Courtney McGrailDear Editor, Am I alone in feeling irritated by the habit of some within the Church to use terms like ‘special Mass’ to try and add emphasis to a particular celebration of the Eucharist? One can, perhaps, forgive the error if it is used by journalists in secular newspapers, but it’s very disappointing to see…
Month: January 2015
Pro-family means supporting parents
Mary KennyWhat is informally called the Pope’s ‘rabbit’ speech – when he remarked that families don’t have to “breed like rabbits” – scarcely needed underlining in most European countries today. Far from “breeding like rabbits”, the European fertility rate is catastrophically low. And even in Ireland, where fertility has traditionally been high – and even valued…
Focolare founder on path to sainthood
A leading member of Focolare in Ireland has welcomed the start of the cause of beatification and canonisation of Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement, an international organisation that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. “It brings great joy to many that Chiara is to be put forward for beatification…
Education cutbacks are ‘thinly disguised’ Catholic intolerance
Cathal BarryCollege could be forced to close
Passing the Faith to the next generation
Shane McGauley and Michael Achums from St Joseph's National School, Dundalk, Co. Louth try on Archbishop Eamon Martin's mitre and zucchetto at the Mass to launch Catholic Schools Week in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh. Photo: Liam McArdle
Increasingly difficult to have a calm debate
Michael KellySame-sex marriage referendum is likely to be one of the most divisive political campaigns Ireland has seen, writes Michael Kelly
Gov is accused of excluding people clinging to the margins
Mags GarganA cleric at the forefront of social justice campaigning has accused the Government of further excluding people who are already clinging to the margins of society in a new review of State policy. A review of Government policies released by Social Justice Ireland this week, which analyses how Ireland is performing on reaching its national…
Government prejudged marriage referendum, says bishop
Greg DalyGovernment TDs should be asked to account for the coalition’s “arrogance” in seeking to speak for citizens in a way that is contrary to the Constitution, Bishop Kevin Doran has said. The Bishop of Elphin, who stressed that he is expressing a personal view as a citizen, also accused the Government of trying to presume…
Primate’s ‘holy gust’ moment receives press award
A photograph from the installation of Bishop Donal McKeown as the new Bishop of Derry last year, won a prestigious award at the annual Press Photographers Association of Ireland’s competition. The photograph by Margaret McLaughlin of The Irish News, titled ‘The Holy Gust’, captures the moment when a gust of wind caught the robes of…
Bishops’ pastoral leaflet distributed in the North
Church leaders have started to distribute a pastoral letter on marriage to parishes in the North, after doubts were raised about the Church’s commitment to promoting marriage when it was revealed that only a small quantity of the leaflets had been printed. Earlier this month, The Irish Catholic established that only 170,000 copies of The…