The View Martin Mansergh It used to be said that whenever the British came close to solving the Irish Question the Irish changed the question. The Good Friday Agreement addressed the causes of conflict in Northern Ireland, but now it is the British who have changed the question. A border poll post-Brexit would…
The blandness of Francis’ speeches in Ireland is mysterious, writes David Quinn It is now one month since Pope Francis was in Ireland. If you were to conduct a poll and ask people what they remember about the visit, how would they respond? If you asked them what the Pope had to say, I…
A much-vaunted deal between the Vatican and communist China is eliciting pushback, writes Max Rosner After years of intermittent talks, the Holy See and Chinese Communist Party have signed a provisional deal regarding the confirmation and appointment of bishops. Pope Francis has formally recognised seven bishops originally appointed by the communist authorities without Vatican…
We’re all familiar with the incident in the Bible where God changes the name of Abram to Abraham. The change seems so small that often times it isn’t even picked up by those reading that text. What’s the difference between Abram and Abraham? The name Abram, meaning ‘exalted father’, is the name given the great…
During a two-week period in July our parish was faced with the reality of suicide three times. The magnificent summer sunshine somehow jarred with the dark clouds of sadness and despair which hovered over our frightened community. Two single men, one 58 the other 26, and then a young mother of four children whose youngest…
Dear Editor, If ever there was a case of a picture being worth a thousand words, the map accompanying your analysis of changes in Clogher Diocese (‘Mission-focused parishes: a vision for the laity’ IC 20/9/2018) was it. Just 52 men in diocesan formation for formation across Ireland, and that’s including those men doing a propaedeutic…
Next month’s Synod of Bishops in Rome will focus on the issue of youth and vocational discernment. Often when we speak of ‘vocation’ in the Church we mean the specific and unique call to priesthood and religious life. This is hugely important and as recent research in this newspaper showed, the situation in terms of…
I – IF – an individual does something reprehensible at the age of 17, possibly under the influence of alcohol, does that bar that individual from the responsibility of public office for the rest of their life? Second question: if a person is accused of a reprehensible act, does that automatically make them guilty? Such are…
The View Ireland has a proud record of environmental protection. It is good to see the concern which enables the continued protection of pygmy stoats, red squirrels, otters, pine martens, badgers, hares, all bat and deer species, the Natterjack Toad and the Common Newt, almost all resident wild birds, the White-clawed Crayfish, the Freshwater…
Our Christian faith ultimately rests on Christ himself, writes David Quinn The faith of many Catholics has suffered another battering recently because of the latest eruption of public anger over abuse scandals. In Germany, a report commissioned by the Catholic bishops there shows that over a 70-year period, more than 3,000 priests have been…
David Quinn
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
Nuala O’Loan