Category: Feature

Finding a spouse who will help you get to Heaven

Establishing romantic relationships can be difficult for young Catholics in the 21st Century, writes Amy Hurle McCann   In his book Love and Responsibility, St Pope John Paul II writes of the challenges, cautioning against using people as a “means to an end”. He emphasises that each person should be treated as “an object of…

Brutal attacks on Christians in Nigeria are condemned

Chai Brady speaks to missionaries about increased persecution in north-east Nigeria Islamic extremism and violence in Nigeria is increasing after a spate of attacks targeting both Christians and moderate Muslims, destroying almost all the clinics and schools Irish missionaries built in the north-eastern part of the country over the last few years. Much of the…

Social issues central to the focus of Young Scientists

This year’s BT Young Science and Technology participants devoted themselves to dealing with topical social issues, from mental health to climate change solutions. Taking place last week in the RDS, 1,100 students from 244 schools across the island from 31 different counties pitched their research, inventions and findings to the judges, the media and the…

Science and Faith A friendship of the ages

Christianity shouldn’t be afraid to talk about science, theologian Alister McGrath tells Colm Fitzpatrick   The story goes that when the French physicist Pierre-Simon, Marquis de Laplace presented Napoleon with his definitive work on the properties of our solar system, he was asked about the absence of God in his model. Laplace replied: “I had…

Geraldine Penrose Fitzgerald …novelist, suffragist and Irish protégé of Newman

Research for the Royal Irish Academy’s ongoing Dictionary of Irish Biography often uncovers significant forgotten figures, writes Patrick Maume   Geraldine Penrose Fitzgerald – novelist, suffragist and Catholic convert who corresponded with the elderly John Henry Newman – is a forgotten person. (His surviving letters to her have been published; some of hers to him…

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater

It’s time to outgrow Richard Dawkins, the author of a new critique tells Luke Silke   When it was published in 2006, Richard Dawkins’ takedown of faith The God Delusion remained on the bestseller list for 51 weeks. It was part of a fresh war of words on religion which has since been termed ‘the…

Life as a Faith-filled film star

Unplanned star Ashley Bratcher talks to Chai Brady about Christmas, Faith, the film and ‘intimidating’ workplaces   US pro-life film star turned producer Ashley Bratcher, who made waves after starring in a contentious film about abortion, opened up about her devout Faith that shapes every part of her life and how the Christmas season for…