We’re not great in the Church at telling people our good news stories. It’s a bit odd given that the Church exists for no other purpose than to proclaim the Good News of Christ. Whether it’s out of a sense of humility, or trepidation that past wrongs could come back to haunt us, Irish Catholics…
The Notebook Fr Conor McDonough An awful lot has happened in the Church since the World Meeting of Families just two short weeks ago. When that fact is combined with the muted response to the event itself on the part of many Irish people, there is a danger that believers who participated joyfully in…
Dear Editor, A leaked Irish cabinet document has revealed that the Government expects the number of Irish abortions to rise similar to other countries, after abortion legalisation. In the UK, the number of abortions increased by over 600% in the first five years after the passage of the 1967 Abortion Act. One in five UK…
There could hardly be a more worthy recipient of an international honour and human rights award than Alice Leahy, who has just received such an award presented by the International Care Ethics Observatory. Alice is usually described as a “homelessness campaigner”, but she is much more than that. She is also a carer for homeless…
Francis wants a moral revolution, writes David Quinn The Gospel reading at Mass last Sunday is one of the most famous. In it, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for burdening people with man-made customs. He tells them (Mark 7:8): “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions…
An attempt to force Pope Francis to resign is unravelling, but serious questions remain to be answered, writes Greg Daly Just hours ahead of the papal Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park a story broke that seemed to threaten Francis’ papacy. A former papal nuncio had written an 11-page memo in which he claimed that…
The View Although the scandals in the US concerning criminal sexual abuse by clergy cast a grey and dispiriting shadow over the World Meeting of Families, there were still many uplifting and inspiring aspects to it. I know that thousands of prayers have been offered by faithful Catholics in the hope that the Church…
Carlo Carretto was an Italian monk who died in 1988. For many years he lived as a hermit in the Sahara desert, translated the scriptures into the Tuareg language, and from the solitude of the desert wrote some extraordinary spiritual books. His writings and his Faith were special in that they had a rare capacity…
The Notebook Like most priests, from time to time I have organised ‘special’ Masses. Typically, these take place to mark a particular occasion or anniversary, held in a parish hall or school or other venue. One question those organising these Masses always faces is: “What readings will we use?” A wise pastor once suggested…
Dear Editor, In his address to the Holy Father on the occasion of the Pope’s recent visit to Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivered a master-class in state diplomacy and political expediency. However, while acknowledging the validity of some of Mr Varadkar’s statements, the overriding tenor of his speech was anything but edifying; more a master-class…
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
David Quinn
Greg Daly
Breda O'Brien
Fr Ronald Rolheiser