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, 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…

Dear Editor, One again The Irish Catholic leads the field, this time in keeping attention focused on the plight of Christians in Iraq, ‘World is turning ‘blind eye’ to Iraq’s Christians (IC3/7/14). It never fails to baffle me that the world’s press, in its drive to fill the 24-7 news agenda has not, even from…

Dear editor, I am writing in response to the article by Cathal Barry titled ‘Govt wants Pope to make Magdalen nuns pay out’ (IC 3/7/14). I agree with Lucinda Creighton that this would be a positive step. It is not enough to make apologies. Those who have been affected by the Magdalen laundries should be…

Dear Editor, I have been privileged to know the former President, Mrs McAleese, since 1995. So I cannot stand idly by and pass unmoved when I see her good name and reputation vilified by your columnist Mary Kenny – ‘Mary Kenny knows how to craft a headline’ (IC 26/6/2014). I would never, ever accuse Mary…

Dear Editor, Regarding the publication by the Department of Health of the abortion guidelines to accompany the so-called Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013, the Fine Gael/Labour Government have done exactly what some members of the pro-life movement predicted: the Government waited until after the 2014 Local and European Elections before publishing their life-ending…

Dear Editor, Your comments on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s interview with Gay Byrne on The Meaning of Life (IC 26/6/14) was an excellent summary of the Taoiseach’s poor understanding of his faith. That the Taoiseach taught religion and is a regular Massgoer begs the question, does the Taoiseach misunderstand his faith or has he lost…

Dear Editor, The recent episode of The Meaning of Life with Enda Kenny was significant in that his lack of knowledge and belief of the primary things which Jesus taught us through his parables and in the prayers he gave us. This lack of knowledge of the basic tenets  of Christianity by Mr Kenny (a…

Dear Editor, The Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s TV interview with Gay Byrne may well be an example of ‘muddled Catholicism’ (IC, 29/6/14) but, having viewed it a couple of times, I’m not so sure that most of us are not just as muddled. Certainly the Taoiseach did demonstrate some of the ‘à la carte’ Catholicism that…