Officials seem intent on mercy being the guiding principle, but that virtue was in short supply during pandemic writes Michael Kelly “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” is one of the best-known of the Beatitudes taught by Jesus. It’s a good mantra to live by, and even people who mightn’t describe themselves…
Mike Lewis Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández has a tough job. Ever since he took over as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) in mid-September, the Argentine theologian has been working hard to be the doctrine chief that Pope Francis asked him to be. When Fernández was appointed in July,…
In simpler times, news was what you were given and you were happy for it. Today we can source news from anywhere while running the gauntlet of misinformation, disinformation and distortion. To avoid confusing people, what we’re told is that clear communication of factual information leads to clarity and doubts being dispelled. So why is…
Failure of Catholic college’s dialogue process raises serious questions, writes Ruadhán Jones While most institutions were winding down over Christmas, teachers and staff at Mary Immaculate Catholic college received a bombshell announcement about MIC’s “historic” dialogue with University of Limerick (UL). In an email sent December 19, MIC President Eugene Wall admitted that after almost…
Ngala Killian Chimtom As a deadly conflict continues to rage in Sudan, Catholic bishops both inside the country and in neighbouring South Sudan used their Christmas message to praise the clergy and men and women religious for continuing to serve despite the risks. “To you, our dear clergy and religious men and women, we would…
Justin McLellan While bishops may take a cautious approach to the Vatican’s guidance on blessing same-sex or other unmarried couples, they should not deny their priests the possibility of discerning and imparting blessings on people who ask for them, the Vatican doctrinal office said. “Prudence and attention to the ecclesial context and to the local…
Dear Editor, Over the past few years, dioceses around the country have been debating how to balance the demand for funerals with the diminishing numbers of priests. Before this issue can be addressed, there is however a more fundamental conversation that needs to be had: the question of what a Requiem Mass is and what…
Freedom, in many of its manifestations, is under threat around the world, whether it be freedom of speech, freedom of assembly or freedom of thought and conscience. We know only too well of the many instances in 2023 where governments shut down journalists and media and in some cases actually targeted journalists and campaigning citizens…
Fr John Harris OP The movie, Silence, tells the story of how in the 17th Century two Portuguese Jesuit priests travelled to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor whom it was rumoured had committed apostasy. Their task was to locate him to discover if this was true and if so bring him back…
ROME: A Catholic cleric around 60 gets a major Vatican gig, where, among other things, he issues controversial pronouncements on sexual morality. At a certain point, it’s revealed that years before, he wrote a book in which he dealt with sexually explicit topics such as orgasms, creating scandal among sensitive souls who believe it’s inappropriate…
Michael Kelly
Brandon Scott
Ruadhán Jones
John L. Allen Jr.