Support for women is key to defeating culture of death
Often the Church is accused of holding up difficult ideals while not acting to help people try to achieve these ideals. The charge is, of course, false – helping others is of the essence of Christianity. Often you’ll hear people who are supporting of the campaign to remove the right to life of unborn children…
Vatican McAleese ban seen as ‘wrong but understandable’
A prominent theologian and advocate for Church reform has said the Vatican decision to bar former President Mary McAleese from speaking at a conference is “understandable”. However, Dr Massimo Faggioli, Professor of Historical Theology at Villanova University in the US believes that “whoever barred Mary McAleese from taking part in a major international conference on women’s…
Does Pope Francis have a blind spot on abuse?
There is growing disquiet within the Church about Pope Francis’ handling of allegations of clerical sexual abuse. Shortly after his appointment, Francis won widespread praise for setting up the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. It was a bold statement of intent that the Argentine Pontiff was intent on ensuring that the global Church…
Voting to protect the unborn will send a powerful signal to the world
The starting pistol has been fired on the referendum on whether or not to give politicians the power to legislate to provide for abortion on demand. Truth be told, the battle started a long time ago – a media largely sympathetic with the push for wider access to abortion has been engaged in ‘softening up’…
The freedom to hold beliefs…so long as they’re the Government’s
Though its critics may never acknowledge it (or even believe it), the Catholic Church is the world’s leading advocate for the marginalised and the vulnerable – an enemy of unjust discrimination, and a pioneer in healthcare and education. Whether it is standing up for the poor and homeless or the unborn and those nearing the…
Beware of Orwellian doublespeak as referendum campaign kicks off
As I predicted in this newspaper some time ago, Fine Gael is increasingly trying to frame the debate around legalising abortion in all circumstances up to 12-weeks as a moderate position. The reality, of course, is that there is nothing moderate about the state-sanctioned killing of children – whatever the Taoiseach’s spin doctors try to…
A tale of two countries
RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy announced on Friday on his morning radio programme that he didn’t know any couples who attend Mass. Apart from the obvious question as to how Mr Tubridy would know whether or not his friends go to Mass unless he has asked them all, at face value it’s an astonishingly revealing claim.…
An important year ahead for religious freedom
The issue of religious freedom will continue to be a major feature in public debate in the year ahead. Central to the discussion is the extent to which people ought to be free when there are what appear to be conflicting and competing rights. For example, where there is a legal right for a same-sex…
World Meeting is moment for Church to emphasise joy and mercy
The New York Times had a long article earlier this month on what it described in the headline as “the demise of the Church” in Ireland. Much has been made of the effects of abuse scandals and a tidal wave of secularism on the Faith. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of demise are greatly…