Leading US congressman Chris Smith will be the keynote speaker at the Pro Life Campaign’s National Conference this weekend. The New Jersey politician has been a member of the US House of Representatives since 1981, and as well as being a prominent opponent of abortion has been a leading voice for human rights at home…
Month: October 2015
Kiltegans relocate to Africa due to lack of vocations
The head of a well-known Irish missionary society has said the decision to relocate the order’s headquarters to Africa was due to a lack of vocations here. St Patrick’s Missionary Society, which has been based in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow since its foundation in 1932, has moved its central leadership team to Nairobi, Kenya, this week.…
Are some journalists slow learners or following their own agenda?
Dear Editor, The standard of reporting on religion in the media is appalling (your own newspaper is, thankfully, an honourable exception). I find myself time-and-again having to go to the original source of a story to get beyond the silly media spin to the truth. Pope Francis is a case in point. Repeatedly, he is…
Govt’s salvation claim is quite laughable
Dear Editor, The Taoiseach’s claim that Fine Gael and Labour have saved Ireland is hilarious. Prior to the economic crash there were few enlightened warnings from the Opposition benches. The late Brian Lenihan, while terminally ill, took courageous steps to stave off disaster and his policy has been followed since. On the other hand, Labour…
Subterfuge at the Vatican?
Dear Editor, It seems a secret dossier is being circulated in the Vatican by clerics opposed to Pope Francis’s recent decision to “liberalise” the process of marriage annulments. While Pope Francis goes out to the whole world proclaiming the Gospel, some at home in Rome are plotting against him. Better to be a missionary of…
ISIS will exploit open borders
Dear Editor, I was very pleased that The Irish Catholic highlighted the fact that Pope Francis, when interviewed on Portugal’s Radio Renascenca, issued a timely caution to welcome refugees but not to be naïve due to the dangers of Islamist extremists hiding amongst genuine refugees. He was right to speak of the “incredibly cruel…
Refugee crisis would have been manageable if tackled at the outset
Dear Editor, I fully agree with Fr Hilliard’s words (IC 03/09/2015) that Europe has been latent in working to negotiate peace settlements and programmes to be put in place to help people return to rebuild life in their countries of birth. When is Europe going to wake up and face up to its responsibilities? I…
Great start, but what a finale
Lisette Carr went to the US and heard the Pope invigorate a whole generation
Becoming intentional disciples
Each Catholic individual must engage with their faith if it is to ‘bear fruit’ for the parish and wider community, writes Michael Kelly
Jack Grealish sought priest’s blessing before declaring for England team
Soccer star Jack Grealish consulted with his local parish priest before making the decision to declare for England, according to reports. The 20-year-old Aston Villa footballer had been stalling on his decision for some time whether to play for the Republic of Ireland or its neighbour. Grealish, who was born in Birmingham but has Irish…

Courtney McGrail
Cathal Barry
Michael Kelly