A new report released just two days before International Women’s Day has stressed the urgency of making sure refugee girls and young women receive an education. The report, “Her Future: Challenges and Recommendations to Increase Education for Refugee Girls” by Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is based on the observations of JRS workers around the world and…
Famous Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg has offered his love, prayers and blessings to people across the world, in observance of Ash Wednesday. The popular celebrity, well-known from movies like Ted and Transformers, posted a special message to his 12 million Instagram followers at the beginning of the Lenten season. “It’s here – one of my…
Four British doctors are attempting to take their professional body to the High Court over an assisted suicide survey they believe is illegal. The doctors, two of whom are Catholic, say they believe the Royal College of Physicians has acted “unfairly and unlawfully” by setting a super majority of 60% of votes to retain the…
Saint Patrick: The Legends and History of Ireland’s Patron Saint by Roy Flechner (Princeton University Press, £22.00) The feast of Ireland’s national apostle is upon us, in all its curious modern forms. And here just in time for the world-wide celebrations is a new inquiry into the history and the legends that surround St Patrick. But…
Everyday Philosophy Last month I argued against utilitarianism, the school of moral philosophy that seeks ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’. Utilitarianism is false because following it consistently means endorsing the idea that it’s sometimes right to choose evil means to achieve good ends. Here, though, I want to say a word against…
Chaplaincy services continue to play a vital role in the experience of third level students in Ireland and abroad, the chair of the Third Level Chaplains Association of Ireland has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic following a gathering of third level chaplains in Rome organised by the European Episcopal Conference, Fr Ger Dunne OP…
There’s a rich vein of Catholic writing in the modern Irish canon, Greg Daly is told “It is a curious thing, do you know,” observes a friend of Stephen Dedalus, James Joyce’s alter ego in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, “how your mind is supersaturated in the religion in which…
Personal Profile Working at the coalface to combat homelessness and help communities for most of his life, one priest is determined to help those suffering as a result of Ireland’s insidious housing crisis. Currently focusing on housing families, Fr Patsy Carolan OMI has been helping vulnerable people in whatever community he finds himself in,…
Dublin: The Chaos Years by Neil Cotter (Penguin Ireland, €18) This is a refreshingly honest account of the interactions between the managers, players and fans of the Dublin senior football team from 1996 to 2010. It records the behind-the-scenes abuse, backchat, disloyalty and other challenges faced by the managers of that period. Pat O’Neill led the…
Ash Wednesday reminds us of the world to come, Francis says Marked with ashes, Christians set off on a Lenten journey where they strive to leave behind everything that will turn to dust and instead focus on drawing closer to God and the promise of eternal life, Pope Francis has said. In his homily at the Dominican-run Basilica of Santa Sabina last week, the Pope…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Peter Costello
Ben Conroy
Greg Daly
Chai Brady