Dear Editor, It seems from both the pronouncements of Pope Francis and the submissions made to him and the bishops’ synod on defending traditional marriage and family, that there is a real sense that a new dispensation of mercy is on the agenda of this pontificate. Clerical celibacy might be described as the low-hanging fruit…
Category: Opinion
Jesus, Israel and the law
Cathal BarryFrom the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, certain Pharisees and partisans of Herod together with priests and scribes agreed together to destroy him. Because of certain acts of his expelling demons, forgiving sins, healing on the Sabbath day, his novel interpretation of the precepts of the Law regarding purity and his familiarity with tax collectors…
Taking sacred permission to be human
Fr Ronald RolheiserThe Bible gives us sacred permission to feel the way we feel sometimes
Evangelisation has to start with with primary school children
Dear Editor, The Irish Catholic of Sept 18 carried an interesting feature titled “Faith formation is key”, about Archbishop William Slattery in regard to the South African Church’s approach to evangelisation. The quote that interested me was: “We can lose people to the other (‘6,000 independent Churches in South Africa’) unless we put a tremendous effort into the…
Even as one baby clings to life, pro-choicers call for more abortion
We need to look behind the headlines to see the real story behind abortion polls, writes Cora Sherlock
Only an impoverished society turns its back on the contemplative life
David QuinnSecular individualism is the biggest threat to religious life in Ireland, writes David Quinn
Synod will discuss marriage, but just what is marriage
Many Catholics don’t understand what the Church teaches about marriage, writes Kieron Wood
What a papal visit to Ireland might look like
Michael KellyWith growing speculation that Pope Francis will visit Ireland, Michael Kelly explores potential options
The hidden downside of internet dating
Mary KennyA large number of people now meet their girlfriends, boyfriends, and spouses, over the Internet. Some marriage and friendship bureaux have gone out of business because Internet dating has become so popular. And it seems logical: the Internet provides a huge pool of people to choose from. And if used cannily, it can also be…
Ecumenism and the Mother of God
Mags GarganMagdalene College Cambridge has deep monastic and Catholic roots