Greg DalyA statement signed by former President Mary McAleese is out of step with Pope Francis, one of her colleagues at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, has said. Mrs McAleese joined more than 100 academics in signing a ‘Scholars’ Statement’ from the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research challenging the Church’s ban on artificial contraception. The former president…
Month: September 2016
High jump Olympian offers her medal to God
Courtney McGrailA medal-winning athlete at this year’s Rio Olympic Games has gifted her bronze medal to the shrine of St Mary of Marija Bistrica in her native Croatia in thanks for answered prayers ahead of the games. Champion high-jumper Blanka Vlašić has revealed that she nearly missed the 2016 games due to complications from surgery to…
Archaeologists reveal David and Goliath site
Archaeologists in Israel believe they have uncovered the site of the biblical battle between David and Goliath. According to experts who have led excavations for the past seven years at a site today known as Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley, the Old Testament city of Shaaraim has been found. The city is mentioned in…
Some morning thoughts from Pope Francis…
Peter CostelloMorning Homilies III by Pope Francis, translated by Dinah Livingstone (Orbis Books / Alban Books, £11.99)
What price truth?
Dear Editor, It is now generally stated that Mrs Hillary Clinton and Mr Donald J Trump are among the least honest and least trusted persons in the US. Such is the skewed coverage of the Presidential Election by most of the media, particularly the detractors of Donald Trump, that the media in general will soon…
Don’t forget ‘morning after’ effect
Dear Editor, Recently it was reported that the number of Irish mothers going to Britain for abortions has dropped from 6,673 in 2001 to 3,451 in 2015. This was great news for all our pro-life charities, and hoperfully is for the right reasons such as chastity before marriage, fidelity within marriage, single mothers and others…
What hopes for the future of ‘Y’?
Dear Editor, Does anyone ever consider what it must feel like to live in an intolerant, prejudiced society that constantly denies your right to exist; to sit silently in company while all around you people are baying for your blood? Every voice, every politician, journalist and media outlet are loud and constant in their demands…
Major conference to tackle faith-based education
Staff reporter A major conference on education due to be held in Dublin next month will address the future of faith-based schools in Ireland, both North and South. Organised by The Irish Catholic in collaboration with St Mary’s University, Twickenham in London, the October 20 event will be addressed by former UK Secretary of State for…
Child protection commission training of bishops is a ‘big step forward’
The sole Irish member of the Vatican commission responsible for child protection has said the commission’s involvement in the training of new bishops is “a big step forward”, and praised increased child protection awareness in the developing world. Marie Collins, an abuse survivor who was first named to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of…
Radio shake-ups and familiar subjects
Brendan O’ReganLast week was the first for Newstalk’s new schedule, and they’ve had some thorough changes. I’m glad to see Shane Coleman at the helm on the new Breakfast show. The laddish approach of the Donoghue/Yates combo has given way to a more serious tone, and it looks like Morning Ireland will now have a worthy…