Dear Editor, I particularly liked the piece by Gavan Kerrr on discernment and vocation in The Irish Catholic on September 24. It reminded me of the book Priestly Vocation by John Blowick, co-founder with Bishop Galvin, of the Society of St Columbanus (now based at Dalgan Park Navan.) Fr Blowick’s book was essentially based on…

Dear Editor, As the homelessness crisis intensifies with another unnecessary death on the streets of Dublin I suggest, following Pope Francis’ suggestion regarding the current refugee crisis, that every Christian parish in Ireland would either house a homeless person or adopt such a person by providing decent accommodation for them. The professionals in all the…

Dear Editor, Robbie Henshaw’s admission that he says a “quick prayer” before a match may warrant a comment in your paper (IC 24/09/2015), but while anybody can say a prayer, it would have been more impressive if he expressed a faith commitment similar to that of Ulster/Ireland player, Andrew Trimble or Dublin’s Ger Brennan. To…

Dear Editor, Mary McAleese has received plenty of coverage for her most recent attacks on the Synod of Bishops, just as last year when she claimed the idea of the Church’s bishops advising the Pope on family life was “completely bonkers”.  Her sneers at the idea of the Pope seeking the advice of celibate males…

Dear Editor, While the dust may have settled somewhat on the paedophile scandals, and while praise is given to some Church leaders as to how they handled the matter, I myself remain disturbed. I am looking at this matter from the religious point of view only. In all I read or heard I found a…

Dear Editor, It was encouraging to see Cathal Barry’s column on liturgical diversity in the Church (IC 01/10/2015). Indeed, our Church is very rich in its liturgical traditions, to the point where we even have married priests in some of our eastern Churches and in the personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans.  However, Cathal failed to…

Dear Editor, Even allowing for the sharp exchanges one expects in politics, Seamus Mallon’s bitter comments on Tony Blair and Bertie Aherne (IC 01/10/2015) and their role in the success of the peace process are unashamedly self-serving and most regrettable. Yours etc., J. Anthony Gaughan, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Dear Editor, The standard of reporting on religion in the media is appalling (your own newspaper is, thankfully, an honourable exception). I find myself time-and-again having to go to the original source of a story to get beyond the silly media spin to the truth. Pope Francis is a case in point. Repeatedly, he is…

Dear Editor, The Taoiseach’s claim that Fine Gael and Labour have saved Ireland is hilarious.  Prior to the economic crash there were few enlightened warnings from the Opposition benches. The late Brian Lenihan, while terminally ill, took courageous steps to stave off disaster and his policy has been followed since.  On the other hand, Labour…

Dear Editor, It seems a secret dossier is being circulated in the Vatican by clerics opposed to Pope Francis’s recent decision to “liberalise” the process of marriage annulments. While Pope Francis goes out to the whole world proclaiming the Gospel, some at home in Rome are plotting against him. Better to be a missionary of…