Dear Editor, Mary Kenny’s mention of The Handmaid’s Tale in her aside about terms like ‘forced birther’ (IC 13/6/2019) raises an important point that should be borne in mind by those who would claim that pre-Repeal Ireland was akin to Margaret Atwood’s dystopia. In the original novel, women are indeed treated as commodities – or…

Dear Editor, Regarding Fr Gerry O’Connor’s criticism of an American bishop’s remarks on the unsuitability of Gay Pride Marches for children (IC 6/6/2019), I would like to ask him if he ever witnessed a Gay Pride March. In my opinion not even a self-respecting homosexual person would approve of them Fr O’Connor does not see…

Dear Editor, We in the Republic of Ireland have had the most anti-Christian government in Europe for the past eight years. We have had legislation redefining marriage, legalising abortion and now proposals leading to quickie divorces. In addition religious symbols have been removed from hospital wards and corridors and every effort is being made to…

Dear Editor, Your coverage of Facebook’s short-lived attempt to censor the Iona Institute’s ‘Still one of us’ (IC16/5/2019 and 23/5/2019) has been eye-opening and alarming, not least as it should remind us of how Facebook and Google shut down pro-life advertising ahead of last year’s referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment. During that episode, readers…

Dear Editor, Our Faith shouldn’t be reduced down to just some self-help guide on how to improve ourselves and be kinder to others – a mentality which I think many interpret religion to be. As Catholics we are called to not only transform ourselves, but to also change the society we live in by always…

Dear Editor, Your vocations supplement this week (IC 9/5/2019) was really quite fascinating and the sort of thing that young men and women discerning clerical or religious vocations would surely find both interesting and useful. I’ve no doubt that the many religious orders that have advertised in your paper were delighted with this kind of…

Dear Editor, For all that Pope Francis often talks of his wish for “a poorer Church”, I don’t know how many of us expected it to entail figures for religious orders as stark as those published in The Irish Catholic this week (IC 2/5/2019). Recurring stories of losses at Veritas along with declining weekly collections…

Dear Editor, David Quinn’s article on the latest Tuam interim report (‘How we buried our poor’ [IC 25/4/2019]) was genuinely eye-opening, providing vital context for thinking about ongoing reportage on Mother and Baby Homes. Lies and presumptions about Tuam have been around the world countless times at this stage, but it looks as if the…

Dear Editor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s reminder that the Society of St Vincent de Paul should not neglect its identity is a vitally important one and something more of our charities would do well to heed. Pope Francis, after all, in his very first Mass as Pope cautioned us against becoming simply a “compassionate NGO”. It’s…

Dear Editor, It almost felt as if Easter has come a week early with this week’s copy of your paper (IC 11/4/2019). Fr Martin Browne’s article on   ‘Getting the most from the Easter Triduum’ spelled out perfectly just what we’ve been building up to these last few Lenten weeks and reminding us that we can…