Dear Editor, Mary Kenny, under the heading “Why we must change this fatal phrase” (IC 14/07/2016), reminded us of the writings of George Orwell, who said whoever controls the language controls the political power. Today, she says, we are presented with the hurtful, and harmful, phrase “fatal foetal abnormality”. She rightly criticises the use of…

Dear Editor, Mary Kenny hits the nail on the head when praising the peaceful, legal and constitutional paths of the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell (IC 21/07/2016). Her description of the scenes of blood running on the streets and heads on pikes along the roadsides which the young O’Connell saw during the French Revolution in 1789 is…

Dear Editor, It was with great sadness that the Padre Pio prayer groups noted the passing this year of the late Fr Michael Duggan CSSp of Whitestown, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford Fr Michael became involved in the early years of the formation of the Irish prayer groups and was coordinator of the Padre Pio Prayer Groups…

Dear Editor, The recent attempt by The Irish Catholic (21/07/2016) to survey priests’ incomes across Ireland should cause those who argue for married clergy to think again. With married priests would come clerical families, and it is hard to imagine priests – even with a spouse’s second income – supporting children on the income they…

Dear Editor, Text may be the substance of a newspaper but a picture is still worth a thousand words. So thank you for the beautiful photograph you published on page 2 last week (IC 14/7/16) of the newly-ordained Fr Conor McDonough OP giving First Holy Communion to his nephew, James, while his parents looked on.…

Dear Editor, How wonderful to know that 1,500 young Irish Catholics are preparing to depart for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland with Pope Francis. The secular media are very quick to tell us stories that reflect badly on young people. Let’s hope the papers will be happy to report on this news. At least…