Category: Letters

Dear Editor, I find it astonishing that a Government which pretends to reflect all religions and none should adopt a Christian symbol to commemorate Irish dead in the First World War. I can only describe it as outstanding hypocrisy. I also object to the term “sacrifice” in this context. The deaths of the soldiers in…

Dear Editor, May we ourselves be the change we wish to see in the Church and indeed the world? Too often we want to change only that external to ourselves, and to seek “inclusivity” only to facilitate our own exclusive opinion and positions, and may indeed while calling for inclusivity, be quite exclusive and self-centred…

Dear Editor, The forced expulsion of Iraqi Christians from their homes by ISIS is a great human tragedy and should not be happening in the 21st Century. It is a great crime and humanitarian disaster. It should be strongly condemned by all right thinking people who believe in religious freedom and democracy. ISIS ideology is…

Dear Editor, Thanks to The Irish Catholic for Martin O’Brien’s insightful interview of Francis Campbell, who has taken over the leadership of London’s St Mary’s University.  As an Irishman, Mr Campbell follows in the footsteps of many great Irish Vincentians most notably Fr Kevin Cronin and Fr Des Beirne. One aspect of Mr Campbell’s campaigning…

Dear Editor, I was very surprised to read that the Vatican has ordered Catholics to replace hugs and kisses with handshakes when they are offering the Sign of Peace.Pope Francis is banning hugs and kisses at Mass, and he has told bishops to draw up strict guidelines. The circular said churchgoers should be offered “practical…

Dear Editor, I also share Mr Kieron Wood’s concern (Letters, Aug 7) that words such as “consubstantiation” would not be understood by ordinary Massgoers, but he can rest assured that it doesn’t appear in the new translation of the Ordinary Form of the Mass.  The question now is should Mr Wood seek ‘forgiveness’ or ‘remission’…

Dear Editor, Well done to Marie Collins (IC, July 24) for calling out the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) for their denial about the Murphy Report.There is a worrying tendency in certain (mostly clerical) circles in the Church to engage in a process of trying to unpick the comprehensive reports that have shone light on…

Dear Editor, There is no doubt that the provision of hospital chaplaincy staff is a priority and as having ministered in a hospital, this service is needed as never before.I find that what patients need is the reassurance of the sacraments, especially with regards to Confession.  For a person who may be close to death…

Dear Editor, I’m finding the rise in attacks on churches in this country deeply disturbing. Last week’s paper reported an attack on a church in Limerick – Our Lady of Lourdes – and in previous weeks I remember there had been another church attack in Kilkeel, Co. Down followed by a synagogue that was attacked…