Dear Editor, In my opinion I do not think seminaries are necessary at all. Surely any aspiring priest could go to an institute three nights a week to learn biblical studies and liturgical matters, while remaining in his employment. Furthermore, when Jesus sent out the Twelve Apostles to evangelise the world they did not go…

Dear Editor, The heading to David Quinn’s article (IC 06/08/2015 ‘Priests and people alike will have to ‘interfere’ in politics) tells us that “the current retreat from politics means that the bishops have no vision of the common good to offer”.  Yet, the much-lauded recent papal social encyclical says that individual fulfilment is at the…

Dear Editor, In relation to the article ‘Not in my name’ in the July 30th issue, Niall Guinan seems a lovely young man. He pointed out that Catholics who voted ‘yes’ in the marriage referendum were not out to destroy the foundation of society. The Catholics who voted ‘no’ were not out to discriminate against…

Dear Editor, Heartbreaking events dominate our news now. Homelessness for families in Irish cities, likewise homelessness for thousands of refugees fleeing war and violence in their own countries, many dying on their journeys. May I suggest a way which we Irish people could help? Some years ago, Sister Stan, founder of Focus Ireland, persuaded her…

Dear Editor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has warned that the Church in Ireland will only have a future if a new generation of “strong and articulate” lay people can make their voices heard (IC 30/07/2015). For that to happen we need to know our Faith, more so now than in the past, when society generally was…

Dear Editor, Bishop Doran of Elphin and Bishop Cullinan of Waterford are to be applauded for tackling political parties who do church gate collections and consistently advocated policies and introduced legislation which undermines marriage and the right to life of the unborn child (IC David Quinn 23/07/2015).  I wonder will our other bishops and parish…

Dear Editor, I am always bemused by the fact that the chattering classes constantly trot out the idea that the State should not fund teachers’ salaries, capitation grants and other supports in denominational schools because taxpayers’ money is involved! It is conveniently forgotten that the majority of the population belong to these denominations, including the…

Dear Editor, The picture on your front page (IC 06/08/2015) of Fr Robert McCabe honouring the “unrepentant Fenian” raises a question for at least one reader. According to reports, O’Donovan Rossa in his later years was converted from dynamite to dialogue, embracing constitutionalism as a reluctant Redmondite. His lapse into peaceful means is explained by…

Dear Editor, It is good to see Prof. Ray Kinsella speaking about the breakdown of the family as those who have a duty, the authority and also the means to speak in defence of the family have been silent (IC 06/08/2015). His accusation that the tax system (re tax individualisation) is leading to family breakdown…

Dear Editor, For some time now, I have been disturbed by the usage of the terms ‘marriage equality’ and abortion as if they were similar issues. Whatever one’s views on the former, the widely-held assumption that proponents of same-sex marriage would automatically be anti-life, is insulting to gay people and takes no account of the…