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…
Msgr Paddy Delargy On being appointed a Chaplain to His Holiness, Msgr Paddy Delargy wonders whether the clerical honour actually acknowledges human limitations Is there really a significant choice in everyone’s life that sums up all that has gone before and influences radically the future course of events? If so, in my life it…
Lorraine Clifford-Lee survived because she is a liberal woman in a party that is very short of liberal women, writes John McGuirk There are very few politicians in the Oireachtas with a more conventionally liberal voting record than Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee. If you can think of a hot button issue over the past six or…
Francis talks peace, poverty and prayer during historic visit to Thailand and Japan, writes Colm Fitzpatrick This month marked 25 years since a Pope has visited Thailand, with Francis embarking on an Asia tour which saw him venture to the former kingdom of Siam – the same place that St John Paul journeyed to in…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
David Quinn
Colm Fitzpatrick