Dear Editor, The death of the actor Robin Williams is a terrible tragedy – its impact made all the more severe by his popularity, talent and charismatic character. For people in the clutches of something like a mental illness as powerful as depression it is very hard to find or even fight their way out…

Dear Editor, I once attended a humanist funeral which was mainly about memories of the deceased person. Today Catholic funerals are largely similar, apart from the formal liturgical content. The homily, which is primarily meant to explain the scripture readings, is instead a combination of a eulogy and canonisation decree. Spiritual input generally presumes a…

Dear Editor, I think it is probably important that we mark the death of Canon Mark Diamond, who died on the feast day of Saint Muredach. At a time in the history of Christianity in Ireland which currently seems to be punctuated by a corrosive secular view of the dignity of mankind, he at alltimes…

Dear Editor, A recent article by Mary Kenny (IC August 14) discusses the just war theory of Thomas Aquinas and implores the prudence of our leaders about when to put it into practice. In such matters why don’t we refer such questions directly to Jesus himself? In one of the most solemn moments of his life before…

Dear Editor, In relation to the article ‘Solidarity with persecuted Christian minorities’ (IC August 14), Trócaire is gravely concerned about the suffering being endured by Christians and other religious minorities across northern Iraq and Syria. Trócaire has committed humanitarian aid to respond to the urgent needs of civilians from minority communities in northern Iraq, including…

Dear Editor, I want to say that I disagree with the recent Vatican restriction on the Sign of Peace in Mass. I cannot see what is wrong with the priest coming down from the altar to greet the people. I think that the Vatican should look more closely at the Gospels and rule accordingly. In…

Dear Editor, At the recent Memorial Mass for the Irish men who died in World War I, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said they had pursued an ‘ideal’. How can this ideal possibly be consistent with the non-violent teachings of Jesus and thus the Will of God? The Pope at the time, Benedict XV, said to the…

Dear Editor, I read with amazement the letter from Fr John McCallion (Letters, August 7) about the need for hospital chaplains. I agree that the provision of chaplains and pastoral care can be a great comfort for patients and their families. I am a secondary school teacher who in the past has worked in Ireland…

Dear Editor, I am a Catholic lay person in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, and I have been involved in the pro-life movement for over 30 years. Each week I receive a good number of pro-life bulletins, newsletters, updates, e-mails and fundraising appeals. As far back as 1986, I noticed that some Catholic pro-life…

Dear Editor, Over the past number of years the Christian communities in many countries such as Nigeria, Iraq, Bangladesh and others have been enduring severe persecution. The terrible plight of the Christian community of the town of Quaraquosh in Iraq at present is but the latest example of that persecution. It is estimated that 50,000…