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, 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…

Dear Editor, I was very pleased that The Irish Catholic highlighted the fact that Pope Francis, when interviewed on Portugal’s Radio Renascenca, issued a timely caution to welcome refugees but not to be naïve due to the dangers of Islamist extremists hiding amongst genuine refugees.    He was right to speak of the “incredibly cruel…

Dear Editor,  I fully agree with Fr Hilliard’s words (IC 03/09/2015) that Europe has been latent in working to negotiate peace settlements and programmes to be put in place to help people return to rebuild life in their countries of birth. When is Europe going to wake up and face up to its responsibilities? I…

Dear Editor, I was delighted to hear that Pope Francis has announced that the next World Meeting of Families is to be held in Dublin. Will this mean that the Pope himself shall visit, perhaps including Northern Ireland while he is here, and Knock too? Either way, the decision to host the World Meeting of…