Pope Francis made headlines around the world last month after drawing a reported six million people to the closing Mass of his visit to the Philippines. It was hailed as the largest ever turnout for a papal event and, possibly, the largest gathering in human history. While it’s a little crude to focus on crowd…
Category: Opinion
Putting our God-given talents to good use
Fr Ronald RolheiserFor the past six months, while undergoing treatment for cancer, I was working on a reduced schedule. The medical treatments, while somewhat debilitating, left me still enough health and energy to carry on the administrative duties in my present ministry, but they didn’t allow me any extra energy to teach classes or to offer any…
A priestly, prophetic and royal people
Cathal BarryThe Catechism lists a number of characteristics of the people of God, writes Cathal Barry
Pope is right about boring sermons
Courtney McGrailDear Editor, Regards your front page story ‘Pope wages war on dull sermons’ (IC 12/05/2015). How right he is. And I too have been one of the guilty preachers. The late Fr Peter Lemass, while working with the Catholic Communications Institute of Ireland and Radharc, many years ago had a great line for aspiring preachers…
Appeal for Gladys Aylward information
Dear Editor, I am currently researching the story of the late missionary to China, Miss Gladys Aylward. She became a household name in the 1960’s with the Hollywood film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness based on her life and which starred Ingrid Bergman as Gladys bringing 100 orphans over the Shanxi mountains to safety…
Primary school children too young for Confirmation
Dear Editor, Well done, Bishop Brendan Leahy. Yes! Indeed, why not postpone Confirmation for young people until they are at least 16 years old! (IC 29/01/2015) Unfortunately, few of the parents or students who have given feedback on the issue are keen on this new idea: and the clergy, I’m sure, are shivering in their…
Obama’s unpopularity with Catholics no surprise
Dear Editor, Your correspondent from America, Michael W. Higgins, makes some extraordinary statements (IC 19/02/2015) from the point of view of anyone who sees President Obama first and foremost as a champion of abortion right up to birth, who not only defends his position when and where called for, but forces others not so minded…
Biblical teaching on marriage is quite clear
Dear Editor, I cannot see how any Christian believer can accept same sex marriage without neglecting or rejecting what God has revealed about marriage: “Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female, and that he said: ‘This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling…
Ten Commandments address global problems
Dear Editor, The violent deaths of so many people in Paris recently would not have happened if the ten commandments from the Bible were followed. In the Koran, there are concepts of God, Heaven and Hell akin to Judaeo-Christian beliefs, within recognition of Old Testament prophets. Moses, an Old Testament prophet, received the ten commandments…
True definition of marriage
Dear Editor, God created male and female to come together in love and marriage to assist him in human creation. That is the true definition of marriage. Yours etc., Christina Doran, Raheen, Limerick.