I n our Catholic tradition we often speak of the communion of saints as that spiritual union between the members of the Church on earth and those of us who have died in God’s friendship. Death is not the end for us, and those who have gone before us remain a part of us and…
Notebook I have been live-streaming Sunday Mass onto our parish Facebook page since March 15, so I feel like a hardened cyber-veteran at this stage. But even with nine broadcast Masses under my belt, the Sunday morning liturgical adventure is always preceded by a sleepless Saturday night. Maybe after a year, when this becomes…
It is said that time heals all wounds, although the motto doesn’t specify just how much time may be required. Still, it happens. Just look at Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and their plans to govern together during this time of crisis. The plans may not run smoothly, and there may be arguments over the…
The View For many years past, there have been warnings of the danger of a pandemic, which mostly went unheeded. Now it is upon us. We were quickly reminded of the great influenza epidemic of 1918-19, which carried off millions of people, young adults in particular. Throughout history, and to this day in many…
Political and ideological biases have often poisoned the facts, writes David Quinn Do you remember the case of Fr Kevin Reynolds? He was the priest RTÉ wrongly accused of fathering a child through rape, one of the most serious allegations you can make against someone. The allegation was made on an edition of Prime…
With some honourable exceptions, we don’t have journalists in Ireland, we have cheerleaders, writes John McGuirk “Excellent investigative Journalism in the Sunday Times”, tweeted Irish Independent columnist Colette Browne on Sunday morning, in response to the extensive report the London-based paper had just published laying out the multiple alleged failures of Boris Johnson’s…
Letter from Rome A Polish software developer has announced a new computer game called Pope Simulator is to be released next year. The game opens with a conclave in which the player is elected Pope, and then presents various scenarios that require decisions. “Our idea assumes the possibility to use, among others, the pope’s so-called…
Christopher White A new study in the US finds that while young people are experiencing heightened levels of loneliness and isolation as a result of social distancing, they are not experiencing a decline in their Faith. Among those surveyed, 35% of respondents said that they are actually experiencing an increase of Faith and 46% attested to…
Most of us are familiar with Pope Francis’ comment that today the Church needs to be a field hospital. What’s implied here? First, that right now the Church is not a field hospital, or at least not much of one. Too many Churches of all denominations see the world more as an opponent to be…
Notebook Recently, I had a conversation with a friend whose husband died some months ago. She is desperately lonely and that loneliness is made far worse because her children and grandchildren cannot visit her during these Covid-19 Days. But it is the loss of her husband, her best friend that brings the greatest loneliness:…
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
David Quinn
John L. Allen Jr.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser