Courtney McGrailDear Editor, In a culture of ignorance or indifference to the mystery of Jesus Christ may I suggest some reflections inspired by God’s communication with us, beginning with the call of Abraham to become the father of the Jewish chosen people, God’s inspiration of messengers/prophets to go among the people and to begin writing the…
Month: December 2016
Pursuing a path of blood
Paul KeenanReal dialogue is Venezuela’s last hope, writes Paul Keenan
Catholic Church not a force for good? ‘I refute it thus’!
John L. Allen Jr.Rather famously, in 2009 the late atheist pundit Christopher Hitchens and actor Stephen Fry squared off against British MP Ann Widdecombe and then-Archbishop, now Cardinal, John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, in an Intelligence Squared debate in London over the proposition that “the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world”. By consensus, Hitchens…
Vatican Roundup
Call for debate on Amoris Laetitia Cardinal Peter Turkson has suggested a full debate on the papal encyclical Amoris Laetitia between all those prominently linked to the row surrounding it as a means of reaching common ground. Speaking to the National Catholic Register, the prefect of the dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said: “For…
Calls for protection for Middle East Christians
The president of the World Jewish Congress has called for greater action to stem persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Addressing an interfaith forum in New York City, Ronald S. Lauder drew parallels with the Holocaust of World War II and lamented that little appears to have changed in relation to genocidal slaughter. “Today…
Nurturing green shoots in Waterford
Greg DalyA new place of mission and evangelisation for young people in Ireland has been officially opened in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. The Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown, formally opened Holy Family Mission at Co. Waterford’s Glencomeragh House on Friday, December 2, saying it was an honour officially to launch such a…
Slaying the sectarian dragon
Michael KellyThe tone of discussions about the Catholic Church in Ireland increasingly reminds me of growing up in the North surrounded by sectarianism, writes Michael Kelly
Family is changing but ‘traditional’ family remains all-important
David QuinnThe ‘Family Rhythms’ report gives cause for thought, writes David Quinn
Bishops make official submission to Citizens’ Assembly on abortion
“Supporting and sustaining a culture of life is in the interests of every generation and it defines us as a society,” the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has said in its submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on the Eighth Amendment. In a lengthy document, entitled ‘Two Lives, One Love’ and issued on December 9, the bishops…
Ordination of Fr Nejad
Fr Damien Nejad and Raphoe’s Bishop Philip Boyce, OCD at the ordination of Fr Nejad in Letterkenny’s Cathedral of Ss Eunan and Columba on Sunday, December 11. Glasgow-born Fr Nejad’s mother comes from Annagry, where Fr Nejad celebrated his first Mass on the evening of December 11 in the Church of St Mary Star of…