St Patrick’s Day, as we all know, has in recent years become an occasion for “marketing” Ireland in various corners of the globe. The shiny new liberal Ireland is merchandised in such a way that it will attract many more investors, customers and traders. I’m all for investment, trade and opportunities for jobs – who…
The View The Pope’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates highlighted the issue of relations with Islam. It has been a recurring theme of this pontificate. It was also a major concern of Pope Benedict, although he was unfairly caricatured as anti-Islamic after his much mis-quoted Regensberg Address in 2006. Far from attacking…
Our task is still to make disciples of all nations, write David Quinn Last week, Pope Francis made one of the most important overseas trips of his pontificate so far when he visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Obviously any trip by a Pope to a Muslim nation is important for both historical reasons…
Letter from Rome Inés San Martín Though reaction to Pope Francis’s recent joint declaration with the leader of Al-Azhar, arguably the most important figure in the Sunni Muslim world, received a mixed verdict – from being hailed as historic, to being dismissed as another feel-good statement without teeth – few men have more…
Elise Harris Speaking at a secular conference on child pornography and online threats to youth last week, a Catholic priest said the fight against child abuse isn’t merely a cause for the Church, but for the entire human family and for civilization itself. During the February 7 panel titled ‘Pornography, Minors and Safety on the…
As a vowed, religious celibate I’m very conscious that today celibacy, whether lived out in a religious commitment or in other circumstances, is suspect, under siege, and is offering too little by way of a helpful apologia to its critics. Do I believe in the value of consecrated celibacy? The only real answer I can…
The Notebook On Wednesday morning, January 30, Fr John Cummins [pictured] looked forward to another busy day among his flock in the parish of Abbeyleix. One of the highlights of his day would surely be the celebration in the local primary school for Grandparents Day. His first public event on that morning was Mass…
Some years ago, I was invited to accompany an Australian right-to-life group to a witness vigil outside a Melbourne abortion clinic. I was staying with one of the women involved in the event, so I said I would. It was a peaceful and respectful gathering. The participants were seated on a wall, or on the…
The View Martin Mansergh January brought Ireland into the second and more difficult phase of the decade of centenaries dominated by the birth pangs of a new State. Part of the price of this or any form of Irish self-government was partition. There are two modes of remembering. The ceremonial joint session of…
The Church in Ireland badly needs a public affairs office, writes David Quinn The Catholic Church in Ireland needs a full-time public affairs office. At the moment, the response of the Church to issues of the moment is far too hit-and-miss and there is an almost total lack of ‘joined up thinking’ and ‘joined…
Mary Kenny
Breda O'Brien
David Quinn
Fr Ronald Rolheiser