It’s time the bishops commissioned a Catholic version of the sex education programme, writes David Quinn Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) has been part of primary and secondary school education for many years now. As is the case with other parts of the school curriculum, there seems to be wide variation between schools in terms…

The Pope’s imminent document will speak to couples and families struggling to cope with the pressures of society, writes Cathal Barry Just when you thought the buzz from last year’s family synod was petering out, it’s set to come back with a bang. The debate around Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics is set to…

The Church teaches that Jesus’ compassion allows him to identify with those who suffer, writes Cathal Barry Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude. Every illness can make us…

It’s vital that pro-life voters set tribal loyalties aside and are willing to stand up for life, writes Editor Michael Kelly The results of the General Election are somewhat of a curate’s egg. On the one hand, we have seen the election of many deputies who are pugnacious and unapologetic about their support for the…

“how can we demand ‘rights’ from nature?”, questions Mary Kenny Many campaigners aiming to dismantle the Eighth (Life Equality) Amendment to the Irish Constitution – protecting human life in utero – now march under the banner of “reproductive rights”. It sounds such a simple demand: who wouldn’t allow parents their “reproductive rights”? But how complex…

“The clumsy nature of the campaign opened the way to more and more anti-establishment politicians”, writes Breda O’Brien I was talking to a shop owner the other day, who told me that when he despairs at the state of Irish politics, he looks at American politics and feels much better. Without wishing to plunge him…

The Church, BBC and Rotherham abuse scandals all have a culture of deference in common, writes David Quinn Spotlight, the film about how the Boston Globe helped uncover clerical abuse scandals, won the Best Picture award at the Oscars last weekend. The film is aptly named because the Boston Globe did put a spotlight on…

The Church teaches that Penance can take place in the framework of a communal celebration, writes Cathal Barry Like all the sacraments, according to the Church, Penance is a liturgical action. The elements of the celebration, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, are ordinarily these: A greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the…

What most moves your heart? I was asked this question recently at a workshop. We were asked to respond to this question: When do you most naturally feel compassion in your heart? For me, the answer came easily. I am most moved when I see helplessness, when I see someone or something helpless to tend…

“Our time needs credible people who can speak of God in a way that makes God real”, writes Andrew O’Connell While the rest of the country was engrossed in election tallies last Saturday morning, I was at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin where all one hundred seats were filled for a private screening of…