Dear Editor, A recent letter entitled “The difference between ‘died’ and ‘passed’ (IC 08/01/2015) resonated with me two other wordsthat never sit well when read. They are ‘remains’ as in death, whereas ‘body’ is a much more spiritual word. Whenever I hear this I recall Romans 14.8 “whether we live or die we belong to the…

Dear Editor, The Government proposes an ‘historic’ change to the Irish Constitution, which will redefine the age-old definition of marriage. If approved by referendum, the amended definition will read: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.” God’s definition of marriage as taught by Christ is: “Have…

Dear Editor, I share with Helena Swords the feeling of offense at seeing our Catholic churches being increasingly used as concert halls with tickets being bought and sold at the door (Letters 01/01/2015). “My house will be called a house of prayer,” Jesus declared (Mt 21:13) and “Stop turning my Father’s house into a market,”…

Dear Editor, Am I alone in feeling irritated by the habit of some within the Church to use terms like ‘special Mass’ to try and add emphasis to a particular celebration of the Eucharist? One can, perhaps, forgive the error if it is used by journalists in secular newspapers, but it’s very disappointing to see…

Dear Editor, I was more than surprised to find a full page given over to Lucinda Creighton in your edition dated January 15. While Ms Creighton’s claim to fame, for pro-life people, is undoubtedly her principled stand in July 2014 when she did what few politicians will do, viz. keep their word, I cannot see how…

Dear Editor, What an inspiring letter on devotion to St Joseph from John Cleary (IC 15/01/2015). I’m afraid St Joseph has been somewhat neglected in our devotions. I actually took his name, Josephine, at Confirmation but have to admit that it is only in recent years that I have come to acknowledge him and to…

Dear Editor, Cathal Barry (IC 08/01/2015) reports the proposal of the Forum on Diversity’s Professor Coolahan that Catholic schools be financially penalised for not takings a proactive stance in handing over Catholic schools to secularists. His proposed discrimination is most alarming. Two years ago the Department for Education undertook a massive patronage survey in the…

Dear Editor, Your editorial (“One Church but a very different Catholicism”, IC 08/01/2015) was an important event. To read in a Catholic paper that “History proves that, when the Church lusts after political and secular power, the Gospel is soon relegated”, is to pinpoint the dilemma upon whose horns the Church has been impaled ever…

Dear Editor, In answer to Fr Ignatius Candon’s letter ‘Communion should be available to all’ (IC 15/01/2015), it has been brought to my attention that in certain priestless parishes in Germany and Switzerland, when a priest has turned up to celebrate Mass, he has been told, ‘No thank you, Father, we have our communion service’.…

Dear Editor, The recent case of a pregnant woman on life support had nothing to do with abortion. Ordinary lay people could see that. The evidence in court was so unanimously against the baby’s chances of survival there could only be one end to this tragedy. Michael McDowell, ex-Attorney General and Tánaiste, was right when…