The supermarket sound system is playing ‘Rudolfph the Rednosed Reindeer’, while at the church, we are reminded that this is Advent, the season of quietly preparing for the Nativity – and not yet Christmas itself. The contrast between what the secular culture expects of us, and what Christianity teaches, is obvious. Time was when a…
I imagine that most people reading this are saddened and appalled by the number of abortions now taking place in Ireland. We’ve gone from being one of the safest countries in the world for mother and baby, to seeing our abortion rate soar to heart-breaking numbers in just under five years. Equally saddening is the smug enthusiasm…
The idea that so-called assisted dying can be limited is a dangerous lie, writes David Quinn The Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying has been hearing expert testimony on the matter for months now, both for and against. The term ‘assisted dying’ is, of course, a euphemism. It really means assisted suicide where you administer a…
Far from being a guilt trip, Confession is a transformative process that unites us with God writes Darach Ó Maoláin I remember on one occasion I had a small-scale debate with some locals of my generation. The debate revolved around the Church and its teachings. Naturally, I defended the Church. My counterparts were vocally disregarding…
The ministry of catechist is important for evangelising modern Ireland, writes Bishop Kevin Doran As Christians, we have been invited into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That invitation is not just for us. We have a gift to share; we have a story to tell. But how do we go about sharing the good…
John L. Allen Jr It’s rare indeed when an American president takes part in a four-way conversation and was, arguably, the least remarkable person in the group, but such was the case in June 1975 when President Gerald Ford made a visit to the Vatican. On that occasion, Ford met Pope Paul VI, today St…
Ngala Killian Chimtom While acknowledging that a recent wave of military takeovers across Africa often have drawn strong popular support as an expression of “deep-seated frustration” over corruption and injustice, the continent’s Catholic bishops nevertheless have reaffirmed their support for democracy and opposition to coups. “There might be queries regarding our stance on coups d’etat. Principally,…
I think if we’re honest, none of us actually like waiting for things. Think of the tedium of waiting in the doctor’s surgery, or at the dentist. Or, if like me you use public transport, waiting on buses that never seem to arrive – and yet waiting is part of life. As is hope, as…
Dear Editor, Thank you for highlighting calls for Cardinal John Henry Newman to be made a Doctor of the Church [The Irish Catholic – November 23, 2023]. Cardinal Newman’s profound impact on both the Church and society, particularly in Ireland, makes him a deserving candidate for this rare ecclesiastical honour. Cardinal Newman, who was canonised…
The Irish Dominicans will celebrate 800 years in Dublin next year. Just three years after the death of St Dominic, they arrived in 1224 and were given land by the monks of St Mary’s Abbey on which to found their church and priory. That land was at the precise location of the present day Four…
Mary Kenny
David Quinn
John L. Allen Jr.
Michael Kelly