Dear Editor, I am writing to respond to the letter from Jarlath Vaughan (‘It is wrong to silence Fr Flannery’ IC 10/10/13). Firstly, I’ll say that I have followed the story of Fr Flannery quite closely since it began to unfold. At this stage, talk of Fr Flannery as a victim of the “evil Vatican”…
Month: October 2013
Attack on Pope Francis was disappointing
Dear Editor, I was shocked and disappointed on reading Dr John Murray’s letter (IC 3/10/13); shocked at the denigratory tone he adopted towards Pope Francis, and disappointed that a person in his position in the Mater Dei Institute of Education is forming opinions of Pope Francis through such a narrow lens of “his now-famous” interview,…
The academy and the pew – a strained relationship
There has always been an innate and healthy tension between theology and catechesis, between what’s happening in theology departments in universities and the church pew. Theologians and bishops are often not each other’s favourite people. And that’s understandable. Why? Theology and catechesis have different purposes, even as both are valid and both are needed. Catechesis,…
Adrift on a sea of terror
Aubrey Malone enjoys a tense sea-bound thriller
Looking on the lighter side
Brendan O’Regan looks at comedy offerings of the week
Chronicles of an English town
Pam Rhodes will be familiar to many as the presenter for many years of Songs of Praise. One of the most genuinely popular religious programmes on television. But she is also the author of some five novels. This book however is the first in a new series, relating the chronicles of a small English town.…
A Pope’s reflections
In these three books the Pontiff Emeritus continues to provide insights for the faithful, through a series of reflections. The most interesting of the three is perhaps learning to believe in which Benedict calls on all the faithful, especially those going through difficult moments in their life or belief, to continue their journal, with what…
Things we need to cherish
Channels of Prayer by Innocent Chibueze Ezeonyeasi (St Paul’s Publishing, €11.50/£9.99)
Sky high ambitions
Tony Ryan: Ireland’s Aviator, by Richard Aldous (Gill & Macmillan, €24.99/£21.99)
Seeking the ‘Church of the poor’ in Brazil
Cathal Barry visits missionary projects in Sao Paulo

Brendan O’Regan
Peter Costello
Cathal Barry