A number of clear cut recommendations have been made to college authorities, reports Cathal Barry
Category: Opinion
It takes a parish to produce a priest
Dear Editor, It was good to read Msgr Hugh Connolly’s insightful article (IC 16/07/2015) about the formation method in Maynooth in the light of David Quinn’s critique of some elements of that process. I suspect that part of the difficulty arises from the fact that many Catholics are unfamiliar with the nature of priestly training.…
Lough Derg offers true equality to pilgrims
Dear Editor, I have recently returned from Lough Derg where a diocesan pilgrimage of 39 people led the Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Dr Denis Nulty was taking place. Bishop Denis was accompanied by several diocesan priests and the example they gave was one of humility, with no airs or graces doing exactly the same bare-footed exercises…
Amnesty is discredited
Dear Editor, Liam Duffy (Letters IC 02/07/2015) refers to the Irish section of Amnesty International and its ‘volte-face’ on abortion. I wonder if he is aware that when Amnesty International first came out in favour of abortion, the Irish section hypocritically claimed that it did not support this position. However, it wasn’t long until, not…
Articles never highlight good aspects to formation in Maynooth
Dear Editor, I’ve read with interest David Quinn’s article on concerns expressed about the national seminary needing to be aired (IC 09/07/2015). On reflection, I welcome what appears to be a relatively balanced article. However, I was not entirely satisfied. I myself am a former seminarian and I’ve seen articles from another source that were…
Remembering our dark past
Dear Editor, How sad to see one whole page of your usually balanced paper (and interesting book reviews), given over to taking back what little we had conceded in terms of confession and repentance for some of the negatives of our Church history – in the Crusades, Inquisition and Holocaust (IC 09/07/2015 ‘Pernicious lies exposed…
Holy Spirit and the Church in the Liturgy
Every liturgical action is an encounter between Christ and the Church, writes Cathal Barry
Banville’s attack on Pearse displays teenage attitude
Writer’s ‘shallow’ judgement of Irish hero is nothing but attention seeking, writes Mary Kenny
The healing place of silence
A recent book, by Robyn Cadwallander, The Anchoress, tells the story of young woman, Sarah, who chooses to shut herself off from the world and lives as an Anchoress (like Julian of Norwich). It’s not an easy life and she soon finds herself struggling with her choice. Her confessor is a young, inexperienced, monk named…
A legacy of creativity and courage
A trip to West Clare prompts Andrew O’Connell to reflect on the “remarkable struggle against adversity”

Cathal Barry
Courtney McGrail
Mary Kenny
Fr Ronald Rolheiser