New recommendations to remove Catholic symbols from state run secondary schools will impose “a secular understanding of religion on the school”, says Fr Eamonn Conway. According to The Irish Times, an unpublished document recommends phasing out Catholic symbols, compulsory graduation Masses and diocesan inspectors of religious teaching. Commenting on the report, Fr Conway said that…
One of the most mendacious aspects of the Dying with Dignity bill, it seems to me, is calling it ‘dying with dignity’. It is an assisted suicide measure, and if truth meant anything in the public realm, that is what it should be called. ‘Dying with dignity’ is a propaganda phrase which deliberately implies that…
Aontú representative Becky Kealy delivered a letter of support to the bishops of Cork and Ross, and Cloyne, saying that “young people want Mass back”. Ms Kealy said she delivered the letter after a group of young, practising Catholics contacted her to ask if she would submit a letter on their behalf. “They wanted to…
The View Last week the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference published a message to the Faithful entitled ‘Do not lose heart’. A day later it was reported that the four Catholic archbishops of Ireland had requested a meeting with the Taoiseach to address the current restrictions that prevent the celebration of public masses. The news gave…
Chai Brady and Ruadhán Jones The Church should draw up guidelines for interfaith events with the Muslim community to avoid “ambiguous and potentially misleading situations” according to an expert in interreligious dialogue. Fr Michael O’Sullivan M.Afr., who is the current director of World Missions Ireland and has spent decades on the Middle East, said an…
Nothing has had a more formative influence upon Ireland and Europe than Christianity, writes David Quinn State-run secondary schools are set to end a policy of Christian-only symbols on their walls, put the celebrations of other religions on a par with Christian celebrations such as Christmas, and end compulsory attendance at school Masses. The news…
The publication of Ireland’s new draft climate bill has been cautiously welcomed but with “quite serious reservations” from leading Church voices. The draft text of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020 was published last week, which aims to impose emission limits on sectors. It sets a course for Ireland to become…
Medicine traditionally recognises that human life is a basic good, and that patients come to doctors for healing and the restoration of health, writes Fr Seán MacGiollarnáth O. Carm. In 1997, John Rawls, Ronald Dworkin and other philosophers submitted a brief to the US Supreme Court which called for assisted suicide. Paul Weithman, their colleague,…
Former Vatican finance czar Cardinal George Pell met with Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican Monday. The Holy See press office said that the audience took place October 12, but gave no further details. A video of the meeting showed the Pope shaking the cardinal’s hand, while saying: “It is a pleasure to…
It is just over a month since People before Profit TD Gino Kenny launched and sponsored the Dying with Dignity Bill, continuing the efforts of former TD John Halligan to see assisted suicide legalised in Ireland. The bill is entitled ‘An Act to make provision for assistance in achieving a dignified and peaceful end of…
Ruadhán Jones
Mary Kenny
Maria Steen
David Quinn
Chai Brady