“At times of immense darkness and pain, the mission of people of faith is to keep the rumour of God alive”, writes Editor Michael Kelly Late on Sunday evening – Palm Sunday – news of the almost unspeakable tragedy that occurred in Buncrana, Co. Donegal began to emerge. What started out as a Sunday outing…
“time heals all wounds between nations, and history puts everything into a constantly changing perspective”, writes Mary Kenny The history of St Patrick’s Day in Britain is interesting. Up until 1916 – significantly – it was well-marked and well-observed in London, particularly, as a great day for the Irish. The tradition of a royal family…
“The commission has recognised its duty to create policies with global application, which send very clear messages about what must be done everywhere in the world. We have seen that it is capable of this”, writes Nuala O’Loan Pope Francis established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, because, he said, “Many painful actions…
Faith in anything, once lost, is not easily restored, writes David Quinn Lately I’ve taken to calling myself a ‘lapsed’ or a ‘non-practicing’ Fine Gaeler. You might be the same, or else you might be a lapsed Fianna Fáil supporter who perhaps returned to the party at the recent election or maybe opted for one…
To abolish the right of parents to choose the kind of education for their children is the very contradiction of pluralism, writes Fr Pádraig McCarthy Fr Pádraig McCarthy Imagine for a moment that you are a parent, and you have a child ready to start school. You are Catholic, and there are two Catholic schools…
Dear Editor, As the debate around Catholic schools rumbles on, the Church should surely be doing more to quash unnecessary concerns? As research recently conducted by The Irish Catholic proved (IC 11/02/2016), Catholic schools are far from oversubscribed, let alone turning away children who don’t hold baptismal certificates. In fact, many Catholic schools, particularly in…
Dear Editor, With the recent awards season (Oscars, BAFTAs etc.) I propose we strike a medal and award it to The Irish Catholic TV/radio critic, Brendan O’Regan. His tireless dedication in having to listen to hours of guff, propaganda and filth that most of our broadcasters spew out on the airwaves, deserves some recognition. Recently…
Dear Editor, How wonderful to read your report that male classroom assistants are having a positive influence on the exam results achieved by boys in St Paul’s High School in Bressbrook, Co. Armagh (IC 10/03/2016 ‘Classroom ‘father figures’ behind exam results boost’). It reminded me of the phrase ‘one good adult’ and the positive influence…
Dear Editor, The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has issued proposals for a curriculum titled ‘Education about Religions & Beliefs & Ethics’ (ERBE), to be made compulsory in all primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. ERBE claims a pluralist and objective approach to the main theist, non-theist and secular beliefs. Such an…
Dear Editor, Dr Eamon Phoenix’s dismissal as “simplistic” attempts to link the Rising centenary with dissident violence in the North (IC 10/03/2016) is both reassuring and persuasive. Even in 1966, at a time when Catholics in the North were denied some basic civil rights, the Rising’s 50th anniversary provoked little republican violence, the destruction of…
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
Nuala O’Loan
David Quinn
Courtney McGrail