Dear Editor, It was heartening to read Fr Tom Deenihan’s words dismissing “inaccurate, unworthy and misleading” criticism of Catholic schools (‘Catholic Ed. chief defends ‘inclusive and diverse’ schools’, IC 19/03/2015). I am fed up of reading criticism in the media about our schools. The Catholic Church did not set out to create some kind of…

Dear Editor, In response to the news from India, it is really very shocking that an elderly nun became a victim to this barbaric crime (‘Indian Christians pray after horrific attack on nun’, IC 19/03/2015). The attack on the religious nuns in the wee hours of the morning on March 14 should draw world-wide attention…

Dear Editor, Our former President’s remarks about Pope Francis left a stale taste in my mouth. Dr Austen Ivereigh was right to dismiss Mary McAleese’s claims that Pope Francis carries a “residual element of misogyny” that blinds him to the risks of insufficiently empowering women in the Church (IC 19/03/2015). Speaking as a woman, I…

Dear Editor, Congratulations to Cathy Burke on her letter ‘There is no necessary expense for First Holy Communion’ (IC 19/03/15). Our family, with a child making her Confirmation, was outraged when our local Killarney Credit Union published an advertisement offering loans of €1,000 to parents for Communions and Confirmations. Our credit union could not understand…

Dear Editor, The celebration of First Holy Communion has not always been as elaborate as it has become in very recent decades. How much of today’s celebration expenses have grown in response to acquiescing to advertising by hotels and restaurants and other agencies? (to whom I attribute no blame, as the choice by parents remains…

Dear Editor, Sadly in Ireland now it is not uncommon for persons living alone to be found dead for days or longer despite the plethora of community groups etc. Comments can be made “such and such had no family”, which may mean in some cases they had no children – such comments can ease the…

Dear Editor, I was flabbergasted to read of Fr Iggy O’Donovan’s reported intention to vote yes in regard to the referendum concerning same-sex marriage. I read the article three times to ensure I had not misconstrued the press report! Now, I am not fit to untie Fr Iggy’s shoes – such is his wealth of…

Dear Editor, In relation to Fr Eugene Kennedy’s letter on boring sermons (IC 26/02/2015): A young priest was replacing an older man, who said to him: “These parishioners are a funny lot. They don’t like long sermons.” So the young priest starts his sermon and after 4/5 minutes a “hallelujah’’ came from the congregation. The young…

Dear Editor, In St Brigid’s church, Belfast, Cardinal Turkson said that the duty of a Catholic politician is to reflect the joy and transforming power of the Gospel. Sadly, as shown by David Quinn’s comment piece (IC 05/03/2015 Nationalist parties are alienating Catholic voters), that is lacking in the nominal Catholics of both Sinn Féin and…

Dear Editor, It seems to me that the media could be descripted as ‘hetrophobic’ towards people that disagree, however minutely, with them and the gay agenda. Fair is fair – if they want freedom of speech for themselves, they have to allow the same for others as well. Yours etc., Brid Fitzpatrick, Terenure, Dublin 6W.