Who threatens freedom of the press?
Dear Editor, Michael Sanfey’s most informative report on the recent European conference of journalism and media freedom quotes one of the participants as warning against the influence that readers can exert on the media, thus compromising freedom of speech. The speaker offered as an example the fact that The Washington Post haemorrhaged 250,OOO subscribers when, before the November 2024 US presidential election, it didn’t endorse Kamala Harris.
This, however, misrepresents the motivation of the subscribers in question. The reason so many of them, myself included, cancelled our subscriptions was that the Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos, had interfered in the editorial process to stop the newspaper endorsing Kamala Harris as had already been decided upon by the editorial board. The offence against freedom of the press in this instance came from the Post’s proprietor, not from the readers.
Yours etc,
Felix M Larkin
Cabinteely, Dublin 18
Practical application of mercy by the Order of Malta
Dear Editor, The situation in Lebanon is now catastrophic. Over one million people have been displaced with more to follow. Hundreds have been killed. Among them was Chadi Ammar, RIP, a young member of our Order of Malta staff in Lebanon, killed in an airstrike while working on food security programmes in the south. His death is a stark reminder that humanitarian workers are not bystanders — they are on the front line.
The Order of Malta has been present in Lebanon for many, many years, operating more than 60 health, social and agricultural programmes with some 600 staff. Our teams continue to run primary healthcare centres, mobile medical units, community kitchens and food distribution for displaced families.
Across the wider region, our Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem — a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Christ — has delivered over 110,000 babies and remains the only neonatal intensive care unit operational in Palestine. In Gaza, we have distributed some 200 tonnes of food aid and established primary healthcare clinics in impossible conditions. In Syria and Iraq, our teams support hospitals, vaccination programmes and the return of displaced communities.
Your readers will know that the Order’s mission — to serve our Lords the Poor and the Sick — is not a relic of the 12th Century. It is a living obligation, and one that Irish members of the Order take seriously. We have over 3,000 volunteers serving across the 32 counties at home, and our members regularly deploy to Bethlehem and beyond.
Ireland has long understood solidarity in times of crisis. Our Government’s continued commitment to overseas aid, when others have cut theirs, speaks well of us. But more is needed — from governments, institutions, and individuals. I would encourage your readers to support the Order’s work where they feel they can.
This is not abstract charity. This is the practical application of mercy, delivered by ordinary people of extraordinary courage. They deserve our prayers and our support.
Yours sincerely
Patrick Downes KM
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
‘Abortion extremism’ in Britain is unscrutinised legislation in Ireland
Dear Editor, I am asking that you please cover that despite the shock and horror expressed at the recent decriminalisation of abortion in Britain that this has been the law in Ireland for almost a decade. A mother can abort her child in Ireland up until birth with absolutely zero legal consequences. I will reference the relevant legislation below. The Irish Times has previously reported that almost 700 abortion pills have been seized coming into Ireland in just a few short years after repeal. What I want you to focus on is subsection 3 under offences which is identical to the new amendment in Britain that has garnered widespread media attention across Ireland.
Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; Offences:
(1) It shall be an offence for a person, by any means whatsoever, to intentionally end the life of a foetus otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) It shall be an offence for a person to prescribe, administer, supply or procure any drug, substance, instrument, apparatus or other thing knowing that it is intended to be used or employed with intent to end the life of a foetus, or being reckless as to whether it is intended to be so used or employed, otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to a pregnant woman in respect of her own pregnancy.
Please prayerfully consider bringing attention to this as it is completely unreported on and unchallenged please the light in Irish media exposing that what has caused a media storm in the UK has not garnered any attention for almost a decade in Ireland.
Yours etc,
Cathal Hendron
Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone
Pope Francis and female deacons
Dear Editor, Your own, and Bishop Alan McGuckian’s impression that Pope Francis did not leave the door open to female deacons is incorrect. The most authoritative statement by the late Pope on this topic occurs not in an EWTN interview (The Irish Catholic, March 26, 2026) but in the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality, which the Pope adopted as part of his own ordinary, papal magisterium. It reads: “Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open. This discernment needs to continue” (n 60).
Yours etc,
Fr Gerry O’Hanlon, SJ
Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10
Fr Flanagan and other Irish missionaries
Dear Editor, The launch of Fr Flanagan from Co. Roscommon on the pathway to sainthood alerted me once more to the enormous contribution Irish Missionaries made to the worldwide Church especially in the 19th and 20th Centuries. I was trained for the priesthood in All Hallows College Dublin and ordained for the Portsmouth Diocese in England.
All Hallows was founded in 1882 by Fr John Hand, mainly to train students for the priesthood in the English-speaking territories. It was a prophetic vision to help people who had left Ireland because of the famine.
Garry O’Sullivan, Editor of The Irish Catholic, is also the Chairman of the All Hallows Association and recently revealed fascinating facts about Irish Seminarians.
4000 young Irish priests went to minister in the United States, mainly from Irish Seminaries located across the country…these priests helped make Catholicism the largest Christian denomination in the US. They created a powerful education system still active today. They shaped the identity of the Irish American community and they passed on a deep tradition of faith, storytelling, and parish life.
But the missionary enthusiasm was not just confined to men, women too played a huge role in making America great then.
Irish women religious had an enormous impact, especially in education and healthcare. Catherine McAuley, although she remained in Ireland, her order spread rapidly to America. The Sisters of Mercy opened schools, hospitals, and orphanages across the US.
Sisters of Charity, founded in part by Irish influence, became pioneers in nursing and social care. Elizabeth Ann Seton, not Irish herself, but deeply influenced by Irish spirituality and clergy—her order worked closely with Irish missionaries.
Everyone should promote the cause for the canonisation of Fr Edward Flanagan who founded “Boys Town” under the designation that “Boys are not bad; it is the system”.
Yours etc,
Fr Tom Grufferty
Knock, Co. Mayo
Gen Z turn to faith in response to ‘crisis of meaning’
Dear Editor, St Patrick’s Day was so uplifting after months of depressing weather and depressing news. It is Ireland’s day. Our faith, heritage, language and music is celebrated worldwide on the day.
A spiritual warfare has been ongoing in Ireland for some time. It has brought much change in the lives of its people. A once Christian society has become permissive, liberal and self-centred. This has led to an atmosphere of fear and danger, but things are changing thanks to the prayers, example and witness of so many.
The Sunday Independent on March 8, tells us that ‘Gen Z’ are putting their faith in religion as they face up to “the crisis of meaning”, and that data suggests that the young are embracing their spirituality in an effort to cope with modern life. Reports from other countries like France and England have been showing this trend, and the Iona Institute now reports the same trend in Ireland. Last Easter, there were 70 ‘adult baptisms’ in a Dublin Church.
Research tells us that faith is very important for mental, as well as for physical health. The young are finding faith necessary for coping in a changing world, and are turning away from activities that no longer fulfill them or make them happy. For the older generation born into the faith this has been their focus and strength always. Some individuals and groups are puzzled by this upsurge of faith, not so for people of faith. We invoke St Patrick’s once again in St Benedict’s prayer for Ireland. We know God has promised “never to abandon us” and to be with us to the end.
Yours etc,
Nuala Doran
Raheen, Co. Limerick