Letter from Rome Elise Harris With 2019 already off to a running start, Vatican-watchers can expect a packed year of surprises, updates and new twists and turns. The to-do list includes the papal reform agenda, the clerical abuse crisis, international travel and possible new appointments to key dioceses and curial offices. This spring alone will…
Only the Irish political system makes 100% agreement on everything a condition of full membership, writes Larry Donnelly Last month, the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill was passed by the Dáil by a margin of 90 votes in favour and 15 against. Twelve TDs abstained. The bill has also passed in the Seanad…
In a landmark eight-page letter to US bishops who are on retreat in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis that has engulfed the American Church, Pope Francis called for a “new ecclesial season” led by bishops who are more than administrators interested in “pointing fingers” and instead, leadership marked by “collegial spiritual fatherhood”, rooted…
We all struggle to not give in to coldness and hatred. This was even a struggle for Jesus. Like the rest of us he had to struggle, mightily at times, to remain warm and loving. It’s interesting to trace this out in the Gospel of Luke. This is the gospel of prayer. Luke shows Jesus…
The Notebook The following is an extract from a well-known Irishman’s published account of his fairly recent experience of going to Mass. “I went up to Communion and ate the bread. I couldn’t manage the Apostles’ Creed — it must be for hardcore fans only — but the Our Father and Hail Mary were…
Ireland’s welcome to immigrants – from the EU and elsewhere – is admirable, and, at an anecdotal level, I have heard plenty of praise around the country about such young people who come to Ireland to work. The catering and hotel trade, I’ve often heard it said, just couldn’t function without them. I even asked…
It’s harder than ever to speak out against unfair criticism of the Church, writes David Quinn A few days before Christmas I posted a Tweet which pointed out that I often come across people these days who find it hard to be open about their Catholic faith both in the workplace and even sometimes in…
The View I always like to keep my Christmas decorations up until the feast of the Epiphany. The 12 days of Christmas are a very important time, and indeed in many countries gifts are not exchanged until January 6 – recognition of the fact that we commemorate on this day the arrival of the three…
Letter from America In what has been one of the darkest years in the history of the American Catholic Church, it may sound strange to speak of highlights. Yet, as the storm clouds of the clerical sexual abuse crisis overshadowed much of 2018, and lingers into 2019, looking back on the past year reveals…
Inés San Martín For a man who said that his pontificate would be a short one, Pope Francis is showing no signs of slowing down at the beginning of his seventh year as the successor of Peter. In many ways, 2018 was a roller coaster for the Argentine Pontiff who turned 82 on December…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Mary Kenny
David Quinn
Nuala O’Loan