Courtney McGrailDear Editor, We all recognise that parents today are at their wits end trying to discover how to prepare their children for the runaway world of modern technology and its messages. To see, hear, speak, bully and act any old way that wins longed-for popularity whatever the cost to others, is termed ‘openness’. Of course…
Category: Opinion
Dissecting the divestment debate
The issue of school divestment is being driven by a highly motivated minority within society, writes Colm Keaveney
Religious could donate buildings to house homeless
Dear Editor, Heartbreaking events dominate our news now. Homelessness for families in Irish cities, likewise homelessness for thousands of refugees fleeing war and violence in their own countries, many dying on their journeys. May I suggest a way which we Irish people could help? Some years ago, Sister Stan, founder of Focus Ireland, persuaded her…
New catechetical structures must be set up
Dear Editor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has warned that the Church in Ireland will only have a future if a new generation of “strong and articulate” lay people can make their voices heard (IC 30/07/2015). For that to happen we need to know our Faith, more so now than in the past, when society generally was…
Bishops right to speak up on collections
Dear Editor, Bishop Doran of Elphin and Bishop Cullinan of Waterford are to be applauded for tackling political parties who do church gate collections and consistently advocated policies and introduced legislation which undermines marriage and the right to life of the unborn child (IC David Quinn 23/07/2015). I wonder will our other bishops and parish…
Catholics are taxpayers too
Dear Editor, I am always bemused by the fact that the chattering classes constantly trot out the idea that the State should not fund teachers’ salaries, capitation grants and other supports in denominational schools because taxpayers’ money is involved! It is conveniently forgotten that the majority of the population belong to these denominations, including the…
Unrepentant Fenian or reluctant Redmondite
Dear Editor, The picture on your front page (IC 06/08/2015) of Fr Robert McCabe honouring the “unrepentant Fenian” raises a question for at least one reader. According to reports, O’Donovan Rossa in his later years was converted from dynamite to dialogue, embracing constitutionalism as a reluctant Redmondite. His lapse into peaceful means is explained by…
Forgiveness always impresses and attracts
Even in times of tragedy, faith in God can help us forgive, writes Andrew O’Connell
Government penalises married couples
Dear Editor, It is good to see Prof. Ray Kinsella speaking about the breakdown of the family as those who have a duty, the authority and also the means to speak in defence of the family have been silent (IC 06/08/2015). His accusation that the tax system (re tax individualisation) is leading to family breakdown…
Words work strongly to shape attitudes
Fr Ronald RolheiserJust because something is politically-correct doesn’t mean that it might not also be correct. Sometimes we have to swallow hard to accept truth. Some years ago, I served on a priests’ council, an advisory board to the bishop in a Roman Catholic diocese. The bishop, while strongly conservative by temperament, was a deeply-principled man who…
