“The State has a fundamental responsibility to cater for parents who do not want to send their children to a faith-based school”, writes Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in religious and social affairs. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, he attended the Pontifical University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he obtained degrees in philosophy and theology and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome where he studied social institutional communications. From 2002-2005 he was an Editor in the Central Information Service of Vatican Radio. In this role, he travelled with Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on overseas trips. In 2005, he returned to Dublin to take up the position of Deputy Editor with The Irish Catholic newspaper, succeeding as Editor in 2012. He is a regular contributor to programmes on RTÉ, BBC, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera. He also have extensive experience offering media training and coaching in the voluntary sector. Mr Kelly is a weekly columnist with Ireland’s largest-selling secular newspaper the Irish Independent and has been published in The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, The Irish News, The Guardian, Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. He writes from Ireland for Catholic News Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Micheal finished his stint as Editor of The Irish Catholic in January 2024 and has taken up the position of Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need Ireland.
Pope makes classic mistake on violence motivated by religion
“the Pope is absolutely correct that not all Muslims are violent”, writes Michael Kelly, but Pope Francis fails to “confront the cold reality that Islamists such as so-called Islamic State claim to be acting in the name of Islam”
Busting myths around priestly pay
If a man was interested in riches, the priesthood is probably the last road he’d choose to take. So, it’s a good job that priests understand their role as a call from God rather than a profitable way of life. Priestly remuneration is often shrouded in secrecy – especially in Ireland. Elphin is alone among…
Statistics don’t back ‘civilised and compassionate’ claim
“each and every story of a difficulty experienced during pregnancy is heart-wrenching, precisely because the gift of a new child is such a beautiful thing”, writes Michael Kelly
The danger of retreating into being ‘beige Catholics’
The saints did not fall into the modern trap of letting particular worldly experiences ‘measure doctrine’, writes Editor Michael Kelly
Church shouldn’t be afraid to promote distinct role of priest
Priesthood has, in a sense, been lost in a fog of a desire to promote the universal call to holiness
The Gospel message is a simple one
There seems to be a constant desire to uncover secrets
Jerusalem immovable ladder is a very human story
Michael Kelly reflects on a notable visit to a “special place of devotion and pilgrimage” in the heart of Jerusalem
It’s time for Church to recognise the importance of whistleblowers
“Within the Church people often feel vulnerable and feel forced to hide behind the cloak of anonymity”, writes Editor Michael Kelly
We’re afraid to speak out about morality in public
“No amount of depravation or social exclusion ever justifies the resort to criminality”, writes Editor Michael Kelly