There is reason to speculate on how well prepared the Pope was for his Irish trip, writes Greg Daly “It is not enough to turn the page. Life must be given anew.” This quote from Pope Francis headlined the La Civiltà Cattolica account last week of the August 25 meeting between the Pope and…
Chai Brady discusses the upcoming Synod on Youth As the Church comes closer to a major discussion on young people, it’s worth taking note of the aims and processes behind what it hopes to address: a crisis in reaching youth. The Synod on Youth will be held in the Vatican from October 3-28 on…
Francis is gambling with bishops’ conferences, but it’s probably the only card he has, writes Michael Kelly Depending on where you stand on Pope Francis, his decision to call a summit of the heads of the world’s bishops’ conferences is either courageous or too little too late. It’s certainly unprecedented and the February meeting…
Changes in Clogher mark a realistic direction for the Irish Church, writes Greg Daly Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church. Msgr Joseph McGuinness didn’t say this in any of the recent missives issued from the Diocese of Clogher, but he could have done.…
Letter from Rome A scandal’s impact can be measured multiple ways, with the most obvious being the toll it takes in terms of bad press, litigation and settlements, declining attendance or market share, as well as disillusionment and outrage among the rank and file. What’s often harder to assess is the opportunity cost – what…
Elise Harris While many in conservative camps of the Church feared sweeping changes to the structure and function of the Synod of Bishops following the tumultuous 2014-2015 gatherings on the family, Pope Francis largely upheld the current process. Critics who have been frustrated at the current process, however, might also be disappointed that no…
“Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” Abraham speaks these words to a soul in Hell in the famous parable of the Rich Man and…
Dear Editor, In response to Colm Fitzpatrick’s article ‘National seminary sees lowest student intake ever’ (IC 13/9/2018), I would argue that while the figures may indeed be low there is much to be positive about. While smaller numbers are cause for consideration and deliberation, so too were the vast numbers who entered the seminaries of…
For those who participated in events surrounding the World Meeting of Families or the Papal visit, feelings of joy will continue to warm their hearts. Whether it was in the intensive preparations that took place in the dioceses around the country, the pastoral congress in the RDS or events led by Pope Francis this was…
The Notebook Fr Vincent Sherlock For 21 years I have had the chance to spend a few weeks each year in a parish in the diocese of Rockville Centre, New York – two years in one and the past 19 in another. It seems strange perhaps to combine holidays with working in a parish…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly
John L. Allen Jr.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser