We must count the cost of Covid-19 and invest in the future of end-of-life and bereavement care in Ireland writes Sharon Foley We, as a nation, are still in the grip of a pandemic, unprecedented in recent living memory. Its effect was immediate and apparent. The necessary national response to Covid-19 has been – and…

The View Last week, an item was discussed on RTÉ’s Liveline, prompted by a leaflet published by the HSE advocating that people resort to masturbation and sexual activity online during this time of social distancing. The host, Katie Hannon, took calls from a number of people, many of whom expressed concerns at the HSE’s advice.…

New research which reveals that congregations could fall by as much as a quarter should serve as a wake-up call to all of us writes Michael Kelly It’s more than six months since restrictions were first imposed on the celebration of public Masses in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Many parishes…

Coronavirus has given us a glimpse of the future of the Church, and there are hopeful signs writes Bishop Brendan Leahy One of the good surprises of this Covid-19 period has been the spirit of volunteerism. From the early months of the coronavirus pandemic to today, we have seen people volunteering for activity who otherwise…

The latest push in the culture of death would normalise suicide, writes David Quinn This week a new bill called the ‘Dying with Dignity Bill 2020’ was brought before the Dáil. It has been introduced by left-wing TD, Gino Kenny. Don’t be fooled by the title. All of us want to die with dignity. This…

When we face suffering, it is easy to feel abandoned by God but it is then that we must cling to Faith writes Niall Guinan This year has certainly seen its fair share of bleak moments and one of the bleakest must surely have been the RTÉ Prime Time interview with geriatrician Prof. Rónán Collins…

Letter from Rome Watch Catholics at most parishes when it comes time for the homily at Sunday Mass, and you’ll see body language and facial expressions not unlike the waiting rooms of dentists’ offices and traffic court. It’s a sense of anticipation, sure, but not the good kind. Catholics actually love to gripe about boring…

Calling it “necessary and urgent” to return to public Masses as soon as Covid-19 measures permit, the Vatican’s top official for liturgy has urged Catholic bishops around the world not to let religious worship be relegated to a priority level below “recreational activities” or treated as just another public gathering. Signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah…

The excusable doesn’t need to be excused and the inexcusable cannot be excused. Michael Buckley wrote those words and they contain an important challenge. We’re forever trying to make excuses for things we need not make excuses for and are forever trying to excuse the inexcusable. Neither is necessary. Or helpful. We can learn a…

Notebook My summer holidays in Ireland included a visit to a rural pub/restaurant, where a family function was taking place. This event, maybe a christening or possibly a quiet second marriage, was attended by a large number of children, running all over the premises and annoying hoary old celibates like me. Sensing my annoyance, one…