One mom-theologian’s take on keeping kids Catholic

Charlie Camosy Raising faithful Catholic kids in today’s society is not easy. Holly Taylor Coolman, assistant professor of theology at Providence College and adoptive mother of five, recognises the many challenges and recently spoke with OSV News’ Charlie Camosy about her new book Parenting: the Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children. Why yet another…

Religious education stuck in a paradigm from the past

Dr Amalee Meehan Religious Education (RE) internationally and in this country, is considered a key expression of Catholic school ethos and identity. In Ireland, as enshrined in the Education Act of 1988, it is the responsibility of the school patron. A new in-depth study uncovers a mixed bag of results about the reality of RE…

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Religious Education is more important now than ever

As Ireland becomes increasing multireligious and multicultural, empathy to other faiths especially Islam is of great service to the common good writes Dr Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory. Let me say how incredibly helpful it is to have such an excellent quantitative and qualitative study of important aspects of the shape of Catholic education in…

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Pentecost: Breathe,  forgive, renew

We need to let go of negative feelings that come from being offended, writes Mike Nelson What could be more essential to life than breathing – or forgiving? Breathing and forgiving: One follows the other. Forgiveness, as Jesus makes clear throughout his earthly ministry, is part of the deal for all who call themselves his…

The fruits of spiritual communion

Michael R. Heinlein As Catholics, we recognise that the holy Eucharist is the ‘source and summit’ of our faith. The innumerable gifts received in holy Communion draw us more closely to Christ. But there also are a variety of reasons why someone might not be able to receive sacramental holy Communion. Sometimes reception of holy…

The real purpose of Israel’s occupation of Palestine

Fr Shay Cullen   It was a shocking and painful ‘no’ vote by the United States to veto a draft declaration at the United Nations (UN) Security Council recognising Palestine as a full member of the United Nations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the US veto and said it was “unfair, unethical, and unjustified”. Some…

What to say when the visitors come knocking

Senator Rónán Mullen   It’s a big year, electorally speaking. We’ve already had two referendums that proved revealing. We’ll have the local and European elections on June 7. And Taoiseach Simon Harris may yet go to the country this October – if this Government’s last budget is, as expected, of the giveaway variety, then Harris…

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UN Security Council risks ‘doom loop’

Reform isn’t enough to improve the UN Security Council, writes Michael Sanfey Earlier this month the British Foreign Secretary and his French counterpart co- authored an op-ed celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, a diplomatic agreement between the United Kingdom and France. “We have helped to forge a better world,” they wrote in…

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