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[Catholic Caucus] Post-Catholic Ireland: One (!) seminarian in Dublin archdioceseOnly one person is studying to become a Catholic priest in Dublin, reports TheTimes.com (August 4).Father Séamus McEntee, vocations director for the Dublin archdiocese, said the low number of applicants to the priesthood was indicative of a wider crisis of faith.The Archdiocese of Dublin has more than one million Catholics (out of a total population of 1.6 million). Ireland was once one of the most Catholic countries in the world.

Irish officials has promised a state investigation into the 'arrogant' actions of Anglo Irish Bank, in which executives allegedly covered up their losses in order to secure large bail-outs from the government in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The Irish public must learn the full truth of how Anglo Irish Bank deceived government officials and nearly led Ireland to bankruptcy, Prime Minister Kenny told lawmakers Tuesday. "Believe you me, I understand the rage and the anger of so many people who have been affected by all of this," said Kenny. The Prime Minister’s terse words follow a scandal that broke out...