There are clerics who see no inconsistency in living off the Church while preaching opposition to the Church, writes Editor 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.
What the Pope’s Dublin visit might achieve
“We shouldn’t be surprised that people want the World Meeting of Families to be more than just a Catholic come-all-ye”, writes Editor Michael Kelly
Touching the suffering of Christ
“Christ’s body was real, his suffering was real. We might say that humanity left its mark on him, and the human condition took its toll”, writes Editor Michael Kelly
Northern Catholics want an alternative to Sinn Féin, but it isn’t the SDLP
“There is simply nowhere for Catholics who are serious about the defence of marriage and the right to life of the vulnerable to go”, writes Editor Michael Kelly
Lough Derg – a place of welcome for all
Some 500 pilgrims passed through the Door of Mercy at Lough Derg’s first day of the season, writes Michael Kelly
Ireland should stand up for persecuted Christians
“Ireland has traditionally had an enviable reputation for raising human rights concerns at home and abroad”, writes Editor Michael Kelly
Danger of Church colluding in false abuse impression
“I sometimes also wonder about the centrality and prominence that safeguarding has taken in the life of the Church”, writes Editor, Michael Kelly The watchdog set up to monitor the Church’s adherence to stringent child protection rules has published a new set of ‘standards’. Amongst other things, the document aims to redress a perception that…
The Mercy jubilee’s mixed fortunes
“Based on the numbers, the Year of Mercy is proving to be extremely dissatisfying from Rome’s point of view”, writes Editor Michael Kelly It would be both unfair and untrue to call the jubilee year of mercy a flop, but it’s not going to be anything like the Great Jubilee of 2000. I was in…
Giving RTÉ credit where it is due
“RTÉ clearly takes the responsibility of connecting people with this faith experience very seriously”, writes Editor Michael Kelly RTÉ is often roundly (and rightly) criticised for an apparent hostility towards faith and Catholicism in particular. Many people saw the disgraceful 2011 defamation of Fr Kevin Reynolds as confirmation of bias, or even an anti-Catholic agenda,…
The Pope’s pastoral ‘revolution’
Francis is trying to build a Church that is faithful to Christ’s teaching while ensuring that everyone can find a home, writes Michael Kelly Within minutes of the publication of the Pope’s landmark document on marriage and the family, the British-based left-wing newspaper The Guardian uploaded a message on social media confirming that the Pontiff…