Courtney McGrailDear Editor, Recently, the debate concerning married clergy and ordained women resurfaced. It is argued that we should discuss both as a potential means of resolving our priest shortage problem. Firstly, there continues to be a shortage of pastors in Christian denominations that permit both, suggesting that this route is not the answer. Secondly, as…
Month: July 2015
Ban on political church gate collections
Dear Editor, During the summer each year there are church gate collections throughout the country for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There was a time when both of these parties had much in common with Church teaching, but that day is long since gone. I am not aware of any other country where political parties…
A week of lessons
Greg DalyPope Francis’ South American homecoming overflowed with memorable ideas and images, writes Greg Daly
South Sudan – a forgotten war
Paul KeenanThe Church is trying to broker a new peace, writes Paul Keenan
Former nuncio’s trial suspended
A Vatican trial billed as a pivotal moment in Pope Francis’ papacy has been postponed after the defendant, the former papal nuncio to the Dominican Republic, was hospitalised. 66-year-old Jozef Wesolowski had been recalled from the Dominican Republic in 2013 against a background of rumoured abuse of teenage shoeshine boys, just weeks after Pope Francis…
Pharmacist’s conscience rights recognised by court
A €3,000 fine on a pharmacist who refused to sell the morning-after pill has been ruled an infringement of his right to conscientious objection, Spain's Constitutional Court has ruled. The court cited freedoms of religion and conscience protected by article 16 of the Spanish constitution in ruling that the Seville pharmacist, fined by the city…
Leading Evangelical praises Catholic evangelism
A leading evangelical Anglican says that Pope Francis’ 2014 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium is central his current thinking, and that if every English Christian put the document into practice both Church and nation would be transformed. Rev. Nicky Gumbel, vicar at Holy Trinity Brompton and developer of the globally influential Alpha Course, told a gathering…
Local post offices are vital to community life
Mary Kenny“the economics of the market are not the be-all and the end-all”, writes Mary Kenny
Mallow parish youth ministry camp
Mags GarganThe new St Aloysius Summer Faith Camp, for boys and girls (5-12 years), was an action packed week for the 30 children and 22 leaders and junior leaders from Mallow Parish Youth Ministry-CDYS, Jesus Youth Movement and Pope John Paul II Award participants. Each day the young people started off with Morning Prayer followed by drama, sports,…
Assembly of De La Salle Brothers
De La Salle Brothers from different parts of Ireland came together in Castletown, Portlaoise recently, after a six day retreat given by Fr Charles Cross, CP. They were, in effect, saying goodbye to their Irish Province, which was established in 1947, and joining with brothers from Great Britain and Malta in a new combined ministry…