Articles

Angela Hanley argues that alienation from an over-centralised church system is provoking a quiet backlash at the base of the Irish Church.

Is the Internet now the world’s biggest prison? If so, might Christian faith be the best key to release? Sean O’Conaill thinks that Charles Dickens helps out here.

FIVE WAYS IN WHICH POPE FRANCIS HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED HOW WE SEE THE CHURCH AND HOW YOU CAN OFFER YOUR SUPPORT

"To develop public theology in the 21st century is to take seriously faith and ethics as applied to public questions." Dr Johnston McMaster of the Irish School of Ecumenics.

Justly celebrated for his handling of the abuse catastrophe in Dublin, must Archbishop Martin nevertheless accept some responsibility for the fact that ‘Irish Catholicism hasn’t changed’?

With no guarantee that ‘bad news’ will end soon, might the Irish Catholic Church turn a corner even so in 2018 – with the visit of Pope Francis?

What exactly divides Pope Francis from those who oppose him? Sean O’Conaill takes issue with the Manchester Guardian’s account of this profoundly important dispute.

In what so many experience as a ‘Dark Night of the Church’ Aidan Hart argues that a sincere apology for failure, and forgiveness for those who have failed, can bring a new beginning.

Gerald Donnelly’s brave experiment in broaching the subjects of prayer and faith – even to atheists – in a diverse community in Dublin.

Aidan Hart believes that Bishop Donal McKeown’s call to ‘mission’ in Derry "still has to  move from vision to detailed plans, from aims to objectives, from Bishop to local clergy and laity".

For Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, ‘maintenance’ of the Irish Catholic church is not enough: we need to move to ‘mission’ – a new ‘going out’. How will this be possible?

Aidan Hart challenges what he sees as a completely inadequate response by the Catholic hierarchy to a multi-dimensional church crisis.