Dear Editor, The so-called ‘silent majority’ will sleepwalk into a “post Catholic” (Ruairi Quinn quote) ‘liberalised’ Ireland unless they wake up and realise that they ARE a majority, and a majority that can make a huge difference to the direction Ireland is heading by letting their voices be heard. There is an election coming up…
Courtney McGrail
Congratulations on the 1916 Rising commemorative issue
Dear Editor, Congratulations on the quality of the commemorative 1916 Rising issue of the paper on December 17. I found it highly informative and many articles provided a new perspective on the events of the Rising. I particularly enjoyed the personal accounts from the Dublin archives, the Capuchin friars and the writings of the female…
RTÉ should show good work of religious
Dead Editor, Over five days recently the BBC carried a marvellous programme about the work of an Irish Presentation sister from Cork in the most deprived areas of Manchester entitled Sister Rita to the Rescue. I hope this series will be rescreened by RTÉ. What a hope! RTÉ is only interested in reporting on the…
Good advice on children and conflict
Dear Editor, I have been impressed in recent months with your new ‘Parenting Matters’ series by Dr Colm Humphries, but was especially moved by the most recent column, ‘Children are able to sense conflict without seeing it’ (IC 10/12/2015). Dr Humphries’ description of how we can instinctively pick up on things being wrong, even when…
News in Brief
Referendum proposal ‘blinkered’ –PLC The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has condemned as “blinkered” comments by government minister Simon Harris that there should be a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. PLC Deputy Chairperson Cora Sherlock said that the minister of state’s call was “indicative of the blinkered attitude of this Government when it comes to…
Modern martyrs entrusted to Mary
Pope Francis has entrusted contemporary Christian victims of religious persecution to the care of Mary. Speaking when leading the Angelus in St Peter’s Square on St Stephen’s Day, the Pope likened today’s martyrs to the first martyr, saying, “May the Virgin Mary, to whom we entrust all those – and, sadly there are so many…
World News in Brief
Burma can hope for a blessed year The coming year can be a year of blessing for Burma, also known as Myanmar, Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon has said in his Christmas message. “With the general election of November 8, our nation sees the dawn of a change,” the cardinal said, calling on “all men and women of goodwill to join…
English Church leaders condemn religious violence
The leaders of England’s Catholic and Anglican Churches have condemned religiously motivated violence, with Westminster’s Cardinal Vincent Nichols describing “violence in the name of God” as “always a corruption of true faith”. In his Christmas midnight Mass homily he likened Islamist militants to King Herod, saying “Today’s Herods, ISIS and the like around the world…
Secrets of the powers that be… from the archives
The Vatican: Ireland’s diplomatic listening post In recent years the justification of Ireland maintaining an embassy in both the Vatican and Italy has been the subject of much controversy, with the Vatican legation being abolished and then re-established. The Government seems to have taken little cognisance of the fact that the Italian State does not…
Behold him, born the King of Angels
Children from the Junior Infants class in Guardian Angels’ National School, Blackrock, Dublin taking part in the annual nativity play: (l-r) Dylan, Meabh, Emily and Sabrina. Photo: Anne Collins