If significant numbers of people chose not to be vaccinated, the result could be significant loss of life and serious illness in the community and especially among those who are most vulnerable, writes Bishop Kevin Doran Early in December 2020, the Irish Catholic Bishops issued a statement welcoming the progress that has been made in developing…
Since I am of the generation who grew up in Ireland in the 1950s, I’ve received messages on social media saying I – or we – must have been aware of the neglect, malnutrition and cruelties of the mother and baby homes which have been brought to light this week. Astonishing It may seem astonishing…
The View It is profoundly disappointing, not to mention scary if you are what the French call a ‘certain age’ to be once again in lockdown. It is heartbreaking to see it sweeping again through nursing homes, including places where it was successfully kept out in previous waves. Impacts Young people may not be as…
The commission doesn’t shy away from laying blame at the foot of families as well as Church and State, writes Chai Brady The responsibility for the “harsh treatment” of unmarried mothers “rests mainly with the fathers of their children and their own immediate families”, according to the commission investigating the institutions. The report – which…
None of us are served unless we have a debate that is rounded and looks at attitudes in other countries, writes David Quinn Much of the commentary down the years about the mother and baby home has focused on the role the Church played in creating harsh attitudes towards unmarried mothers and their children. The…
Letter from Rome By all accounts, President-elect Joe Biden is a sincere Catholic. He’s spoken openly about how his beliefs have sustained him through personal pain and loss, and while there may be debate in some circles about how coherent his politics are with his faith, few contest whether he has faith in the first…
Bishop Juan José Aguirre of Bangassou, Central African Republic, says the city “is paralysed” by post-election violence. “People have fled, they’re in hiding,” he told Crux via WhatsApp. On January 6, Pope Francis expressed his concern for this war-torn country and invited “all of the parties to a fraternal, respectful dialogue, to reject any form of hatred…
“You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” Anne Lamott Division Those are words worth contemplating, on all sides of the political and religious divide today. We live in a time of bitter division. From our government offices down…
There is no simple or singular story of the treatment of unmarried mothers in mother and baby homes and county homes. At the outset, I acknowledge that many former residents reject the use of the word ‘home’. The report of the commission investigating the treatment of the mothers and their children in the period from…
Dear Editor, I am a very regular RTÉ viewer and a supporter for years. I have enjoyed many beautiful programmes over the Christmas season – and even watched repeats, with great pleasure! However, I must object in the strongest possible way, to the sick joke re ‘God’s rape’ of an individual on NYE. I had…
Mary Kenny
Breda O'Brien
Chai Brady
David Quinn
John L. Allen Jr.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly