When child sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic priests emerge in Africa, they do not draw a frenzied reaction similar to that witnessed in developed countries, but the continent’s Church is affected, Catholic leaders have said. While there is a general view that the scandals are a challenge of the Church in Europe and America, African…
Chai Brady discusses what sustains a marriage St Valentine’s Day is a time many couples spend quality time with each other and focus on their relationship, with care, intimacy and love being key objectives. But what happens when passionate feelings of love become more subdued, when the ‘honeymoon phase’ is long over and married…
As a vowed, religious celibate I’m very conscious that today celibacy, whether lived out in a religious commitment or in other circumstances, is suspect, under siege, and is offering too little by way of a helpful apologia to its critics. Do I believe in the value of consecrated celibacy? The only real answer I can…
Questions of Faith There’s an old saying, usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin, which points out that there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. While Franklin’s economic predictions may not hold water in some distant society of the future, his first point about our mortality certainly rings true. We all die. Religions…
An official of the Central African Republic bishops’ conference has raised doubts about a new government-rebel peace deal and urged the international community to give greater backing to the country’s legitimate armed forces. “Of course, we can hope such an accord might lead toward peace, but if it runs counter to justice and truth, this…
The GAA and the War of Independence by Tim Pat Coogan (Head of Zeus/an Apollo Book, £20.00) The Gaelic Athletic Assoc–iation (GAA) promotes, across the whole island of Ireland, Gaelic football, hurling, ladies’ Gaelic football, camogie and handball. However, it does not concern itself solely with organising these sports. With the Irish language, Irish music and…
A council in London could become the second local authority in the UK to approve an exclusion zone around an abortion clinic. A regulatory committee of Richmond Council voted last week to make it a crime to attempt any form of interaction with staff or visitors to a center run by the British Pregnancy Advisory…
The Territories of Reason: Science and Theology in an Age of Multiple Rationalities by Alister E. McGrath (Oxford University Press, £25.00) Frank Litton The world is changing; nothing surprising in that. Change is the norm. What is interesting and even disturbing is the growing sense of disorientation. The maps that guide us fail. The political landscape no…
About 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s 38th Galway Novena with over 300 volunteers, cathedral staff and a Redemptorist team of 12 making the event possible. The Novena will run from February 18-26 at Galway Cathedral with reflection on ‘the Joy of Love and Family Life Today’. The early morning weekday Masses will…
Jesuit gets green light on sainthood cause The sainthood cause of Jesuit Fr Pedro Arrupe was formally opened in Rome at the Basilica of St John Lateran on February 5, the 28th anniversary of Fr Arrupe’s death. The cause of Fr Arrupe, superior general of the Jesuits from 1965 to 1983, was set in motion by the Diocese of Rome, the…
Chai Brady
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Colm Fitzpatrick