Dear Editor, Regarding the Swedish-type prostitution law which Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald intends to introduce and which has been supported in the pages of this paper (IC 22/10/2015 ‘Border towns at risk of prostitution ‘scourge’, Dromore bishop warns’), this writer believes it is prudent to sound a note of caution here. Firstly, some of the…

Dear Editor, As a great-grandmother I shall not be making a giddy race for the razzmatazz of the ‘Winter Carnival’, as some nowadays choose to designate Christmas. I shall celebrate Christmas as the amazing time in history when almighty God translated into human terms as Jesus, son of Mary, foster child of Joseph, so that…

Dear Editor, It was very heartening to read of the initiative in Moyross parish in Limerick, which is helping to introduce young people to the workplace by approaching local businesses for student summer work (IC 05/11/2015), and thus answering a need in the community. This is exactly the practical, hands-on approach to parish outreach that…

Dear Editor, I have been watching with interest the current series of The Meaning of Life on RTÉ television. I’m often tempted to think that the listing in the RTÉ Guide is incorrect and the programme should actually be called The Meaningless of Life. It’s a curious thing that, when it comes to religion, RTÉ…

Dear Editor, After running for 53 years on the national broadcaster the final knell of the bells has sounded for the traditional-style Angelus on RTÉ television. Angelus is a beautiful title of Greek and Latin origin meaning a name, angel or messenger. It was so appropriate to the Annunciation on TV with the icon of…

Dear Editor, Having read the letter by Kieron Wood (IC 08/10/2015) it is obvious that there is continuous ‘Mass confusion’ following the introduction by Vatican II, to enforce upon the faithful Catholics, on the first Sunday of advent 1969, wherein six Protestant denominations collaborated with Vatican II and Pope Paul VI to order a new…

Dear Editor, Cathal Barry (‘Some Catholic teachers feel “intimidated” in faith schools’, IC 22/10/2015) reports that some young teachers feel intimidated or fearful sharing their views on their Catholic faith in Catholic schools.  I hope these teachers will take some solace from the words of Cardinal Basil Hume in his book To Be a Pilgrim,…

Dear Editor, Each year we see Hallowe’en decorations and merchandise in shops and even restaurants and hotels something similar to the garlands and lighting for Christmas, usually in orange and black and looking as ghoulish as possible. “Hallowe’en” means “hallowed (or holy) evening” (even = e’en) as it preceded All Saints Day on November 1,…

Dear Editor, Nuala O’Loan is very well aware of the important roles that women have played in the history of the Church, as can be seen in her article under The View (‘The Church needs to separate decision-making from ordination’ IC 22/10/2015). However, she still would like to see women holding more ‘prestigious’ places in…

Dear Editor, As I grow older I go to more and more funerals; a fact of life! It seems as though these are significant occasions for evangelisation. Nowadays the minority of younger people attending funerals do not attend Mass regularly; they do not know the responses or the movements (knelling, standing etc.) Yet many of…