The Uncle Paddy Christmas appeal is underway, and for the 66th year is appealing to readers of The Irish Catholic newspaper to support the drive on behalf of families and pensioners in need across Ireland this year. "Because of the economic situation at the moment and the loss of bonus week for social welfare recipients,…
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Heartening progress, but room for improvement
A summary of the latest tranche of the reviews of safeguarding practice across the Church
Life’s Little Things
Our children have taken their first steps in recognising value and assessing risk
Pope must succeed in reform
Dear Editor, Thanks to Pope Francis these are halcyon days, upbeat, joyous. Long may he and they last. We certainly need him now; he has been sending out signals that he means business; radical change is coming. But how permanent will the change be? Clergymen are renowned for ‘improving’ on the man before them. Every Pope sets…
Where is the moral courage on abortion?
Dear Editor, Regarding your article, ‘Archbishop still seeking clarification from nuns on abortion stance’ (IC 28/11/13), what has become of our Church in the face of the abortion onslaught when a prelate needs to engage in “ongoing” talks with a congregation of sisters towards clarifying their position on terminating the unborn? The facts as reported…
A proper memorial to Fr Alec Reid
Dear Editor, Thank you so much for your extended coverage of the life and passing of the heroic Fr Alec Reid. A man given to humility and quiet efforts, he was nevertheless – as Fr Gerry Reynolds described him – “a great man”. For all that, however, The Irish Catholic was the one publication to…
The question of charitable donations
Dear Editor, The present controversy surrounding the executive remuneration practices in the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) invites attention to the position of the funding agency, The Care Trust, which is jointly owned by the CRC and The Rehab Group. The Trust, according to its website, fundraises for its owners and it also has a long…
Pope sets 2015 for consecrated life
Pope Francis has announced that 2015 will be a year dedicated to consecrated life. As he addressed a gathering of delegates in Rome for the 82nd General Assembly of the Union of Superiors General last weekend, the Pontiff made his announcement during a lengthy question and answer session with the superiors. "A radical approach is…
Hoping for Heaven, with C.S. Lewis
During the month of November, in the magnificent quadrangle of St Patrick’s College Maynooth, designed by Augustus Pugin, a stunning tree has been glowing gold, orange, red and copper. This majestic creation is a larger-than-life burning bush, ablaze with God. Even now in early December, well into a season of supposed decline and death, this…
Doing things right or doing the right thing
Catholic higher education is caught somewhere between death and flourishing, writes Ronan Tobin