Courtney McGrailOn bbc.co.uk, the Telegraph’s Tim Stanley was a refreshingly new addition to the roster of those who would speak up on Radio 4’s Thought for the Day. Tim describes how Pope Francis, while flying back from Africa, was asked about the role of contraceptives in tackling HIV-AIDS. “His Holiness appeared to dodge the question –…
Month: December 2015
A selection of books for Christmas
Peter CostelloFrom the piles of new books for Christmas, this week we present a selection which may interest readers of The Irish Catholic, and make for a pleasant surprise for others under the Christmas tree…
A second week dominated by abortion debate
Brendan O’ReganThe abortion debate continues to grip the media, however bias continues to raise its unjust head, writes Brendan O’Regan
Getting into the mood for the festive season
Aubrey MaloneAs one might expect for this time of year, many of the films currently on release have seasonal overtones, in particular A Christmas Star (G), a charming film which deals with a tranquil Irish village that comes under threat from an unscrupulous property developer. A young girl called Noelle, who was born under a Christmas…
Ongoing catechesis instilling strong faith
Mary O’Donnell meets theSyro-Malabar community in Derry
You don’t need a garden to get growing
Paul GarganGreen Fingers
Dad’s Diary
The kids wanted to know what Christmas was like in “the olden days”, that is, when I was a boy. “Come on!” I said indignantly, “the 1980s is not the olden days!” But they insisted that it was. Time is relative, I suppose. The end of the 1980s happened over 24 years ago – over…
Children are able to sense conflict without seeing it
For people who enjoy Christmas, this is a magical time of year. For those who remember or who are having a sad or painful time, this is not the most wonderful time of the year. Yet, because there are festive decorations and messages all around us, there is a pressure to be ready and to…
Make your own personalised Christmas jumper
Erin FoxWith Christmas jumpers becoming more and more popular every year, the selection in designs grows too. You can have whichever Christmas jumper design you like when you make it yourself. Create your own personalised festive jumper by getting crafty with an old sweater. Think of your favourite thing about Christmas, whether it’s the Christmas tree,…
Offering positive alternatives to alcohol
Mags GarganMags Gargan attends the national conference of the No Name Club, an alcohol-free youth initiative