Dear Editor, I share Margaret Hickey’s position opposing abortion, (IC Letters 26/02/2015) but not her judgment of President Obama. Jesus Christ set down fundamental criteria by which people will be judged in Mt 25.31-46, “I was hungry and you gave me food” etc. One of these is “I was sick and you took care of…
Courtney McGrail
Make our votes count
Dear Editor, I have no doubt that there is a huge number of people in our country who like me would disagree with the proposed referendum change to marriage. Unfortunately many of these same people will do nothing practical about it and hope others will do the work. In the last referendum, less than 40%…
Easter week, divided loyalties
16 Lives: Éamonn Ceannt by Mary Gallagher (O’Brien Press, €12.99)
Floundering and out of their depth in post-boom times
Over Our Heads by Andrew Fox (Penguin, £12.99)
A gathering for creative Catholics
A weekend event for ‘Creative Catholics’ – those involved or interested in the musical, visual, literary or dramatic arts – is being organised by a group called His Mad Plan. The theme of the weekend is ‘Beauty Will Save the World’ and it is designed to be a weekend of prayer, talks and workshops from…
After Church attacks, bishops call on Pakistanis to join hands against terrorism
At least 14 people have been killed and 78 injured in two suicide bombings at churches in Pakistan’s most densely populated Christian area. A security guard spotted one of the bombers trying to enter St John’s Catholic church in Youhanabad, Lahore, and forced him to detonate the bomb without entering the church, while at the…
Cuba plans first new church since 1959
The Church in Cuba is to build its first new church since the revolution in 1959. The new church will be in the centre of Sandino, the largest town in the western province of Pinar del Río, the Archdiocese of Havana has told Agenzia Fides. Local bishop, Dr Jorge Enrique Serpa Pérez says the church,…
British Christians under pressure to hide their faith- survey
British Christians feel under pressure to hide their faith at work, according to the largest public consultation ever conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Almost 2,500 people took part in the survey on their experiences of religion and belief in the workplace and as the recipients of services. The survey took place against…
L’Arche founder wins Templeton Prize
L’Arche founder Jean Vanier has won this year’s Templeton Prize. The £1.1 million prize honours a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, and always exceeds the Nobel prizes in value, due to founder John Templeton’s belief that spiritual advances are no less important than those in other areas…
Indian Christians pray after horrific attack on nun
Prayers have been said in churches across India for a 71-year-old nun who was gang-raped after six men broke into a convent school in Ranaghat in West Bengal. The attack has raised fears among India’s Christian community, already distressed by a series of attacks on churches and unconvinced by Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s…