Dear Editor, During the summer each year there are church gate collections throughout the country for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There was a time when both of these parties had much in common with Church teaching, but that day is long since gone. I am not aware of any other country where political parties…

Dear Editor, Recently, the debate concerning married clergy and ordained women resurfaced. It is argued that we should discuss both as a potential means of resolving our priest shortage problem. Firstly, there continues to be a shortage of pastors in Christian denominations that permit both, suggesting that this route is not the answer. Secondly, as…

Dear Editor, I agree with Mary O’Byrne (IC Letters 25/06/2015) that Amnesty International is no longer a human rights defender. It has lost its founding values and is now a champion and campaigner for abortion in Ireland. Amnesty has damaged the reputation of Ireland, and is no longer worthy of public support by Irish people…

Dear Editor, I recently finished the three-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg (my second visit) – a particularly challenging time due to the wet and cold weather, but nonetheless the spirit of Lough Derg was as strong as ever. During my stay I was able to do some research for my theology dissertation which was in the…

Dear Editor, What has Laudato Si achieved? The Pope’s intent is to address the dignity and duties of life in the created order. There are arguably three achievements. Firstly, he lends a ‘Pope Francis’ tag of support to the prevailing, secular, fashionable, ‘green’ worst-case contentions, not yet backed by a scientific consensus. Second, two main…

Dear Editor, I refer to your headline on July 2, “Bishops rebel over Maynooth seminary ‘heave’.” Catholic seminarians must be sound – doctrinally, morally, spiritually and humanly. They must be scrutinised, by competent authorities, to ensure they, if judged worthy to be ordained, will be integrated and competent servants of the People of God. It…

Dear Editor, Notwithstanding the euphoria following the marriage referendum result on May 22, and the approval of this expressed by some writers in your letters page, and leaving aside specifically religious considerations, I believe any truly objective observer of the debate which preceded the vote would agree that the result was a victory for emotion…