The spectacle of a senior politician only noticing the crisis in hospitals because her own child got sick is hard to stomach, writes John McGuirk The old American adage that there are only two things certain in life: death, and taxes, is only partially true. There is, of course, another certainty, and that is that…
Letter From America Central American bishops defend Francis over Amazon synod At the close of their annual general assembly, the Central American bishops rose to Pope Francis’s defence amid what they said have been false and hostile attacks following the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon in October. They also advocated for better care…
Normally speaking, when a Pope hits the road, all other Vatican operations enter a state of suspended animation. Appointments, documents and statements are held up awaiting his return, because nobody’s supposed to distract from the message he’s travelling to deliver. The fact the Vatican made an exception during Pope Francis’s November 19-26 trip to Thailand…
What would Jesus do? For some Christians, that’s the easy answer to every question. In every situation all we need to ask is: what would Jesus do? At a deep level, that’s actually true, Jesus is the ultimate criterion. He is the way, the truth, and the life and anything that contradicts him is not…
Notebook Sometime early in November one of my friends sent me the following bumper-sticker ‘Note to all premature Christmas decorators: Calm down, Mary hasn’t even told Joseph she’s pregnant yet!’ A few days after the bumper sticker arrived I read an essay entitled ‘Advent RIP’. Basically the writer articulates what we all know to…
Dear Editor, Might I refer to ‘The View’ written by Breda O’Brien (21/11/19) in which she states that “Donald Trump is the least religious president ever” and goes on to laud the faith of the Democrat hopefuls seeking the nomination for the 2020 election and especially one particular individual whose lifestyle would not be in…
The Council of Priests of the Dublin Diocese has recommended a bold move that – if adopted – will see sacramental preparation move from the schools to a parish-based programme. This is how Catholic children are prepared for First Confession and First Holy Communion in most other parts of the world. The historic dominance of…
The View Many of the most uplifting international political events since the end of World War II took place in the ten-year period between the late 1980s and the late 1990s, reversing some of the effects of human catastrophes of the first half of the 20th Century. Foremost among them was the fall of the…
When I spoke at the Ennis Book Club Festival earlier this year – an enjoyable and rewarding event – discussion turned to the changes seen in Ireland over the past fifty years or so. An older woman – a retired schoolteacher much esteemed in the community – stood up to say: “I do think we…
Advanced gene-editing would lead to life being seen as just one more product rather than a gift, writes David Quinn Some 20 years ago, Cardinal Desmond Connell, the late archbishop of Dublin, landed himself in very hot water when he gave an address to mark the 30th anniversary of the publication of the papal encyclical, Humanae…
John L. Allen Jr.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
David Quinn