Courtney McGrailCriticism of Cardinal George Pell’s record on abuse is “tremendously unfair”, according to his successor in Sydney, Archbishop Anthony Fisher. Pointing out that the cardinal was the first Australian bishop to take real steps to tackle abuse, Dr Fisher speculated that a large part of Cardinal’s Pell’s problem is that for a long time he…
Month: July 2015
Egyptian army backed by Orthodox Church
Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church has expressed sympathy and support for the country’s armed forces after a series of jihadist attacks in north Sinai. In an official statement, the Church said it supported the military’s struggle “against the forces of evil that threaten security in the region and in the world”, and invoked God’s help “to…
We owe a debt to the most vulnerable, says Pope
Mercy and faith have shaped Latin American culture for centuries, Pope Francis said on arriving in Ecuador on the first day of his July 5-12 tour of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, insisting that the Gospel continues to hold the key to our contemporary challenges. Speaking after a 12-hour flight from Rome, the Pontiff took part…
‘God never lets us down’
Mags GarganMags Gargan visits the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Wexford
A potpourri of July movie releases
Aubrey MaloneThe silly season is here and film-makers are doing their best to drag you in from the sun. Here are some of the more high profile releases now showing in your local cinema: Faith of Our Fathers (PG) In 1969 in Vietnam, a man with a great faith went into battle with a religious sceptic…
Like All Ireland multiplied by 60
Killian Barrett explains what makes him continually go to World Youth Day
Top five summer foods
Cathal BarryThe summer is an excellent time to make the most of the abundance of fresh, delicious and healthy food choices available to us. Many of summer’s fruits and vegetables are brimming with bonus health benefits. Here are a few that will leave your taste bud’s tingling: Corn Sweet corn is the ideal accompaniment to a…
The value and power of ritual
Fr Ronald RolheiserToday we no longer understand the value and power of ritual. This is more than an individual failing. It’s the cultural air we breathe. In the words of Robert L. Moore, we’ve gone “ritually tone-deaf”. The effects of this can be seen everywhere. Allow me to give two examples. First, we see this today in…
The goal of the liturgy
The divine blessing is fully revealed and communicated in the Church’s liturgy, writes Cathal Barry
Berkeley tragedy shows need for prayer
Dear Editor, Dr Eamonn Conway’s reflection (IC 25/06/2015) on the tragic circumstances at Berkeley was perfect in its encapsulating of the current malaise concerning the expression of faith, especially that of the Catholic variety. That it took Enda Kenny the day after to even mention that dirty word, prayer, illustrates this! While society is…