The View I had the privilege of accompanying the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales to the Royal English College in Valladolid in Spain two weeks ago. It is a beautiful and fascinating place, founded after the Penal Laws and the persecution of Catholics during the 16th-Century made the training of priests in England impossible.…
Lack of past practice suggests Pope won’t make profound change, writes David Quinn Pope Francis appears to have poured cold water for the time being on the idea of women deacons, or at least of something equivalent to the male deaconate. The Pope had established a commission in 2016 to examine the issue. It…
Chai Brady speaks to Aid to the Church in Need who helped save Asia Bibi After the celebrated news that persecuted Christian Asia Bibi reached Canada this month after a decade of incarceration and death threats in Pakistan, there was a collective sigh of relief, but also an understanding that there are still many…
What would a Catholic vote look like, asks Prof. Ray Kinsella It’s election time all over Europe. In Ireland, as well as elections to the European Parliament, there are local elections. So, here’s the question. Is there – should there be – a Catholic Vote? Should Catholics, in making their decision on how to…
Elise Harris Two of the heaviest-hitting cardinals with a hand in organising the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon have voiced concern about a priest shortage in the region, but shied away from offering concrete proposals for how to fix the problem such as the controversial idea of ordaining viri probati, meaning tested married…
During the years that I served as a Religious Superior for a province of Oblate Priests and Brothers in Western Canada, I tried to keep my foot inside the academic world by doing some adjunct teaching at the University of Saskatchewan. It was always a once-a-week, night course, advertised as a primer on Christian theology,…
The Notebook Fr Vincent Sherlock MARGARET CAFFERKEY, a young woman from the parish where I now work, went to America when she was 16 years of age. Hearing God’s call, she later entered an order of Enclosed Nuns in Newark, New Jersey. She took the name Sr Mary of The Blessed Trinity and when…
Letter from Rome Claire Giangravè Pope Francis’s cautionary words on the female diaconate made waves in early May, ruffling a few feathers in the Catholic world, especially among women. However, his remarks were welcomed by some female Catholics. “Francis’ comments make it clear that he holds to the classical understanding of doctrinal development,” said…
I don’t think I ever really understood loneliness when I was younger. Feeling lonely? Then join a club, develop an interest, get involved with a social project. The solution is in your own hands! But perhaps we grow more understanding with age – hopefully so, anyway – and I have come to empathise, much more than…
We are to have a referendum on May 24. The proposal is to change the Constitution to make it easier and quicker to get a divorce. The referendum will pass. For anyone who is brave enough to take part in public debate opposing the proposed change, I predict that this is the way it will…
Nuala O’Loan
David Quinn
Chai Brady
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Mary Kenny
Maria Steen