“The Pope explained that he could not take everything in hand personally from Rome. We local bishops, who are best acquainted with the needs of our faithful, should be corajudos, that is ‘courageous’ in Spanish, and make concrete suggestions,”
It would be difficult for us to continue operating normally without using banking services. Do we, or should we, have an ethical issue with the banking services we use as individuals and as a church?
Padraig McCarthy
We are grateful to Paddy Ferry for sending us this tribute to a great man and priest, Canon Michael Cassidy
In just over ten days time, the Easter Triduum will begin, on Holy Thursday evening. The time when baptism is celebrated is now very close. We ask God’s help for all the adults and children preparing for baptism this Easter, and pray that we may be fit and ready to renew our baptismal vows at the same feast.
Brendan Hoban in his Western People article reflects on what we can all learn from how authorities handled the whistleblowers in An Garda Siochána.
This article was first published in the book “Priesthood Today”, edited by Eamonn Conway. Brendan O’Rourke is a Redemptorist priest and psychotherapist. It is published here with the consent of the author.
Traditionally, this Sunday is called Laetare Sunday, which means ‘a day for joy’. Lent is half over, and the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus is nearer. At this midpoint of Lent, it is traditional to honour mothers, treasuring those still with us and praying for those we have lost to death.
After a very pleasant and enjoyable series of talks in various parts of the country, my ‘caravan’ is now coming to the capital. I am talking in the Stillorgan Park…
Clearly the ‘Francis effect’ is not making much impact on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as yet!!
praytellblog.com and the National Catholic Reporter are carrying reports that German Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has been dismissed by Pope Francis.
Mary Vallely, who states she’s a JC fan (yes, both!), would like to share this reflection for Lent.
On the Feast of the Annunciation this article might give an impetus to the discussion on women’s contribution to salvation history
Brendan Hoban’s article in The Western People argues that Irish Bishops may be too careful and too averse to risk. Instead, he says, they need to give the type of leadership people are asking for.
Today’s readings about water and thirst remind us that this is a baptismal season. During Lent, many people all over the world look forward to their baptism, while those already baptised prepare to renew their promises.
Sean O’Connaill deplores the bishops’ lack of transparency on the funding and independence of the national body for child protection that they set up (the NSBCCC), and hopes for the day when bishops will be accountable to their people.
Bill Tammeus, a Presbyterian elder, suggests a short list of disagreements Protestants might have with Pope Francis. (First published in the National Catholic Reporter on 19 March 2014: read original article and comments here.)
Just 12 days into the season of Lent, we keep the feast of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. We mark the day by praising God the creator, who sustained Patrick, and who sustains the Church, in good times and bad.
The ACP Leadership Team welcome the publication by the Irish Bishops of a summary of the responses they received to the Synod survey, and note the similarity with the results produced by a similar survey on this website: all reveal a gap between church teaching and practice.
Now that we are ten days into the season of Lent, our goal is clarified in today’s liturgy. The Gospel of the Transfiguration reminds us that we are destined for glory. Like the disciples, we keep this glimpse of glory in our hearts in the dark days ahead. Resurection will follow, as surely as day follows night.
Gerry O’Hanlon SJ reviews Pope Francis’ first year and flags developments to watch out for. And he asks believers not simply to sit back and admire, but use the opportunities for dialogue Francis provides (first published in Irish Jesuit News).
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
