I heard someone at a wedding Mass introduce the Scripture passage to be read as: “A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Theologians” – I smiled! In fairness, the reading was perfectly delivered, and the message was a solid and apt addition to the celebration. I wondered afterwards what might St Paul…
Ryan Tubridy is a polished broadcaster, and I wish him success with his new London-based job with Virgin Media, where he will present a morning radio show from 10am until lunchtime, starting in January. After leaving RTÉ, he has embraced his new role with the right attitude: pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and start…
The first report of the Synod on Synodality makes for very interesting reading. The second session of the synod will be in 2024. Of the 364 voting delegates who attended 50 were women. While one woman for every seven men was a very distinct under-representation, it was a very significant improvement on previous practice and…
Attending Mass in an Italian church shows how European Christianity has collapsed, writes Dualta Roughneen I have a travelled a lot over the last 20 years. My work has taken me to many different and varied countries, for weeks, months and years at a time. The work travel has allowed me to add holidays on…
A Finnish case shows the dangers hate speech laws pose for Irish Christians, Ruadhán Jones hears As Ireland considers introducing controversial hate speech laws, a Finnish case against a prominent Christian politician shows the “chilling effect” these laws could have here. While former MP Päivi Räsänen was cleared on November 14 by the Helsinki Court…
Most countries deem such restrictions to be disproportionate and not to hold rights in balance, writes David Quinn There is every chance you didn’t notice it because it was barely reported, but last week the Dáil voted by an overwhelming majority of 117 to 10 in favour of the so-called ‘Safe Access Zones’ Bill that…
Chris Altieri There was a curious news item carried by Vatican News recently, one which, among other things, reminds us that the Catholic Church has both real enemies and a long memory. It may also, however, serve to illustrate that often enough, the Church’s worst enemy is within – and the enemy isn’t who…
Jonathan Luxmoore The president of the Polish bishops’ conference has bitterly criticised demands for liberal change by the Church in neighbouring Germany and urged the Pope not to allow them to dominate the Rome Synod on Synodality. “Awareness of the power of truth sustains my hope for the ongoing synod – that it won’t be…
November 22, marked the 60th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963. This Irish American was the first Catholic to be elected president of the United States and his rise to the highest office of American politics represented a moment of pride and triumph of…
Dear Editor, I wish to commend you on your article, ‘We need a rethink on Communion Services’ [The Irish Catholic – November 9, 2023]. Your suggestion that the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours by parishioners might be a preferable option to ‘Communion Services’ is worthy of serious consideration. The revision of the divine office after…
Mary Kenny
Nuala O’Loan
Ruadhán Jones
David Quinn