Marie Keenan’s new book on abuse raises some challenging questions, writes Phil Garland ”One bad event is followed by another”: this comment is on the opening page of the introduction of this extremely detailed and scholarly work by Dr Marie Keenan on clerical child sexual abuse. There are many State reports, books and media coverage…
The Government has announced this evening that it has established a so-called ‘expert group’ to look at the issue of abortion. In December 2010 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Ireland must clarify the circumstances under which abortion would be legal in the State. However, crucially the case does not mean…
A very impressive total of 75 TDs and Senators met with the Ireland Stand Up group yesterday which is campaigning in favour of the reopening of the Irish embassy to the Holy See. Most people don’t believe the Government’s claim that the embassy was closed for financial reasons. Most people believe it was closed for…
Sr Deirdre Mullan reflects on her experience of humanity when visiting a maximum security prison I first met Tim, in a high-security US prison in 1999. He was 29 years old and was one of 2.3 million men and women housed in prisons throughout the United States – the highest rate of incarceration in…
Parents must stand up for religious education, writes Rik Van Nieuwenhove The proposals of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, set up by the Minister for Education, if implemented, will have a devastating effect on the Catholic identity of primary schools throughout Ireland. An advisory group, headed by Professor Coolahan, is preparing a report for…
If the Inquisition is Exhibit A in the case against religion and more specifically the Catholic Church, then the Crusades are probably Exhibit B. A few nights ago BBC 2 aired the first of a new three-part series about the Crusades kicking off with the First Crusade. I was hoping for a slightly more balanced…
Changes in family life A new study of Irish family life has disclosed how family patterns have changed over the years, with more couples co-habiting, more children born out of wedlock, and almost one child in five growing up with a single parent. We should never have too rigid an attitude to family structure in…
Co-operatives are often the children of crisis, writes Fr Dermot McKenna The United Nations (UN) has declared this coming year, 2012, the Year of the Co-operatives. This is a very exciting development for all those involved in the co-op movement. Despite the fact that co-operatives are widespread in many countries of the world, they tend…
Cliona Byrne explores making a ginger bread house for Christmas Ginger bread houses have always been a fascination of mine, from fairy tales of Hansel and Gretel to the sheer skills needed for it simply to work. As a child I would watch my grandmother bake cakes, buns and tarts. She would often let…
Childcare Given the bewildering array of options available, it can often be difficult to choose childcare. Quite often, the decision will be based on what fits conveniently into your commute, and which is most reasonably priced. All else being equal, Irene Gunning of Early Childhood Ireland, says that before choosing a daycare centre: ”A parent…