It was supposed to be like a scene from a 1980s coming-of-age movie: two soft-focus kids being left at camp, looking back wistfully at their parents, as they slowly waved goodbye. Mom holds back the tears, while dad puts a comforting arm around her shoulder, as they watch their kids take a giant step out…
The foray into the abortion debate of the leadership of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) at the weekend is a puzzling one. I emphasise the leadership element to the intervention since I’ve been contacted by several priests this week who are members of the ACP but deeply annoyed at the statement and the obvious…
Personal Profile Colm Fitzpatrick speaks with a priest overcoming all obstacles Receiving a diagnosis of an ultimately fatal disease can leave people in a state of despair and fear, but for one Irish priest, this is an opportunity to spread a message of awareness and hope. In February of this year, Fairview native Fr…
Rosie opened her new café and restaurant in the Midlands about 12 months ago. The business has gone from strength to strength. Many of the customers are regulars and they banter with Rosie and each other about the news of the day. A few months ago Rosie noticed an older woman coming into the restaurant…
Award-winning scientist joins Vatican academy Pope Francis has named a pioneering US scientist specialising in stem-cell research to the Pontifical Academy for Sciences. Elaine Fuchs, professor and head of the laboratory of mammalian cell biology and development at The Rockefeller University in New York, was appointed to the papal think tank, according to a Vatican press release. The scientist…
Pat O’Kelly In September 2016 the National Concert Hall, RTÉ and Bord na Móna devised a celebration of music spanning the previous century. Entitled Composing the Island, it was a bold endeavour but, maybe at the end of its three-week run, one had become somewhat saturated and I remember suffering, what I call, musical…
With RTÉ’s Leap of Faith gone into sleep mode for the summer, you wouldn’t go far wrong checking out Sunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster) for some stimulating religious and ethical discussion with an Irish flavour. Last Sunday morning it felt like something of a time warp with issues like land grabbing, slavery, and whether children…
World of Books by the Books Editor I was struck the other day, while reading Anthony Dent’s book Lost Beasts of Britain, by a remark in his preface. He is explaining that he deals largely with the extent of Britain known to the “good emperor” Antoninus Pius, builder of the Antonine Wall in 142 AD,…
Niamh Uí Bhriain explains why Google’s decision is a serious threat to the referendum process The three leading pro-life groups campaigning for the retention of Ireland’s constitutional protection for the unborn have called on Google to reconsider its decision to block all advertising in connection with the upcoming referendum. Speaking at a press…
Pope Francis said today that nothing can take away a person’s baptism or the salvation and identity they gain as a child of God, which is why the Church only allows for the sacrament to be administered once. “Baptism is not repeated because it imprints an indelible spiritual sign: This sign is never erased by…
Michael Kelly
Colm Fitzpatrick
Brendan O’Regan
Peter Costello
Greg Daly