When I heard that RTE Investigates was doing yet another abuse-themed exposé related to the Church, I thought, ‘Here we go again’. Broadcast of Christian Brothers: The Assets, the Abusers (RTÉ One, Thursday) was delayed after the death of Pope Francis. Perhaps they thought it would be tone-deaf to show it so soon after, or…
Catholic education, Apologetics and COVID-19 This article explores what influences people to develop a faith and conversely why do they lose their faith. Research evidence points to perhaps surprising data on the role of schools and, also on the influence of home. Insight into apologetics helps us consider how we discuss and defend our faith…
Acts 13:14, 43-52 Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5 Rv 7:9, 14b-17 Jn 10:27-30 Are we listening? This week’s Gospel from John offers this simple, matter-of-fact statement from Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice.” That idea of hearing also crops up in the first reading, from Acts, which reminds us how the people of Antioch responded…
The thought of some of the greatest and most influential people in history seems at times riddled with inconsistencies. Jesus, Augustine, Socrates, Aristotle, among others, appear at times to be contradicting themselves. It’s not always easy to see how everything squares with everything else in their teachings. That’s why the great religions and philosophies of…
Q: How do God’s will and the Holy Spirit play a role in a conclave? A: I think ultimately, events in the life of the Church like conclaves bring us to the mysterious place where God’s providential ordering of history intersects with human free will. On one level, there is nothing miraculous about a conclave.…
Catholic schools face a critical juncture. The opportunity for renewal is vast, the path forward is clear, writes Bláthnaid Gunawardana Catholic schools have long been a crucial pillar in the Irish education system. They are highly admired and supported for their high levels of academic excellence, positive community engagement and strong moral framework. They aspire…
A few months ago, a friend and I here in Leuven went on one of those carnival rides that look, frankly, insane. It was basically a huge pendulum. If you think of it like a clock-face, it swung as high as one o’clock on the one side, and eleven o’clock on the other. All the…
Catholicism does not call us to be passive. It calls us to act, to respond, to wake up, writes Peter Kasko We often find ourselves working with all sorts of people in the workplace. Some are friendly, others not so much, and others yet – well, let’s just say they don’t care about anything or…
The resurrection of Peter At the end of The Georgics, Virgil retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice—a story of love, loss, and irreversible failure. After Eurydice dies from a snakebite on her wedding day, Orpheus charms the rulers of the underworld with music to win her back. They agree—on one condition: he must not…
There are few Gaels who don’t know the name Seán Marty Lockhart. An All-Star winner, an Ulster champion, and a man who wore the Ireland jersey with pride more times than anyone else. Lockhart has spent much of his life in the spotlight. But behind the accolades and county colours is someone whose impact runs…
Brendan O’Regan
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Fr Barry White