Dear Editor, Writing as a Catholic theologian, may I express my astonishment and disappointment at those theologians and prominent Catholics who support a ‘yes’ vote. In every case that I have read or heard, none of these people has referred to the actual teaching of Jesus on marriage (see Mark 10:1-12). Jesus’ teaching is surely…

Dear Editor, The article by Ben Conroy ‘There is nothing weird about going to Confession’ (IC 23/04/2015), struck me as being mature, authentic and lovely. He refers to young Catholics drifting away from Confession, but older Catholics have drifted away also partly, I would say, as a reaction against an earlier overemphasis on sin and underemphasis…

Dear Editor, The Irish Independent recently carried an over-the-top front page headline ‘Church photos banned amid child abuse fears’. Your very fine editorial (IC 07/05/2015) correctly identifies the unnecessary alienation caused by “bureaucratic overreach”. My own belief is that the ban is in place because of the irreverence and distracting behaviour that accompanies amateur photography…

Dear Editor, In recent years Ireland has gone through a lot of changes, sadly we seem to be losing our Christian faith to some degree and this may well continue. Pope Francis has called a special holy year dedicated to the Divine Mercy from the end of 2015 to the end of 2016 and there…

Dear Editor, Like many Catholics I’m sure, I was shocked to read that the Government has withdrawn funding to Accord marriage preparation courses (IC 14/05/2015). Whether or not it was connected to the marriage referendum, it was an incredible move from a Government that has been preaching about the importance of marriage over the last…

Dear Editor, A certain amount of sympathy must be extended to some priests of the Irish Catholic Church. Many may have felt that, through deeper and long-term thought, they have lost their vocation, and that the Catholic Church is not for them. A few of these may feel that they are no longer fitted for…