Dear Editor, In your front page story ‘Vatican urged to block nun’s hospital transfer’ (IC 21/11/19), you quoted Fr Gerry Kane as saying: “I think that the Church in Ireland has been doing the work of the State for far too long…it is time for us to have stand-alone Catholic institutions, like Catholic hospitals, Catholic schools and…
Month: November 2019
Caring and cultivating house plants
Green Fingers “I’ve lived in small rooms, flats, growing plants in pots on window sills. I’ve had liked to have had a full-hedged garden with all kinds of flowers and plants. I’ve never had enough money to buy a big enough garden space.” – Ruskin Bond. The above quote from the great author/poet is something…
Crowning glory in Coleman’s royal show
The Royal Family in Britain has been hitting the headlines recently and it’s not all good stuff. Coincidentally, I presume, the latest series of The Crown landed in its entirety on Netflix last week and I’m enjoying getting through it. First hurdle for the programme makers was to effect the transition of actors – especially…
Dad’s Diary
I am entering the ‘taxi driver’ stage of parenthood. My little customers have busy schedules and must be ferried at the appointed time to brownies, gymnastics, rugby training, soccer training, GAA training, Irish dancing classes, flute lessons, singing lessons, tin whistle lessons, swimming and weekends away, together with sundry playdates, birthday parties and so forth.…
Vatican urged to block nuns’ hospital transfer
Exclusive The Vatican has been urged to step in to block the transfer of land from a religious order to the State because abortions will be carried out in the new hospital. Rome-based moral theologian Fr Kevin O’Reilly OP told The Irish Catholic this week that that Holy See has an obligation to block plans…
IC goes red to honour modern martyrs
Claire Fitzpatrick Eleven Christians are killed for their faith every day, while thousands of others face relentless persecution for their belief in Christ. That’s why The Irish Catholic is turning our iconic masthead red this week to highlight the coming ‘Red Wednesday’. The commemoration – November 27 this year – is a day organised by…
‘Catholic Faith saved me during the recession’
Hotelier and RTÉ television star Francis Brennan has revealed that his profound Faith in God saved him as his life fell apart during the recession. Speaking this week, Mr Brennan said: “I wanted to retire at 55 but my life fell apart because of the recession. I lost a lot of money, you would be…
Pope Francis’ statement on ‘ecological sin’ widely welcomed
A move announced by Pope Francis that could see crimes against the environment made a sin have been widely welcomed, with some saying it may “resonate” with Catholics who might not have “awakened to the crisis”. Speaking to a group of lawyers last week, Pope Francis said that the Church is contemplating the introduction of…
Who are you? You are yourself, not your ancestors
Here’s a sad post-adoption story which emerged last week: a 60 year old man was informed by Tusla, the child and family agency, that the mother and father he believed were his birth parents were in truth his adoptive parents. They had never revealed this – they are now dead – and he was stunned…
Donald Trump is the least religious president ever – he has made politics uglier and more vindictive
The View It is remarkable how large a role faith still plays in American politics. There is not a single out-and-proud atheist among the very crowded field of Democratic hopefuls seeking nomination as the presidential candidate. As a non-observant Jew, Bernie Sanders would have been considered perhaps the least religious but even he said somewhat…


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