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…

Dear Editor, Paul Keenan’s warning about the threat to the seal of confession is timely indeed, ‘Breaking the seal’ (IC 17/7/14). Sacerdotal privilege has traditionally been recognised by the courts of the Republic of Ireland – though the Supreme Court, in a 2001 appeal by the ‘Church of Scientology’ against a judgment which refused privilege…

Dear Editor,When we confess our sins it is to reconcile ourselves to God. The priest acts for God and only he can forgive our sins. We are taught from a young age that it is a grievous sin for the confessor to break the trust of the penitent and therefore I find it an insult…

Dear Editor,We are due to have a referendum as to whether or not to write same-sex ‘marriage’ into our national law. Unfortunately, some people tend to think ‘if that’s how gay people want it, then why disallow it to them?’ while others argue ‘why not just call it Gay Union?’ We should vote only after…

Dear Editor, Your lead story last week, ‘Hopsital Catholic chapel to be replaced by mutli-faith centre’ (IC 17/7/14) reminded me a very recent visit I paid to a multi-faith room in Leeds Bradford International Airport two weeks ago. Intrigued by such facilities, I try to pay a visit whenever I see them offered and the…

Dear Editor, Declining Mass numbers, a vocations crisis, and now news that even the production of the Holy Communion breads is no longer the preserve of the Church, ‘Orders’ bread threatened by overseas secular suppliers’ (IC 17/7/14). How far have we come that such a central element of our faith is a mere product of…

Dear Editor, Yes, yes and yes again to President Michael D. Higgins’ selection of Br Kevin Crowley as a true hero, ‘President hails Br Kevin Crowley as his ‘Dublin hero’’ (IC 24/7/14). Ireland has changed much over the last 30 years, together with the profile and numbers of our homeless. Only two factors can be…

Dear Editor, Many congratulations on your front page cartoon ‘Soccer, not theology, divides the two Popes’ (IC 10/7/14) which was light-hearted without being disrespectful (I have no doubt our two Holy Fathers would agree) and brought a smile to me and others in my circle. Long after the cheering in Brazil has faded, I will…

Dear Editor, The logic with which Fr Fergus Ryan explained the three-part structure of the ‘proper prayers’ in the Roman Missal in The Irish Catholic of June 26 is admirable. However, those of us who are used to the natural rhythm of the English vernacular (i.e. the language of the ‘home-born slave’), find it difficult…

Dear Editor, Sarah Carey’s article, ‘Wild exaggerations piled on Tuam story’ (IC 12/6/14) links nicely with David Quinn’s statement in the issue of June ’26: ’There is a willingness to think the worst about Catholic Ireland.” Sarah starts well by pointing out the exaggerations in the reporting of the Tuam story although she implies that…