Courtney McGrailDear Editor, The article by Ben Conroy ‘There is nothing weird about going to Confession’ (IC 23/04/2015), struck me as being mature, authentic and lovely. He refers to young Catholics drifting away from Confession, but older Catholics have drifted away also partly, I would say, as a reaction against an earlier overemphasis on sin and underemphasis…
Month: May 2015
No need to ban church photography
Dear Editor, The Irish Independent recently carried an over-the-top front page headline ‘Church photos banned amid child abuse fears’. Your very fine editorial (IC 07/05/2015) correctly identifies the unnecessary alienation caused by “bureaucratic overreach”. My own belief is that the ban is in place because of the irreverence and distracting behaviour that accompanies amateur photography…
Moyross youth people jockeying for racing career
Some young people from Moyross parish in Limerick were the guests of the manager of Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin where they spoke to jockeys and horse owners about how to pursue a career in the horse industry. Also pictured is Karen Keehan, youth justice worker; Tiernan O'Neill, principal of Corpus Christi Primary School, Fr Tony…
‘Aspire not to have more but to be more’
Catholics across the globe greeted with joy the news that the heroic martyr, Archbishop Oscar Romero, is to be beatified this weekend. Since his murder in 1980, news of Archbishop Romero’s heroism and holiness has spread around the world. Long before his martyrdom made him a household name, Archbishop Romero had a deep connection with…
If he hadn’t been a martyr, he would still have been a saint
Archbishop Romero’s sanctity was evident to all whom he met, writes Fr Ciaran Ó Nuanain
Another killing in a land where persecution was the norm
Greg DalyArchbishop Romero was far from being El Salvador’s only martyr, writes Greg Daly
Sons of the Church
Greg Daly explores the links between Pope Francis and Archbishop Romero
Joan of Arc achieved much in a short life
Erin FoxThe feast of Joan of Arc is coming up on May 30. Although her feast day is the end of the month, she was actually canonised on May 16 so you can honour her throughout the month of May. Joan of Arc lived a very short life but achieved a great deal during her time.…
Priests are deserving of some sympathy
Dear Editor, A certain amount of sympathy must be extended to some priests of the Irish Catholic Church. Many may have felt that, through deeper and long-term thought, they have lost their vocation, and that the Catholic Church is not for them. A few of these may feel that they are no longer fitted for…
Year of Mercy is an opportunity for revival
Dear Editor, In recent years Ireland has gone through a lot of changes, sadly we seem to be losing our Christian faith to some degree and this may well continue. Pope Francis has called a special holy year dedicated to the Divine Mercy from the end of 2015 to the end of 2016 and there…