Dear Editor, Had Prof. Reville's feature on Copernicus (IC 27/2/14) been written in 1886, its inaccuracies and assumptions may have gone unnoticed. In 2014 however some of his conclusions are no longer valid. In 1887 there was an experiment called the Mitchelson and Morley ether test that failed to show any orbiting of the Earth. It…

Dear Editor, the government is toying with the idea of downgrading history and religion in schools, the subjects which reveal and help us transcend our humanity respectively. Having read a fascinating story about another Mayo man, John Bingham, “one of the most effective intelligence officers during the Second World War” and the man behind the…

Dear Editor, What Fr Radcliffe calls “act as police monitoring the lives of others” is usually called “admonish the sinner”. It is a work of mercy that can be difficult as sometimes the sinner doesn’t want to be admonished. Nevertheless for some, e.g., parents, godparents, priests, nuns, it is a duty. Thus, if a priest…

Dear Editor,  The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will soon have to address the issue of late abortions, answering a written question submitted last January 31. Britain is particularly targeted following the revelation that each year, 60 foetuses survive after a late abortion for several minutes, and sometimes for several hours. They are left to…

Dear Editor, I would like to comment on the article on the parish of Sandyford, Kilternan and Glencullen. I am writing not just as a parishioner but also as chairman of a local soccer club Wayside Celtic FC which has over 500 members. I have never at any time over the years felt that the…

Dear Editor, In response to a letter, ‘Catholics, faith and the Francis effect’, (IC 16/1/14), the doubt was expressed, would people fall away from their faith when Pope Francis dies and is replaced by someone with perhaps different abilities. There is little doubt that Pope Francis’ powerful charisms have the ability to touch both Christians…