Dear Editor, A few weeks ago, the bishops’ conference recommended the continuation of a number of protective measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the vulnerable or anxious members of the congregation. This included the suspension of a handshake as the sign of peace. At a recent meeting in my diocese, it was discussed that…
Dear Editor, It was good to read Michael Kelly’s article [The Irish Catholic – February 17, 2022] on the Women’s Council of Ireland and his pointing out that it is a long time since the Women’s Council – which claims a fortune of taxpayer’s money to lobby on behalf of women – has even pretended…
Dear Editor, In a thoroughly referenced article in Homiletic and Pastoral Review (July 2, 2020), Fr Regis Scanlon OFM Cap. claimed that Vatican II did not reverse Pius IX’s teachings on religious liberty, that the change in the Church’s teaching on religious liberty between Plus IX and Vatican II constitutes a “development of doctrine” and not…
Dear Editor, On the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul, 1959, Bishop Donal Lamont delivered a pastoral letter ‘Purchased People’ to the Catholics of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe.) It is a wonderfully clear, courageous and concise work and deals with many different issues. Relevant to our Western society today, is his analysis of the roles of…
Dear Editor, I couldn’t agree with Mary Kenny more that there is a case for teaching more about faith traditions which are relevant to current political conflicts [The Irish Catholic – January 20, 2022]. But let’s start with Ukraine. The dominant religion in Ukraine, east or west, is Orthodoxy. This is divided between those under the jurisdiction…
Dear Editor,The name of Ashling Murphy, R.I.P. will never be forgotten, nor should it be. As the eyes and ears of the world looked at and listened to reports of her brutal murder, there seems to be a renewed and steely determination that this indeed will be a watershed moment in the struggle to bring…
Dear Editor, I would agree with Fr Padraig Ó Cochláin’s sentiments [The Irish Catholic – January 13, 2020] as regards our lovely Irish language, it is the richest of all languages in its bounty of old truisms, seanfhocail agus beannachtaí. It is now an official language of the EU but my regret is that it…
Dear Editor, One evening recently I stopped for a while in a small village in the evening dusk. There wasn’t a single person to be seen on the village streets. All were in the comfort of their homes facilitated by the companionship and love of their families or so I imagined. I went into the local…
Dear Editor, In relation to the statement by the main Christian Churches in the Holy Land [The Irish Catholic – December 23, 2021]. Firstly, it is appalling that a small minority of Jewish extremists has been responsible for “physical and verbal assaults against priests and other clergy and attacks on Christian churches”. It is good to hear…
Dear Editor, As the pandemic rolls on and on and as numbers suffering from Covid grow more and more in spite of vaccinations and many restrictions, I feel called to share some thoughts and reflections. There is clear evidence that the current state of the world is much cause for anxiety and concern among many…