Courtney McGrailDear Editor, There isn’t much joy manifested in Greg Daly’s experience at the AGM of the Association of Catholic Priests as outlined in his article ‘Priests at risk: problems and practicalities’ (IC 24/11/16). Considering that many of these problems are caused by a lack of vocations to the priesthood it is surprising that no mention…
Category: Opinion
A question of Constitutional rights
Dear Editor, In 2017 or 2018, we can expect to have a referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (or the rights of the unborn). While there is an opinion that abortion is acceptable in exceptional circumstances, the questions foremost in my mind must be the following: Why is it an indictable offence…
The martyrdom of inadequate self-expression
Fr Ronald RolheiserArt too has its martyrs and perhaps our greatest pain is that of inadequate self-expression. That’s an insight from Iris Murdoch and it holds true, I believe, for most everyone. Inside of each of us there’s a great symphony, a great novel, a great dance, a great poem, a great painting, a great book of…
Just how ‘pro-life’ is Donald Trump?
Dear Editor, Your feature letter from Ms Bernadette Fitzgerald in the edition of November 24 (“Why Catholics should welcome Trump”) repeats the idea that, as long as a person is pro-life (i.e., specifically opposed to abortion), this alone trumps (no pun intended) all faults. This is utter nonsense. First, let me be clear, I am…
A time to stay awake among the sleeping
Fr Martin Delaney John Shea, the great Christian storyteller, relates the following Advent reflection. When God was making the trees, he gave a gift to each species. But first he set up a contest to determine which gift would be most useful to whom. He told them: “I want you to stay awake and keep…
The UN does not merit minister’s thanks
Dear Editor, I cannot believe what is happening with the present Government. In this centenary year of the heroes of 1916, Ireland doffs its cap to the UN, a body that cooperated with human rights abuses at many levels. After being roundly abused by the UN for Ireland’s pro-life laws, the then Minister for Health…
Lay community can help elderly priests
Dear Editor, I refer to Greg Daly’s report in The Irish Catholic of November 24 of his attendance at the AGM of the Association of Catholic Priests. An Irish Times editorial of November 18 referred to and fully supported Fr Brendan Hoban’s views on priests being a ‘lost tribe’. As an ordinary and elderly parishioner,…
Who teaches the teachers?
Dear Editor, On Friday as my wife and I waited our turn to meet with subject teachers at a Catholic secondary school ‘Parents’ Evening’ I read Paul Keenan’s article ‘Students would benefit from Religious Ed as a core subject’ (IC 24/11/2016). We received great subject feedback from the various teachers until we came to the…
President’s poor intervention
Dear Editor, In the regime presided over by Fidel Castro only one political party was tolerated – the Communist Party. Freedom of expression and of speech was, in effect, non-existent. Persons who were not members of the Communist Party found themselves under surveillance by the secret police. Journalists and writers were subject to arbitrary arrest…
Sadly, cosy consensus is pushing people into hands of extremists
Michael Kelly“It’s hard not to have the impression that the move is really designed to crush dissenting voices”, writes Michael Kelly