Pro-life groups have as much right to be single-issue as any other group, writes David Quinn Something I have noticed down the years is a constant retort on the part of those who oppose the right to life for the unborn, namely: “Why aren’t you pro-lifers equally concerned about the rights of the born?”…
Category: Opinion
The Christ-Child of the Year
Every year Time magazine recognises someone as ‘Person of the Year’. The recognition isn’t necessarily an honor; it’s given to the person whom Time judges to have been the newsmaker of the year – for good or for bad. This year, instead of choosing an individual to recognise as newsmaker of the year, it recognised…
The eviction of Christ from contemporary culture
The Italian Catholic activist Chiara Lubich reflected some years ago on the fact that our contemporary culture appears to have abandoned Christ, but certainly not Christmas. Even people who have long since moved away from the practise of their faith are still captivated by Christmas – at least on the face of it, the celebration…
People must speak up for Gospel values
Dear Editor, I must congratulate you on your editorial comment ‘The paralysing effects of negativity in the Church’ (IC 7/12/17). While if one counts numbers on pews with comparisons to the past, and if one reflects on recent scandals within our Church, one could be forgiven for being pessimistic. However if you get involved at…
Out of our comfort zone, welcoming light bearers
The Notebook One of the things I would love to be able to experience is to stand in the inner chamber at Newgrange on the morning of December 21, the Winter solstice. Imagine standing in absolute darkness and then be astonished as the sunlight finds its way through the channel above the entrance into…
Time to ask what God expects of us
Last week the Irish Catholic reported on the challenge by the former Abbot of Glenstal, Dom Mark Patrick Hedermann, to the negativity of the ACP. It also said that the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, was reported in the New York Times to have said that, “I could spend all my time being concerned…
A week in Kenya challenges Western view of the Church
As a broad generalisation, it’s probably accurate to say that on-the-ground experience of the developing world often issues a fairly stiff challenge to the way Americans think about things, including the Catholic Church. Think Catholicism is in decline? Visit much of Africa and parts of Asia, where the biggest headache is keeping pace with breakaway…
Re-finding the language of faith
There was a fascinating debate in Britain’s House of Lords last week about education achievement and the need for young people to have access to equal opportunities. The debate was extraordinary for its breadth and depth. While everyone agreed about the need for better outcomes the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Justin Welby pointed out that…
Women’s health is always important
The Fianna Fáil senator Ned O’Sullivan told The Times newspaper recently – the Irish edition of the London paper – that he had changed his mind about abortion after “having had the honour” of serving on the Oireachtas committing considering the Eighth Amendment. Previously, he said, he had been pro-life. Now he wanted a new…
When the dogs don’t bark…
Declan Ganley hit public consciousness with a bang during the Lisbon Treaty referendum of June 2008. He was one of the leaders of the campaign against it and he established Libertas as his campaigning organisation. It spent a lot of money on outdoor advertising. Ganley was immediately hit with a blizzard of questions about the…

David Quinn
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly


Nuala O’Loan
John L. Allen Jr.

Mary Kenny
