Too often a secular mindset is brought to bear upon the funeral which compromises the sacred character of the event writes David Quinn   Three years ago, the Vatican issued a document reiterating that Catholics should not scatter the cremated ashes of their loved ones or keep them in an urn at home. The Congregation…

Letter from Nigeria   An embattled Catholic diocese in southeastern Nigeria facing a mounting wave of violent attacks from Islamic militias has declared “enough is enough”, demanding that “bad” members of the largely Muslim Fulani tribe be “flushed out” of the area and that local self-protection groups be armed to provide their own security. Bishop…

Following the announcement that the cause for sainthood for celebrated writer Gilbert Keith Chesterton would not go forward in his home diocese, Dale Ahlquist, an expert on the author, said this stall “points to the difficulty of getting a layperson canonised”. Ahlquist noted one reason given for halting Chesterton’s cause was that the author, considered…

Notebook Fr Bernard Healy   One drawback of Pope Francis’s pungent criticisms of the failings of clergy is the accusation that he is more inclined to criticise priests than encourage. In fairness to the Holy Father, it’s hardly his fault that his more colourful sayings make bigger headlines than the many positive things he has…

RTÉ claims it needs it to find a new way to fund broadcasting, because it seems that increasing numbers of people are dodging the licence fee. Thus their plan to incorporate the levy into utility taxation. The present system for collection the licence fee is not efficacious: my own impression is that it is a…

The View   Every so often, I come across a book that I feel is worth sharing with readers, and Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Drs John and Julie Gottman is one such.  The book concerns how to deepen relationships through a series of dates planned to facilitate in-depth conversations.…

The world might be all about social media, but a good social network is worth considering, writes David Quinn   Critics dismiss religion as pie in the sky at best, and an actively harmful, regressive force at worst. That is, they believe religion is a form of escapism, or else it unleashes fanaticism and violence…

It seems odd that we are asked to pay a fee for a service that many of us don’t use, writes John McGuirk   I am childless, but my taxes pay for schools. I am not sick, thank God, but my taxes pay for hospitals. Ireland is not likely to be invaded any time soon, but…