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’?
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The Scandal of the 2011 Missal
Why in 2011 did we begin to use a translation of the Missal that became a ‘stumbling block’ for so many celebrants of the Catholic liturgy? A just-published small book explains this admirably.
2018: A year of rescue from the belly of the whale?
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?
The ‘war’ against Pope Francis: where do Irish bishops stand?
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.
A Church in Travail: Aidan Hart
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.
Irish Mission Now: Could Everyone Pray ‘Grace’?
Gerald Donnelly’s brave experiment in broaching the subjects of prayer and faith – even to atheists – in a diverse community in Dublin.
The Mass: a ‘Holy Sacrifice’?
In what sense is the Mass a ‘Holy Sacrifice’? Does God want violence? Has the meaning of ‘sacrifice’ been redefined by the Cross? Sean O’Conaill reviews an important recent article by Anthony R. Lusvardi S.J.
Irish Mission Now? Some More Questions
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".
Irish Mission Now?
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?
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Aidan Hart challenges what he sees as a completely inadequate response by the Catholic hierarchy to a multi-dimensional church crisis.
Faith Formation and Fear of Shame: Sean O’Conaill
Why have Irish Bishops not researched the reasons for the disappearance of school-going teenagers from church? Have they cause for concern about the likely results of such research?
Deacon Chat
An initiative called “DeaconChat” has the goal of bringing Catholics, ordained and laity together in conversation to continue to learn and discern together on this subject.
An Easter Experience: Memorial Celebration
Teresa Mee’s account of an experience she had recently of celebrating a memorial.
A Thought for Easter
Easter Sunday is the time for Christians to rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus the Christ and, with the indwelling power and guidance of His Holy Spirit, to strengthen their resolve to resurrect the whole of humanity by the constant practice of unconditional love.
Resurrection?
How are we to understand what happened to convince the earliest Christians that Jesus had risen from the dead? Did the apostles resurrect Jesus out of fond memory, or did the Father intervene?