Latest Churches stories and videos

A former bishop has been criticised for unsatisfactory responses to child abuse allegations and risky behaviour of priests.

Monsignor Eamon Martin has moved a step closer to becoming Cardinal Sean Brady's successor as Archbishop of Armagh.

Pope Francis has urged the Catholic Church to "act decisively" against clerical child sex abuse.

The family of a senior civil servant who died after falling into the sea at Portstewart harbour have described him as a "man in a million".

A fresh appeal has been made in a bid to bring a sense of closure to the families of the Disappeared, with Cardinal Seán Brady urging anyone with information to come forward.

Pope Francis has sent a personal message to the people of Ireland following his inauguration at the Vatican in Rome.

The centre of the Catholic Church in Derry has never had such an appropriate location, with Saint Eugene's Cathedral situated on the city's Francis Street - which shares its name with the new pope.

The new leader of the Catholic Church, 76-year-old Argentinan Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aires, has addressed jubilant crowds in Rome.

Black smoke appeared from the specially erected chimney at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Tuesday evening, signalling that no new pope has been elected in the first round of the secret conclave vote.

Roman Catholic cardinals have gathered in Rome to begin the process of electing the new Pope - with an outcome expected before the end of the week.

Children have been given peace lanterns to pass among schools in the North West as they prepare for the arrival of the World Peace Flame.

Vatican employees have erected a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in preparation for the conclave of cardinals that will elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

Co Antrim born Cardinal Keith O'Brien has admitted his sexual misconduct had at times "fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal", days after he stepped down.

Pope Benedict XVI has left the Vatican for the final time as leader of the Catholic Church, becoming the first pontiff to step down from the post in nearly 600 years.

A Co Tyrone pensioner, who was forced to enter a Catholic convent after falling pregnant as a young, single woman, has told UTV Live Tonight that she searched for years for the baby son put up for adoption in the 1960s without her permission.

The auxiliary bishop of Armagh, Gerard Clifford, has retired due to ill health.

Northern Ireland-born Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the most senior Catholic churchman in Britain, has stepped down amid allegations he acted inappropriately.

The most senior Catholic churchman in Britain, who is originally from Northern Ireland, has been accused of acting inappropriately.

The inquiry into historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland will initially investigate 35 residential facilities, it has been announced.

The sister of Constable Philippa Reynolds has told mourners at her funeral that she was her hero.

Outspoken singer Sinead O'Connor has branded the shock resignation of Pope Benedict Xvi the pontiff's "greatest achievement", and called on Catholic officials to rebuild the Church following widespread allegations of sex abuse.

Cardinal Seán Brady has paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI following the shock announcement that he is to retire.

A Catholic priest has said he is being threatened with excommunication by the Vatican for not backing down over his liberal views.

The next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church will be Rev Rob Craig, minister of Kilfennan Presbyterian Church, Londonderry.

Survivors of the Magdalene laundries say the Irish Government didn't go far enough after it acknowledged its role in the incarceration of thousands of women between 1922 and 1996.

A priest in Newtownabbey has spoken out about the disruption to his parishioners caused by a weekend bomb alert at St Mary's Star of the Sea on the Shore Road.

A controlled explosion has been carried out on a suspect device found at a Catholic church in Newtownabbey on Saturday.

Victims of clerical abuse have reacted with anger after a former parish priest, who pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a schoolgirl, was given probation and community service.

Thousands of mourners have attended the state funeral of a Garda officer who was shot dead as he confronted armed robbers in Co Louth.

The family of murdered Garda detective Adrian Donohoe are struggling to come to terms with their loss, it has been revealed.

The funeral has taken place of a young medic from Coleraine who was killed in an avalanche in Scotland.

The Catholic Church has named Cardinal Seán Brady's successor as Archbishop of Armagh.

Cardinal Seán Brady has urged people opposed to abortion in Ireland to make their views known "in a reasonable but forthright" manner in his Christmas message.

The Bishop of Dromore, Dr John McAreavey, has spoken to UTV after Ireland's archbishops criticised the government's intention to introduce a combination of legislation and regulations on abortion.

An east Belfast husband and wife are celebrating 70 years of marriage.