A new look The Irish Catholic 125 years on
Category: Opinion
RTÉ’s lack of ‘faith’ in ‘religious’ programming
Last week, I encountered the senior executive at RTÉ who is responsible for the religious output. In the course of conversation, I suggested to him that they might consider changing the word ‘religion’ to ‘faith’. He was doubtful. But there were some thoughts that religious programming might be altered to the ‘spiritual’ rather than the…
Church too passive on ethical questions
The Church must fight for its institutions or give them up, writes David Quinn
A pastoral plan for the people
The Diocese of Down and Connor excelled at the weekend hosting a massive diocesan congress to launch one of the most comprehensive pastoral plans any Irish diocese has produced in recent history. Over 1,700 people gathered in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall for the unveiling of the much anticipated ‘Living Church’ pastoral plan for the diocese. Bishop…
Defining doctrine
Whenever there is a question of the Catholic faith, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has the answer. The Catechism is a concise book that states the beliefs of the Catholic faith. It presents the teachings of the Catholic Church on faith, sacraments, morality, and prayer in an orderly and complete manner. As Catholics, we…
The Mater has made a regrettable decision
Dear Editor, The decision of the Mater Hospital to comply with the Government’s abortion legislation is regrettable. The statement issued by the hospital does not make it clear whether the decision was taken by the hospital authorities or if the governance structures of the Irish Sisters of Mercy were a party to this decision. In…
A model church
There we were; Fr Eddie Moore, my mother and I, standing in an enormous if peculiar space. We were in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Allenwood, Co. Kildare but a part of it few of the congregation would ever see. Behind us was the gable end wall of this massive church while in…
The Mater Hospital and abortion
Dear Editor, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who is totally baffled and shocked at the news that the Mater Hospital has agreed to carry out abortions in keeping with the Government’s legislation, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. Recently, Fr Kevin Doran said that the Mater Hospital could not carry out…
A lesson from the road
Fr Ronald Rolheiser finds himself on the Camino de Santiago
People want pastors not bureaucrats
Francis poses enormous challenges to the faithful, writes Nuala O’Loan