Jesus keeps ‘left’ and ‘right’ in balance, writes Elizabeth Scalia A discussion among practicing Catholics occurred in a social media group, inevitably landing on current divisions between Catholics – those who would describe themselves as ‘orthodox’ vs the ‘more progressive;’ those who pronounce themselves ‘proudly cafeteria’ versus those who identify as ‘proudly traditionalist’.…
My heart started beating faster and my face flushed when I glanced at the messages popping up in text bubbles on my phone one early morning last March. “Are you at work?” one asked. “Can you let me know when you are there?” another said. “Uh-oh,” I thought. “Someone died.” Stepping away from a conversation…
John Allen was in Los Angeles to give a talk to Catholics entitled ‘What’s Next? The Today and the Tomorrow of Francis’s Papacy’. The Irish Catholic sat down with John and asked him the question that will be on his audience’s lips – who’s the next Pope going to be and what will his style of governance be like? “Well, let me…
Laura Dodson shy Irish farm boy taught to be open to God’s gifts and opportunities in every harvest, egg clutch and milk bucket courageously responded yes to God’s call to priesthood. He ultimately became pastor of a sleepy central Florida parish ripe for awakening to God’s ways that would then transform not only their parish…
Eilís Mulroy Earlier this month, former Attorney General, Tánaiste, and Minister for Justice, Senator Michael McDowell revealed that his request to access 64 pages of notes and minutes by the government’s Interdepartmental Group considering the implications of the proposed family and care amendments to the constitution was refused until after the referendum. Senator McDowell dismissed the…
Wendy Grace In recent years, maybe you, like me, have spotted teens and tweens alongside you in the anti-aging product aisle, and realised they weren’t shopping for their mom. Lately there has been a huge upsurge in young adults obsessing over skin care regimes at an age when they don’t need one at all. When…
John Lavenburg According to a top official with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the unity of the Church that would be represented on a papal visit to Argentina could help create a new social dialogue and unity in the country at a critical economic and political juncture. “In the Church we are together. People…
Mark Holan This year’s fraught US presidential campaigns have got many Americans wondering what has become of the once powerful ‘Irish vote’? This problem comes into even sharper focus with this recently published history of the Irish American strain by Prof. Timothy J. Meagher. Meagher was once associate professor of history at Catholic University of…
Jonathan Luxmoore Greece’s minority Catholic Church has deplored a parliamentary vote to allow same-sex marriage and child adoption, the first in a predominantly Orthodox country. “Our reaction is clear – the Church doesn’t accept same-sex marriage, and we’re surprised the government pressed ahead so quicky with this measure,” said Archbishop Josif Printezis of Naxos, Andros,…
I just celebrated my birthday. Twenty days after I entered the world, I was carried by my godparents to Immaculate Conception Parish in Maplewood, Missouri, to be baptised by the pastor, Fr John Ryan. Mom told me she and dad were nervous because they had waited almost three weeks instead of the expected two, and…