Dear Editor, Thank goodness the census is now over and hopefully I will no longer have to be exposed to the nonsense about whether or not to tick the box for religion on the form. Is that really the most important thing the media can find to discuss at a time of unprecedented homelessness in…
The Church teaches that priests share in the mission that Christ entrusted to the apostles, writes Cathal Barry The Second Vatican Council teaches that the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred by episcopal consecration, that fullness namely which, both in the liturgical tradition of the Church and the language of the Fathers…
What we cease to celebrate we will soon cease to cherish. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the religious congregation to which I belong, The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. We have a proud history, 200 years now, of ministering to the poor around the world. This merits celebrating. As a…
“Everything about that celebration was… a celebration of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, inclusion”, writes Fr Martin Delaney In 2013, when the movie Philomena was released, worldwide attention was focused briefly on Seán Ross Abbey near Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Seán Ross was the mother and baby home where Philomena Lee had given…
“I sometimes also wonder about the centrality and prominence that safeguarding has taken in the life of the Church”, writes Editor, Michael Kelly The watchdog set up to monitor the Church’s adherence to stringent child protection rules has published a new set of ‘standards’. Amongst other things, the document aims to redress a perception that…
“It’s wonderful the way that technology can come to the rescue of good ideas and update the way we look at things,” writes Mary Kenny Natural Family Planning (NFP) was encouraged by the Catholic Church after the publication of Humanae Vitae in 1968, and many couples who felt they needed to limit their families tried…
“It would be easy, but wrong, always to assume that all that matters is the faith that people die in,” writes Martin Mansergh The commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising has been uplifting, and has attracted wide public interest, support and enthusiasm. Fortuitously, its timing has filled a gap in public life created by the…
Game of Thrones’ nihilism does not work because we need stories to have a just ending or moral purpose, writes David Quinn President Barack Obama is a fan. He got to watch the first episode of the new season ahead of almost anyone else. That, I suppose, is one of the perks of being the…
It is outrageous to draw a moral equivalence between terrorists and Israel acting to protect its citizens, writes Ze’ev Boker Ze’ev Boker It was with interest but also with disappointment that I read the opinion piece by Baroness Nuala O’Loan on Israel and the Palestinians in The Irish Catholic (Peace remains fragile in the Holy…
Dear Editor, The failure of the Catholic Church to note the very pragmatic steps taken by other religions to help congregations is odd. Why, when providing resources that can help the celebration of Mass, does our Church fail so often and so miserably – certainly in Ireland – to venture out of old habits and…
Cathal Barry
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
Dr Martin Mansergh
David Quinn