Despite well-observed concerns in recent times about the effects of social media bubbles, the internet remains an incredibly empowering phenomenon. In particular, it allows us access to documents hitherto reserved to the few: anyone nowadays can in moments call up the Treaty of Rome to establish that freedom of movement has been a principle of…
Courtney McGrail
Rising rough sleeper count masks scale of homeless crisis – McVerry
The number of homeless people sleeping rough in Dublin has risen by more than 50% since last year, according to Fr Peter McVerry. A count by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive last week found that 140 individuals were sleeping on the streets and in doorways, compared to 91 counted at the same time last year. …
Fidel Castro, the communist leader who received three Popes
Inés san Martín Fidel Castro, Cuba’s communist leader who died on November 25 at the age of 90, was by far the most dominant figure in Cuba’s one-party state which he ruled with an iron fist for almost five decades before handing over the powers to his brother Raúl in 2008. A hero to the left across the…
‘Make time to pray’ – Archbishop Martin
The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged people to find time in the hectic schedule of shopping and Christmas preparation to pray. As he launched the Irish bishops’ 2016 online Advent calendar (www.catholicbishops.ie) this week, Dr Martin said: “As Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of our Lord, I…
Cultivating a sense of alienation
John Reid In a blistering editorial comment this week, the Irish Independent criticised the Catholic Church (which has patronage over about 90% of primary schools in the Republic) for its response to the current Government’s draft programme on education about religious beliefs and ethics, even suggesting that a failure to dilute or scrap the ethos…
Easter Rising Documentary
A documentary examining the impact of the 1916 Easter Rising in Australia and on Ireland’s Archbishop Daniel Mannix, the then Archbishop of Melbourne, is now available on the RTÉ Player. Michael, They’ve Shot Them was filmed by a Melbourne-based Irish production company founded by Eoin Hahessy and relates how the Rising and its aftermath fed…
The question of women priests
Dear Editor, Once more, the question of women priests in the Catholic Church has arisen (‘Green Party chief rejects Pope on women priests’ IC 20/11/2016). We still proclaim at Sunday Mass that the Church has four marks: she is one, holy, Catholic and apostolic. Why do we believe this? Because at the Last Supper, Christ…
Call for TDs to ban fossil fuel investment
Trócaire has urged TDs to back a bill published on Wednesday, November 30, that would see State investments in the fossil fuel industry banned. In 2015 the State had approximately €133 million invested in global fossil-fuel companies. The bill, introduced by Thomas Pringle TD, seeks to withdraw that investment and ban future similar investments. Trócaire…
Bemoaning the US presidential election
Dear Editor, I recently heard Fr Gerry O’Hanlon SJ on radio saying how dismayed he was at the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. The only alternative was Hillary Clinton. Does Fr Hanlon not know about her involvement in the destruction of Libya or the destruction of unborn life with Planned…
We need to find solutions for our under-pressure priests
Dear Editor, Greg Daly’s article, ‘Priests at risk: problems and practicalities’ (IC 24/22/2016), made for grim reading, as he quoted Fr Brendan Hoban at the Association of Catholic Priests’ annual conference, stating that he had no solution to the “depression and despair of priests”. As a practising Catholic I think we need to find solutions…