Hannah Arendt’s warning of the ‘banality of evil’ reveals how the routinisation of abortion masks its human cost In 1961, Adolf Eichmann, one of the most notorious architects of the Nazi Holocaust, was tried in Jerusalem. The German intellectual, Hannah Arendt, went to Jerusalem to report on the trial. While the world expected to…
Even in the mess, God is beneath it all, catching the pieces as they fall, says Fr Chris Hayden These are challenging times for the Church. Times, of course, have always been challenging; it was our Lord himself who said, “In the world you wil have trouble” (John 16:33), and that biblical realism has never…
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending, in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Jubilee Year celebrations for seminarians and the priests involved in their formation. It was a very joyful gathering, which began with a procession along the Via della Conciliazione, towards the Basilica. We entered the Basilica a couple of…
The misunderstanding of technological advancement and human progress As we entrust Pope Francis to the loving mercy of God after his twelve years of Petrine ministry, it is good to ponder aspects of his legacy. One aspect – perhaps among the less obvious ones, but which we can ponder with great gratitude – is the…
Relentless Ministry For many priests, some of the most draining moments of their ministry are encounters with Catholics who approach faith and parish as a resource to be used, Fr Chris Hayden writes. The concept of ‘relentless ministry’ is not without limitations. It’s an entirely valid notion, of course, and if I were to suggest…
The truths of our faith make responsible living possible says, Fr Chris Hayden If I had a euro for every time I was asked to keep my homily short, I mightn’t quite have enough for a long weekend in a spa resort, but I’d probably manage a very decent main course in the restaurant.…
Recently, I was struck in a fresh way by a stale cliché. I heard someone opining that Massgoers are “voting with their feet” and, although I had heard those words many times before, on this occasion I was practically knocked off my own feet by the superficiality of the expression. The issues facing the Church…
Jesus should not be ‘taught’ only to be forgotten
The Good News is a gift for all
Fr Chris Hayden on searching for a destination for Ireland Remember when the M50 was being widened? Remember the national running commentary on the traffic chaos that arose from what was, metaphorically, an attempt to service an aircraft while it was flying. Some of the chaos was probably avoidable, and the pandemonium that prevailed…