We must devise policies that make it easier for couples to have children and start their families sooner, writes David Quinn Critics of the Church often like to point out that the Mass-going population of the country is shrinking and getting older all the time. It’s true, but what they often fail to notice, is…
Category: Opinion
Breaking bread together…but remaining strangers
We need to use the synod to see what we can learn from the newer Catholic communities in Ireland, writes Sr Josephine Enenmo, OLA I am delighted at this opportunity to share my experience of being part of the Church in Ireland and my hopes for this journey titled: ‘For a synodal Church: Communion, Participation,…
Italian priest’s legacy shows that in Catholicism, the past is never past
Sunday marked the 63rd anniversary of an important turning point for 20th Century Catholicism, and one with direct relevance for understanding the current occupants of two of the most influential offices in Italy: Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, and Sergio Mattarella, the recently re-elected President of the Republic. That turning point was the ordination of…
European cardinals call for major Church changes
Over the past week, two leading European cardinals, both of whom enjoy broad favour with Pope Francis, have made public statements calling for a change in the Catholic Church’s current position on the issues of homosexuality and priestly celibacy. Homosexual relationships In an interview published in Germany’s Catholic News Agency (KNA) earlier this week, Jesuit…
When our world is falling apart
The early years of my adulthood and priesthood were spent teaching theology at Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Canada. I was young, full of energy, loved teaching, and was discovering the joys of ministry. For the most part, these were good years. However, they weren’t always easy. Restlessness and inner chaos find us all. The…
The Catholic cold war with the world
Catholics are exhorted to love the world, but more often we find ourselves suspicious of it or hostile towards it, writes Jason Osborne ‘Cold War’ is a phrase reappearing with greater frequency these days thanks to the simmering tensions between the West, namely the US and the majority of Europe, and Russia and its more…
There is no place for the ‘holier than thou’
I am a pioneer! It is not that I am a trail blazer, entrepreneur or that I have discovered the previously undiscovered. No, I don’t drink alcohol and, since my teenaged years, I have been a member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. It was an easy choice since both my parents were members as…
A better indication of the divisions in Ukraine
Dear Editor, I couldn’t agree with Mary Kenny more that there is a case for teaching more about faith traditions which are relevant to current political conflicts [The Irish Catholic – January 20, 2022]. But let’s start with Ukraine. The dominant religion in Ukraine, east or west, is Orthodoxy. This is divided between those under the jurisdiction…
Many people are at economic breaking point
There is much talk about the rising cost of living on both sides of the border. There is a broad consensus from politicians that something must be done. Invariably, the same politicians are divided on what should be done. What was it that Chesterton said about reformers: the reformer is always right about what’s wrong.…
When the HSE is involved, no-one is ever responsible
The View It was revealed on Monday that the Director of Public Prosecutions will not be pressing ahead with charges against those responsible for the care of ‘Grace’. The disabled woman known as Grace – not her real name – was placed in a foster home for 20 years in the south-east, even though there…

David Quinn


John L. Allen Jr.

Fr Ronald Rolheiser



Michael Kelly
