Courtney McGrailDear Editor, “In Monty Python fashion, what has Rome ever done for us ?” asks Sarah Carey (IC 23/10/14). Does she know that she is quoting a blasphemous film? The Life of Brian depicted a trivialisation and mockery of the ministry and crucifixion of Jesus. Rome has done a lot for us Catholics, such as…
Category: Opinion
Bible stories should be read to young children
Dear Editor, It is certainly uplifting to hear a new campaign in Britain is urging the parents of up to one million young children to read stories from the Bible to their children. What beautiful pictures and stories with which to engrain their impressionable young minds, rather than the dark brainwashing tactics adopted in communist…
Time to know Church rules
Dear Editor, In reply to Sarah Carey’s article ‘Is the Vatican a million miles away from parish life?’ (IC 23/10/14), God and the Church is very merciful, but also just. Everyone has, is and will be welcomed at Mass. However, if any soul is in a state of mortal sin, then that person cannot receive Holy Communion…
Christina Gallagher is right
Dear Editor, I am writing to you about Cathal Barry’s article on Christina Gallagher and the House of Prayer in Achill (IC 30/10/14). You quoted Mick Power, who became involved with the House of Prayer in 1998, describing Ms Gallagher’s alleged divine messages as “appalling” and all about chastisement and the end of the world,…
Dignity is being denied
Not filling vacant chaplaincy posts has a number of serious implications, writes Kathleen O’Connor
Christ’s role in God’s plan of salvation
Cathal BarryCathal Barry examines the Church’s teaching that Jesus’s death freed humanity from sin
Everybody struggles in different ways
Fr Ronald RolheiserAll of us struggle, and we struggle in three ways. First, sometimes we struggle simply to maintain ourselves, to stay healthy and stable, to stay normal, not to fall apart, not to have our lives unravel into chaos and depression. It takes real effort just to maintain our ordinary health, stability and happiness. But, even…
Why bother remembering the Lateran basilica?
Nothing earthly can retain its importance for ever, writes Fr Martin Henry
Watered-down doctrine will not attract a larger flock
Dear Editor, Since the inception of Pope Francis’ pontificate, there has been a well-intentioned attempt to restore the attractiveness of the Gospel for those to whom it has lost its sheen. However, this has played out as the soft-pedalling of the gravity of moral doctrine on human sexuality in a post-Vatican II spirit of Jesuitical…
A strong case for women deacons
Dear Editor, While the issue of the non-ordination of women to the priesthood is final, is it possible that their acceptance to the diaconate will eventually be accepted by the Magisterium of the Church? I venture to say that their acceptance would be welcomed by clergy and laity alike, although I acknowledge there would be…