Dear Editor, The forthcoming Synod on the Family called by Pope Francis, which is mandated to come to terms with the challenges facing contemporary families, is dominated by bishops and cardinals with a few lay people included as observers.  However, Ireland’s representation at this important gathering consists of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and an ‘observer’ sister of the…

Dear Editor, We should never give up hope on religion or vocations. The Church always had its high and low phases and survived to tell the Christian tale. We are aware of the weakness that pertains in the Irish Church over the past two decades and the more obvious reasons for this. I recently spoke…

Dear Editor, A lot of the reaction to the resignation of Bishop Kieran Conry in Britain has tended towards the conclusion that he ought to be looked at sympathetically because of the burdensome vow of celibacy. Bishop Conry has admitted that he was unfaithful to his vow of celibacy. It’s hard not to be sympathetic…

Dear Editor, I refer to an article in The Irish Catholic of September 11, regarding the Mrs Jackie Kennedy letters (Mary Kenny, ‘Jackie Kennedy’s letters: they also belong to future history’). The article refers to the Vincentian Fathers as “planning to sell Jackie Kennedy letters”.  I wish to state that the Vincentians Fathers were never…

Dear Editor, Is it believable that the St Vincent de Paul donor funds to support a gay centre is directing scarce resources to the most needy and deserving cases? For a Catholic charity to support an organisation that is promoting gay marriage, which the Church is opposing, is unacceptable. The only answers to restore the…