Dear Editor, In The Irish Catholic (31/12/2015) George Hook was like a firework going off for New Year’s Eve. Few people expected his happy call back to faith. Welcome to the fold, George. George is the type who would take up with gusto the challenge of moderns who claim, as he suggests, that “it is…
Category: Opinion
The fruits of Holy Communion
The Church teaches that the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life, writes Cathal Barry The Church teaches that Holy Communion “augments” the recipient’s union with Christ. “The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church…
The secrets that silence has to teach us
The Belgian spiritual writer, Bieke Vandekerckhove, comes by her wisdom honestly. She didn’t learn what she shares from a book or even primarily from the good example of others. She learned what she shares through the crucible of a unique suffering, being hit at the tender age of 19 with a terminal disease that promised…
The gift of making time
Perhaps our New Year’s Resolutions should be to make more time for friends, family and God, writes FR Martin Delaney My father loved clocks and watches. His most treasured possession was a pocket watch bought with his first wage packet as a young man. At the age of 94, when he was dying, he called…
Tackling climate change must be on political agenda
Editor Michael Kelly reflects on ‘the idea of a community coming together to help one another and ease the burden’ in times of struggle More than a few commentators have described the recent levels of rainfall as biblical. And the suffering has been (and continues to be) immense. Homeowners have struggled heroically – and often…
Charlie Hebdo marks anniversary with anti-religious cartoon
“Just because you are free to offend doesn’t mean you must offend at all times”, writes Mary Kenny It’s just been a year – on January 7 – since the terrifying, and wicked, Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, when two Muslim brothers, Chérif and Said Kouachi, opened fire at the French satirical magazine’s office, killing…
Irish politicians tone deaf to authentic Christmas message
Mr Higgins’ apparent belief that religion is a club ‘keeping a society together’ is as superficial as it is stupid, writes Michael Kelly
Which of us is the pagan society now?
“Irish leaders…seem to strive to avoid underlining faith’s role in Christmas traditions” unlike our English neighbours, writes Mary Kenny
Off the Hook
Veteran broadcaster George Hook talks faith and family with Cathal Barry
If only all 1916 commemorations were loyal to historical record
Dear Editor, My congratulations on a magnificent 1916 supplement in the December 17 edition. While it is slightly invidious to suggest any one aspect of the uniformly excellent coverage for particular commendation, I think you are especially to be praised for acknowledging the diversity of opinions that existed, and still do, within the Church regarding…

Courtney McGrail
Cathal Barry
Fr Ronald Rolheiser

Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny