic according to a new poll, believed to be the first ever conducted on the subject in Northern Ireland

Amid growing concern about depression and suicide in Britain and Ireland, especially among the young, The Salvation Army has announced that it will be holding a two-day International Conference on Suicide Prevention next month.

Irish Catholic Bishops have joined worldwide human rights oranisations in calling on the President of Zimbabwe - who was educated as a Catholic - to change direction and respect the will of the people for change.

The Catholic archbishop of Dublin and the Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday by calling for the release of the kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

The Irish and the South Africans have experiences of violence, reconciliation, forgiveness and the healing of memories which they can learn from together, an ecumenical seminar in Dublin has heard.

The first bilateral meeting between representatives of the Catholic Church and the Irish Government took place yesterday as part of the new structured dialogue between the Government and the Churches.