Dear Editor, I enjoy reading Mary Kenny’s article every week in your esteemed newspaper. She is a rock of sense and a fountain of knowledge. But I suppose there is no such thing as absolute perfection. Nollaig na mná? (IC 08/01/2015) Mary, mo náire thú. Tuiseal ginideach, uimhir iolra of bean, as you learned at school. I like to climb…

Dear Editor, It was interesting to read Peter Costello’s timeline of some philanthropic Irish millionaires and their laudable generous contribution to Irish society (Book Reviews IC 08/01/2015). There were possibly many smaller, and possibly more personally impactful, acts of generosity going on that also need to be lauded. Take the case of Canon Molloy –…

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…

Dear Editor, I have only recently become familiar with Charlie Hebdo’s work, thanks to the inexcusable act of violence in Paris. I am a fan of satire, but Hebdo seems to focus its energies exclusively on provoking the Islamic community in the most vile way possible. Its writers worked hard to provoke a reaction, and…

Dear Editor, Cathal Barry rightly condemns Irish Times journalist Rosita Boland’s sneering attack on the generous Belvedere College students Christmas sleep-out for the homeless (IC 08/01/2015). Ms Boland, apparently, from her lofty perch in the Irish Times, found the Belvedere lads’ efforts to help the homeless “inappropriate”, “distasteful” and “uncomfortable”. The Belvedere lads’ fee-paying status…

Dear Editor, I think it’s important to understand that we can condemn the brutal attacks on the Charlie Hebdo staff in Paris, without necessarily throwing in our support behind what the magazine actually does in terms of its portrayal of religious belief. Lawless, merciless killing is an horrific evil, but mockery of people’s sincerely held…

Dear Editor, Some years ago I came across a book with the title The Feminisation of the Male. I thought of this book title on reading Philip Brennan’s letter on the subject of St Joseph (IC Letters 01/01/2015). Unfortunately, there has been a tendency in the past (not necessarily on the part of Mr Brennan)…

Dear Editor, That God’s will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, is a petition in the Lord’s Prayer, commonly said by Christians. Then, due to human weakness, and often falling short of our good intent, we can still confidently rely on God’s love and mercy, because our prayer also includes the petition:…

Dear Editor, There have been many consoling, encouraging and beautiful experiences in my privileged 62 years of priesthood; few, however, more beautiful than witnessing and ministering to the love of God’s people for the God who loves them, as they receive him in Holy Communion. You published on December 11 a front page story and…

Dear Editor, Since retiring to this beautiful area of Kerry seven years ago, I have year upon year witnessed significant organisational Church decline which has included a reduction in the number of priests and a consequent 25% reduction in Sunday Masses.   Our parish is reputed to be the largest geographical parish in the country…