Fr Ronald RolheiserPeople are forever predicting the end of the world. In Christian circles this is generally connected with speculation around the promise Jesus made at his ascension, namely, that he would be coming back, and soon, to bring history to its culmination and establish God’s eternal kingdom. There have been speculations about the end of the…
Category: Opinion
Cultivating a sense of alienation
Courtney McGrailJohn Reid In a blistering editorial comment this week, the Irish Independent criticised the Catholic Church (which has patronage over about 90% of primary schools in the Republic) for its response to the current Government’s draft programme on education about religious beliefs and ethics, even suggesting that a failure to dilute or scrap the ethos…
Pope’s visit is a chance for healing
Dear Editor, The confirmation from the Taoiseach that Pope Francis looks set to visit Ireland in 2018 for the World Meeting of Families is immensely heartening, even if it’s difficult to imagine what Pope Francis thought of his meeting with Mr Kenny. Five years ago the Taoiseach made a brief global name for himself through…
A minister unfit for purpose
Dear Editor, Mary Kenny is to be congratulated on her article when she asks the question: “Is Katherine Zappone fit for her Government job?”, and also to Elizabeth Twomey, in a follow up letter. Minister Zappone was a commissioner with the Irish Human Rights Commission (2002-2012) and has held leadership positions in the NWCI and…
The question of women priests
Dear Editor, Once more, the question of women priests in the Catholic Church has arisen (‘Green Party chief rejects Pope on women priests’ IC 20/11/2016). We still proclaim at Sunday Mass that the Church has four marks: she is one, holy, Catholic and apostolic. Why do we believe this? Because at the Last Supper, Christ…
Bemoaning the US presidential election
Dear Editor, I recently heard Fr Gerry O’Hanlon SJ on radio saying how dismayed he was at the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. The only alternative was Hillary Clinton. Does Fr Hanlon not know about her involvement in the destruction of Libya or the destruction of unborn life with Planned…
The dangers in being a warrior prophet
A prophet makes a vow of love, not of alienation. Daniel Berrigan wrote those words and they need to be highlighted today when a lot of very sincere, committed, religious people self-define as cultural warriors, as prophets at war with secular culture. This is the stance of many seminarians, clergy, bishops, and whole denominations of…
Remembering the dead this November
Finola Kennedy November is the month of the Holy Souls. It is a time when we pray for the dead, and many visit the graves of their loved ones. But cemeteries attract visitors for other reasons too. A cemetery might seem an unlikely tourist attraction but Glasnevin has been drawing increasing numbers especially following Aoife…
Catholics should welcome Trump
Dear Editor, While some Catholics have expressed reservations about the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the US due to his brash campaigning style, I would argue that when it comes to policies rather than personality Mr Trump’s victory should come as a huge relief to practising Catholics. In contrast to the…
State facing costly if simple solution
Dear Editor, Various organisations from time to time criticise the management and policies of Church schools, usually Catholic. In many instances they are correct but several things are overlooked not the least being the Constitution. Article 44, for instance, provides that every religious denomination shall have the right to “maintain institutions for religious or charitable…