Dear Editor, Your stories of July 14, ‘Irish nuns defy danger to stay in South Sudan’ and ‘Dublin football star praises ‘powerful’ work of priests’, were welcome reminders of the continuing and vital work of missionaries to Africa. Far from being a thing of the past, as we are often led to believe, the reports…

Dear Editor, It was refreshing to read the thoughtful comments of Fr Hugh Kennedy and the Latin Mass Society’s Michael O’Donovan in response to Cardinal Robert Sarah’s call for priests to celebrate the Mass facing East (‘Back to the Future?’ IC 14/07/2016). Too often debate on these matters has a kneejerk character that’s dogmatic in…

Dear Editor, Text may be the substance of a newspaper but a picture is still worth a thousand words. So thank you for the beautiful photograph you published on page 2 last week (IC 14/7/16) of the newly-ordained Fr Conor McDonough OP giving First Holy Communion to his nephew, James, while his parents looked on.…

Dear Editor, How wonderful to know that 1,500 young Irish Catholics are preparing to depart for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland with Pope Francis. The secular media are very quick to tell us stories that reflect badly on young people. Let’s hope the papers will be happy to report on this news. At least…

Dear Editor, I was glad to see Martin Mansergh (‘Somme anniversary is sober reminder of essential role of European integration’, IC 07/07/2016) rightly drawing connections between the Battle of the Somme and the dangers posed by England and Wales voting for the UK to leave the EU. Some will doubtless see this as hysterical scaremongering,…

Dear Editor, What are we to make of the cavalier approach of our parliamentarians to Bunreacht na hÉireann in the matter of the Eighth Amendment? The Attorney General has expressed her opinion that the legislation proposed is contrary to the Constitution and thus illegal. Would not the civilised thing to do be to tease the…

Dear Editor, Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities and a tireless advocate of the dignity of all people, especially the disabled, says in his book Our Life Together: “Each person, whatever his or her abilities, strengths or weaknesses, is important and sacred. They are a person loved by God and created for love. It…

Dear Editor, John Bruton (‘Brexit and the future of the European project’, IC 30/06/2016) hardly heeds David Cameron’s post-referendum remarks in Brussels. The latter mentions how mass migration swayed so many, yet your contributor’s article ignores the issue. Yours etc., Seán Bearnabhail, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.

Dear Editor, I do not share the view of many of your correspondents that Britain’s decision to exit the European Union was a bad thing. As a Catholic unionist I would point out that the decision was democratically arrived at and reflected the view of the majority of the British electorate to make their own…