The Notebook Fr Bernard Healy   I try to visit the Isle of Wight for a few days every year. I sometimes joke that with its faded Victorian seaside resorts, relaxed way of life and quaint country villages that it’s a chance to take a short holiday in the 1950s. However, when I visit, I’m…

Garry O’Sullivan Justice delayed is indeed justice denied, and when someone has been wronged no redress really fixes everything. It is almost 14 months since the Irish Times – which in the minds of those who work there styles itself as the paper of record – published an article which falsely accused two young men…

Exclusion zones are an infringement on democracy, writes Denise Kelly   One of the greatest challenges for the pro-life movement is in combating false public perceptions – perceptions that by and large are created by those most vociferous in opposing what we stand for. I get where the motivation comes from. If you’re going to…

Britain should do more to remember the victims of its religious persecution, writes Francis Campbell   On this day in 1681, a short distance from this studio, an innocent man was hanged, drawn and quartered. That was the punishment for high treason. Today, July 1,  marks his feast day for he was St Oliver Plunkett.…

Fr Bernard Cotter reflects on the challenges Cork & Ross faces   Bishop John Buckley became Bishop of Cork & Ross in February 1998. For over 20 years he has been a shepherd to people in need of care in his diocese. Very few people who spent more than a few days in any Cork…

A new report issued by the Central Statistics Office claims that Irish Protestants live longer than Irish Catholics – comparing 563 Protestant deaths per 100,000 persons as against 660 Catholic deaths. One historian, Dr Ida Milne, attributed this trend to Protestants probably having a thriftier and more frugal lifestyle. Protestants see thrift as a virtue –…

There are prices to be paid for greater social variety, writes David Quinn   ‘Diversity’ is the new religion of Ireland. It is one of those words that is never challenged, is constantly promoted and is simply assumed to be a good in itself. Celebrate it, we’re told. ‘Diversity’ is ‘inclusive’. ‘Diversity’ is ‘compassionate’. These…

John
 McGuirk   This week, we found out something that was supposed to be a secret. We were not supposed to know that Google employees manually interfered with search terms to promote some videos on Youtube, and hide others, in the week leading up to last year’s abortion referendum. This was a decision taken internally,…

Letter from Rome Inés San Martín   As the Catholic Church in Germany prepares to embark on a synodal process motivated in part by a desire to stop a haemorrhage of faithful, Pope Francis has sent them a letter reminding them they don’t walk alone but with the universal Church. In the missive he also…

Last week, a British appeals court ruled a mentally incapacitated woman would not be forced to have an abortion against her will, overturning the decision made by the country’s Court of Protection. The original decision was met with shock by the country’s Catholic Church and pro-life organisations. Although little is known about the woman’s circumstances, it…