Cathal BarryWith a stretch in the evenings and the (somewhat) improved weather around the country, now is the perfect time to begin those long-fingered summer exercise regimes. For total beginners, a simple evening stroll can serve as a perfect stepping stone to a more rigorous routine and make the world of a difference! Exercise is one…
Month: May 2016
Dad’s Diary
What is it about grandparents? Kids love them. Nobody else – apart from antique dealers – gives quite the same preference to age. Right from the baby stage, the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is plain for all to see. A visitor to Earth from space could reasonably surmise that the older generation would be…
Persistent back pain should be checked out promptly by your GP
Dr Kevin McCarrollBack pain is estimated to affect up to 85% of adults at some time in their lives. In most cases the cause is non-specific and is due to simple strains or sprains with symptoms resolving within one to three months. Despite this, it can be quite debilitating and ranks as one of the commonest medical…
Unlocking your child’s genius
Courtney McGrailAll children have greater capacity and inner genius than either we or they realise, writes Andrew Fuller
The Ten Commandments of Mercy
Fr Ronald RolheiserAmong the Ten Commandments, one begins with the word “remember”: “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day”. It reminds us to recall something we already know. There are commandments of mercy written into our very DNA. We already know them, but we need to remember them more explicitly. What are they? The Ten Commandments of Mercy…
Who receives Holy Orders?
The Church teaches that, by ordination, one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, writes Cathal Barry
Governance of new hospital
Dear Editor, I may be wrong on this but my recollection is that two years or so ago, the Theological Institute of the Jesuits in Milltown, Dublin was transferred to Trinity College. Inevitably, the college authorities required that the governance of the new faculty should rest in the hands of the college. That seems fair…
Swedish law on prostitution informed by radical feminism
Dear Editor, In her article on Amnesty International’s stance on prostitution (IC 05/05/2016) Breda O’Brien mentions the Swedish prostitution law of 1999 which has been copied in certain other jurisdictions including our own. The key features of the Swedish law are, first, that it criminalises the purchase of sex but, second, it effectively liberalises its sale…
Clarity on Church policy for coeliacs
Dear Editor, I write as we mark Coeliac Awareness Week. Five years on from diagnosis, I could recount several episodes where I have returned from Mass exasperated and wondering how more complicated sharing in Holy Communion can get. Many queries and letters later, I am perplexed as to why there cannot be agreement and clarity…
Jesus’ clear teachings on non-violence
Dear Editor, When I read the page 1 banner of last week’s The Irish Catholic (05/05/2016) ‘Just War Theory – Pacifism only works when everyone adopts it’, I said to myself “Here we go again!” That has the same faith logic as “Thou shall not steal/commit adultery” only works when everyone adopts the same standard!…