All knowledge needs to be encompassed within life values

Dear Editor, Louise O'Keefe's victory against the Irish Government in the European Court of Human Rights is a victory for all institutionally abused children. Her bravery and determination deserves the highest commendation.  The judgment drives a coach and horses through the Irish Government's claim that it is not responsible for abuse in education, welfare and…

Dear Editor, In the issue of January 16, Peter Costello reviewed At the Praetorium: Good Friday Revisited, a trilogy of one act plays’ by Sean Walsh, the former head of drama on radio at RTÉ. The review remarks “it is always difficult to see how plays might be in performance, but these are not (on…

Dear Editor, In an interview with Martin O’Brien (IC 16/1/14) Denis Bradley is reported as having said “the Church at a clerical level has been taken over by very young and very conservative young men. I think half of them are in Opus Dei." Would that half of them were trained for the priesthood by ‘Opus…

Dear Editor, You recently published an article on what the chances were of an imminent Irish cardinal – poor enough at present, I agree (IC 16/1/14). But by way of explanation that it would be heading North when finally bestowed, you stated that the odds are in favour of such an eventuality because, with the…

Dear Editor, As a recently retired secondary teacher of religious education amongst other subjects I, like Alan Whelan (IC Letters 23/1/14), entered the public debate in recent years on Catholic schools opening on the designated Holy Days of Obligation to attend Mass. At this stage of the debate I can see merit on both sides of the argument that was…

Dear Editor, I was dismayed when I heard the announcement in Church on January 5 last that the local primary school would reopen the next day, the feast of the Epiphany, a Holy Day of obligation. The dismay was turned to joy on January 6 when I observed the children being ferried to the Church…

Dear Editor, The Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association (NIMMA) is seeking volunteers to feature in a new book about the children of mixed marriages. The paperback will give at least 10 individuals the chance to tell in their own words how they were affected as the children of couples who put love before traditional allegiances.…

Dear Editor, I wish to draw the attention of your readers to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013. First stage and second stage of the Bill have been completed by the Dáil, and it has been referred to Select Committee. If passed, the Bill will allow the representative of a person lacking capacity to get…

Dear Editor, According to recent press reports, Mary McAleese said that homosexuality is not something that is perceived as something that is intrinsically disordered nowadays, and that things written by figures such as former Pope Benedict are contradictory to the understanding of most Catholics today. Mary McAleese must surely be aware that the Catholic Church…