Neutrality in Ireland is a morally charged concept, both for supporters and critics. For supporters, it is a principled stance to avoid becoming embroiled in armed conflict and military alliances and to support the peaceful resolution of disputes. For critics, it is an evasion of responsibility and taking a free ride behind serious defence measures…
Month: February 2017
Bishop invites community of sisters to Elphin
A new community of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother will be established in Roscommon at the invitation of the Bishop of Elphin. Last week Bishop Kevin Doran visited the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother Cantabria in the north of Spain to finalise the agreement with Mother Ana Maria…
Thai Children’s Trust undergoes rebranding
Overseas children’s charity, Thai Children’s Trust Ireland, has unveiled its new name as part of ambitious new plans to protect more vulnerable children in Thailand. Thai Children’s Trust was established in 1982 to support the work of Irish-American Redemptorist Priest, Fr Ray Brennan. It now supports an increasingly diverse range of partners, caring for over…
Flawed data used to push secular world religions course
A survey on proposals for a new primary school course in religion, beliefs and ethics used leading questions and drew from an unrepresentative sample, a prominent research institute has found. A study for the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) analysed an online survey conducted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to…
Galway church’s ‘drive-thru’ Ash Wednesday service
A Co. Galway church will ‘move to the pace of modern life’ this Lent with a ‘drive-thru’ Ash Wednesday service and Lenten Petition box. Following discussions between PP Fr Paddy Mooney and the pastoral council of Glenamady church on how best to prepare for the Lenten season, it was recognised that something of a novel…
College champs give thanks in Knock
The winning team from St Mary’s University College, Belfast “gave thanks” at Knock Shrine after defying the odds in an incredible ‘David and Goliath’ football final. St Mary’s is the North’s only Catholic institution of higher education and with just over 1,000 students and less than a quarter of them male, the underdogs unseated the…
RTÉ response to ‘haunted bread’ complaint ‘inadequate’
A Co. Kerry priest who lodged a formal complaint against RTÉ after a guest on The Late Late Show referred to the Eucharist as “haunted bread” said he is disappointed that the national broadcaster has chosen to view the incident as “provocative” but “not sacrilegious”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week following an email…
Cardinal Desmond Connell – ‘distinguished and caring’
“He was a just, holy, prayerful man, aware of his own failings.” Among the tributes paid as the news of Cardinal Desmond Connell’s death came on February 21, Msgr Dan O’Connor’s was one steeped in a long-time personal knowledge of the prelate and the man who was his friend for so many years. Having known…
Fr D’Arcy’s reflections on a parallel life
Mary Kenny considers the impact of reflecting on life choices and ‘what ifs’
News in Brief
IC columnist named 'Distinguished Professor’ Columnist with The Irish Catholic, Michael W. Higgins has been named Distinguished Professor of Catholic Thought at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, USA. Prof. Higgins previously served as vice president for Mission and Catholic Identity and Professor of Religious Studies at the University. In his new role, Mr Higgins will…