Courtney McGrailDear Editor, Martin Mansergh (The View, IC 03/12/2015) states how “our military neutrality is a policy”. As such, it primarily concerns our interests. Yet our ideals or values arise as well. Bunreacht na hÉireann (Art. 29) mentions the “pacific (ie non-belligerent) settlement of international disputes”. Hence a constitutional endorsement of the “ideal of peace”. Historically,…
Month: December 2015
Muslims too are our brothers and sisters
Dear Editor, The Paris atrocities have been widely covered on media reports and rightly so since nobody wants to see innocent people being murdered. However, I hope that in future we will see more balanced coverage of the air strikes now taking place against ISIS. In the TV reports covering the French response we were…
Don’t ‘sub-contract’ mercy to charities, bishop warns
Cathal BarryBishop Donal McKeown has warned parishioners not to “sub-contract” acts of compassion to charities during the Year of Mercy. Noting that the holy year was “a call to all followers of Christ to be well known for their unobtrusive generosity and compassion”, the Bishop of Derry said there was a need “to reflect whether clergy,…
Berkeley chaplain named ‘Person of the Year’
Mags GarganAn Irish chaplain who played a central role in providing support to those involved in the Berkeley balcony collapse earlier this year, has been named ‘International Person of the Year’. Fr Brendan McBride was named joint winner of the award along with Philip Grant, Consul General of Ireland to the Western United States, for supporting…
With Christian Evangelicals in the troubled Middle East
Mary KennyMary Kenny reflects on an overwhelming visit to a much changed Lebanon
Ireland owes ‘huge debt’ to Peace Process priest
The late Fr Gerry Reynolds played an “outstanding role” in the Peace Process and is owed a “huge and enduring debt of public gratitude”, a key negotiator in the process has said. Former Minister of State Martin Mansergh, who served as special advisor on Northern Ireland under three Fianna Fáil Taoisigh, told The Irish Catholic…
Christmas stamp competition winners
The main winner who receives the 2015 Irish Stamp Yearbook and a booklet of Christmas stamps is: Veronica M. Donnell, Limerick. The six runners up who receive a Christmas stamp booklet are: Theresa M. Smyth, Offaly; Michael Carey, Limerick; Jean McDonald, Dublin 8; Patricia O’Sullivan, Dublin 15; Mary F Ryan, Cork; Hannah Sutton, Cork.
Dáil can’t abdicate abortion responsibility – Bruton
Greg DalyFormer Taoiseach John Bruton has said warned that citizens’ assemblies and conventions are no substitute for the Oireachtas dealing with controversial issues like abortion. Mr Bruton said that legislators should not set aside tried-and-tested parliamentary processes. Mr Bruton told The Irish Catholic he has “no problem with supplementing existing parliamentary processes for policy determination with…
News in Brief
Tributes paid to retiring bishop Having served as auxiliary bishop of Ireland’s second-largest diocese for 32 years, Bishop Anthony Farquhar has retired having reached the age of 75. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor in 1983, Bishop Farquhar was the longest-serving bishop in the country. Bishop Noel Treanor of Down & Connor paid tribute to his colleague for…
Faith ‘important’ for rugby legend Ollie Campbell
Staff reporter Irish rugby legend Ollie Campbell has revealed that his Catholic faith is a “very important” part of his life. In an extensive interview with The Irish Catholic the former fly-half said he had a “very strong faith”. “I’m a weekly massgoer. It would be a rare Sunday that I wouldn’t get Mass,” he said.…