Fr Ronald RolheiserContemplative prayer, as it is classically defined and popularly practised, is subject today to considerable scepticism in a number of circles. For example, the method of prayer, commonly called Centring Prayer, popularised by persons like Thomas Keating, Basil Bennington, John Main, and Laurence Freeman, is viewed with suspicion by many people who identify it with…
Category: Opinion
Call this ‘caring for children’?
Courtney McGrailDear Editor, The Republic of Ireland is fast becoming the laughing stock of the world. Its Minister for Children was seen in Dublin, the seat of government, publicly advocating laws that would permit the killing of children. Is this caring for children? I think not. Yours etc. Fr Noel McKeown O.P., Newry, Co. Down.
A family’s faith blossoms into something beautiful
Dear Editor, The old Irish blessing said to new mothers, “may you be a mother of a bishop”, has always been met with a tongue and cheek response, but the lovely image of Bishop Fintan and his parents (IC 29/09/2016) showed that wishful thinking can become a reality! It also showed how a family’s faith…
The priests acts in persona Christi
Dear Editor, Re: Bro. Malachy Buckley and his question asking why we have not got women priests (Letters, IC 22/09/2016), in the West/Latin Church, the priest acts, especially in the Eucharist, in persona Christi (in the person of Christ). This, a precious gift bestowed on the male apostles, to act as Christ, a male in…
The struggle to not make God our own Tribal Deity
I was blessed to grow up in a very sheltered and safe environment. My childhood was lived inside of a virtual cocoon. In the remote, rural, first-generation, immigrant community I grew up in, we all knew each other, all went to the same church, all belonged to the same political party, all were white, all…
Being the face of God for others
Fr Martin Delaney reflects on an inspiring true story of how the kindness of ordinary people can have such an impact on the lives of others
‘Repeal the Eighth’ campaigners want to hide behind a slogan
Michael Kelly“Campaigners who are pushing abortion should be honest about what they want”, writes Michael Kelly
My alternative suggestions for saving the planet
Mary KennyMary Kenny gives her opinion on how we could live more healthy and environment friendly lives
Pope wants the Church to be both a teacher and a pastor
David Quinn“Pope Francis takes a different view as to how Jesus’s teaching should be applied in very particular cases”, writes David Quinn
Inappropriate Government dictatorship regards religion
Dear Editor, Why this terrible change in attitude of both Government and leading national media regarding the Catholic Church? Once sympathetic and harmonious, they are now aggressively hostile, not missing the slightest opportunity to make the ‘swipe’. I resent Children’s Minister Kathleen Zappone dictating we go ‘fast track’ in transferring our schools away from religious…