Dr John Murray Who is the primary educator of children, their parents or the State? Is it wrong for the Catholic Church to have any control or input in schools that are publicly funded? Should Ireland’s schools, including Catholic schools, teach that all religions and belief systems are the same? Such questions are important at…
The detection of gravitational waves will provide for a better understanding of creation, writes Prof. William Reville Scientists working on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) made the stunning announcement recently that they had detected gravitational waves, confirming Albert Einstein’s prediction that these waves exist. The waves originated 1.3 billion years ago when two black…
The fun began early for Pope Francis on his trip to Mexico, writes Greg Daly Pope Francis’ trip to Mexico could hardly have had a more dramatic overture, with his flight from Rome’s Fiumicino airport stopping over in Cuba for a meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The historic encounter between the…
Michael W. Higgins details how US presidential candidates have played the faith card to date The current Irish election cycle, the recent Canadian election, and the British election as well, were not without their ”values” discussions, but one would be very hard pressed to say that theological or philosophical matters held sway. Faith-specific matters were…
When considering your vote, Christians should consider the concept of the ‘common good’, writes Editor Michael Kelly Voters in the Republic go to the polls next week to elect the members who will make up the 32nd Dáil. To this point, it’s been a particularly dull election campaign and many of the party leaders are…
Vietnam presents two faces to the world, writes Paul Keenan Two recent events in Vietnam neatly illustrate current realities at play in the modern communist state. On January 21, the country’s Catholic Bishops announced that classes at the long-planned theological institute in Ho Chi Minh City will commence this coming September. Based on details offered…
It seems to me that there should be energetic campaigns to increase knowledge about septicaemia, writes Mary Kenny Sepsis, or septicaemia, is recognised as a real and present threat to health in Britain – where some 37,000 people a year die from the infection. To its credit, the London Daily Mail has been running a…
Dear Editor, The first Holy Communion season is upon us again, signalled for many people by the hordes of excited little girls in white dresses in shopping centres and restaurants; the equivalent little boys in new clothes and special haircuts. As an elderly person I was told by a younger ‘granny’ that her grand-daughter greeted…
Certain social values which are not in any way negotiable…truth, freedom, justice and love, writes Nuala O’Loan As you contemplate the election, you may have very mixed feelings. The last ten years have not been great for Ireland. Unemployment rates rose to over 14%. Tens of thousands of people had to leave Ireland to get…
The Church teaches that the forgiveness of sins brings reconciliation, writes Cathal Barry The Church teaches that since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of Reconciliation, bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops’ collaborators, “continue to exercise this ministry”. “Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, have…
William Reville
Michael Kelly
Paul Keenan
Mary Kenny
Nuala O’Loan
Cathal Barry