Catholics in US politics has always been an interesting subject. Famously, John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic President of the United States and had to overcome significant prejudice from a country who had – and in some ways continues to have – a suspicion of the Catholic Church and the fears of it being…

The issue of Catholic politicians and the Eucharist is once again in the headlines this week, after Fine Gael TD Colm Burke expressed surprise that he was refused Holy Communion by a priest at a recent funeral Mass in Co. Cork. According to reports, the priest went further and told Mr Burke that he was,…

It was a curious feature of the erstwhile British government that, despite the ruling party being officially named the ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’, the higher-ups in London showed very little interest in the part of the United Kingdom on the northeast of this island. The role of Secretary of State for the North has never…

The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications are digesting a robust rebuke by the Pope’s key point-man on clerical sexual abuse, the steely Irish American Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley OFM Cap. Last week, the head of the Vatican’s communications department Paolo Ruffini strongly defended the continued use by his office of the art work of Jesuit artist…

It is of the essence of the Catholic Church to be Catholic. At first glance, this statement seems rather peculiar or even so self-explanatory to be tautologous. What else would the Catholic Church be except Catholic? The community formed by the followers of Jesus was first called Catholic in 110AD by St Ignatius of Antioch.…

The symbiosis between Catholicism and nationalism in Nineteenth Century Ireland was vital in shaping the movement towards self-determination. It was a hugely unifying factor in the founding of the new Free State and overcoming the trauma of the Civil War – whatever our difference on the national question, we worshipped at the same altar every…

While there has been much talk of the UK looking likely to buck the trend of the move to the right in politics that is occurring across Europe with the impending election of a Labour government, ostensibly the local and European elections point towards a similar outcome in Ireland. With Fianna Fail and Fine Gael…

Earlier this year, American social psychologist Jonathon Haidt wrote about ‘The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness’, arguing that the rise of smartphones has seen teenagers spending less time socialising, more time glued to their screens, with girls in particular most likely “to be sucked into…

In London, the FA Cup Final was played at the weekend. As is traditional, the inspiring hymn Abide With Me was sung with gusto before the soccer action got underway. Sports fans know a thing or two about faith and hope. To give yourself fully to your favourite team is to be a true believer,…