Dear Editor, In his article following on from his trip to Los Angeles (IC 25/02/2016), I think that Michael Kelly is missing a critical point when he writes of the “vibrant” liturgies that he experienced in his visit. A key contributor to this environment of vibrancy and life is the strong connection of the families…
Dear Editor, This new Education about Religions and Beliefs and Ethics (ERBE) programme being introduced into primary schools, will expect little children to explain and defend their faith, something well educated adults have difficulty with in our present secular surroundings. It is however much worse than that. All religious beliefs will be viewed through secular/atheist…
Dear Editor, I was relieved to read in last week’s The Irish Catholic of the strong pro-life presence Fianna Fáil will be bringing to the new Dail. For years now, people who hold pro-life views have been neglected by politicians, even those in Fine Gael who actively courted our vote in the previous election and…
Dear Editor, Thanks to Cathal Barry for his article ‘The Death of the Removal’ (IC 25/02/2016) and the valuable survey he made of practice in Irish dioceses. The one additional aspect I would have liked to have seen addressed is that of cost. Meanwhile, a survey of English and Welsh parishes would come up with quite…
Is abortion the only ‘rights’ issue Amnesty cares about? Dear Editor, Amnesty International was pushing an abortion agenda again last week with the release of their Red C poll findings. I don’t understand why a once-admirable human rights organisation is campaigning against the right to life of the most vulnerable human beings, babies in the womb.…
Dear Editor, Mary Kenny’s piece on blind cricket commentator Dean du Plessis, of Zimbabwe, was very interesting (IC 18/02/2016). She says: “Mr du Plessis, aged 39, was born with serious tumours in his head, and it was predicted at birth that he could only live for a brief time. But he survived, had medical care…
Dear Editor, In this Year of Mercy I think it would be a good idea if the bishops of Ireland would set aside a Sunday of atonement for all the sexual, physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological abuse carried out within our Church. How can we expect individuals to seek mercy if we the Church don’t…
Dear Editor, Congratulations to the Transition Year student María Salto Galdón from Alexandra College on her excellent article – ‘The Pope Francis effect on youth’ (IC 18/02/2016). This is a very well-written piece and I recommend that schools take it for discussion at senior level. Our youth need to be encouraged to own their faith and Pope Francis’ leadership is a good way…
Dear Editor, I was intrigued to read a report in last week’s edition of The Irish Catholic (25/02/2016) describing how faith and sport were the “matrix” for strong and healthy parishes. Physical Therapist Gerard Hartmann hit the nail on the head when he described how faith and sport are “intertwined”. It’s a pity that more…
Dear Editor, In the Trinity College Long Room lies an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation. As I read the words that helped establish a Republic (on the Irish model) I could not help but reflect on the deep irony of parties like Sinn Féin and in particular the Labour Party calling for abortion based…