The US Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 mark a “tragic day for marriage and our nation,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. [...]

More than 80 per cent of voters would prefer to see the abortion issue resolved by referendum than by the politicians in Leinster House, and 70 per cent believe that if legislators are to decide the issue they should be allowed a free vote.

These are the findings of a poll [...]

Very Reverend and Dear Father,

The Government is proposing to introduce legislation for the first time in Irish history which will provide for the direct and intentional ending of the life of innocent human beings.  Few other actions of a Government undermine our values as a people more profoundly. It is [...]

Trócaire and Concern have launched emergency appeals for Syria. Trócaire warns that the situation in the region threatens to reach catastrophic levels following the dramatic deterioration in the situation in Syria and neighbouring countries.

“Over eight million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid,” said Maurice McQuillan, Trócaire’s Head of Humanitarian [...]

The Pro Life Campaign has questioned the results of a survey on abortion published in yesterdays’ Irish Times, which showed 75% in favour of abortion, with just 14% against.

The sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over,  were asked the question “The government has published the heads of a Bill [...]

We are at a defining moment for our country, according to Catholic Bishops who issued a statement on the proposed abortion laws on the second day of the June General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Maynooth.

“The Gospel challenges us to work for a world in which the [...]

The Government must stop misrepresenting its proposed abortion legislation as restrictive and face up to the dangers in its abortion plan, Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Caroline Simons told the National Vigil for Life this afternoon.

The Vigil in Merrion Square was the largest ever pro-life demonstration in the country and one [...]

This may be the last opportunity to protest before legislation is introduced to allow abortion, and organisers of the Pro Life vigil today, have appealed to the public to “drop” what they are doing, and join them at Merrion Square this afternoon, to register their opposition to the government’s [...]

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb (Lk 1:42)

Last Friday was the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady.  It commemorated her trip to the Hill Country in Judaea to greet her cousin Elizabeth who, though getting on in years, was expecting a child, [...]

At IEC2012 David Quinn, journalist and director of the Iona Institute addressed the question ‘The changing Irish Family – for better or worse?’

Carole M. Eipers's book is designed to help parents and teachers to be aware of how they can best share their faith with their children.

233 pp. Veritas Publications. To purchase this book online, go to www.veritas.ie

THE BOOKThis is a comprehensive collection of ready-to-go Liturgies of the Word for every Sunday of Cycle A, as well as the major feast days. Whether setting [...]

Nancy Donoghue reflects on the blessings beyond the tragedies in her life as a mother, particularly the tragedy of losing her eight-year-old daughter.

Married for over 30 years, John Drane and Olive M. Drane trace the changing forms of family life and then present a practical theology of family where children can be nurtured, their parents sustained and old people valued and respected.

For Eileen and Brian Foley, their daughter Catherine has been a blessing and a joy, in spite of her severe health problems.

Families come in a variety of configurations: divorced or separated, widowed, single-parent stepparent, childless, blended, adoptive, multigenerational, aging. Wendy M. Wright aims to adapt her spirituality to suit all configurations. It is a book that digs deep and touches many a nerve.

Helen Doherty learns that to be a good mother one doesn’t have to be perfect, just good enough.

In a world where religion is given a bad press, Sarah Johnson provides a practical ‘toolkit’ for parents who want to give their children a happy and healthy childhood where God is honoured. She shows how faith brings perspective to life and provides a sane and viable alternative to atheistic [...]

Ralph F. Ranieri explains how excessive shyness can cause children severe emotional pain. Once you understand the causes, you can take steps to resolve the problem.

Dale Francis offers some dos and don’ts for parents who experience the pain of seeing their adult children leave the church, sometimes to join another church or religious group.

Ralph F. Ranieri looks at how families can recover their equilibrium after it has been lost through conflict. He sees the parable of the Prodigal Son as a template for reconciliation within family life.

Cathy Molloy outlines why the family is so important for giving children the security and acceptance they need to develop and its importance in building up a civilisation of love.

Carmel Wynne believes we should not underestimate the difficulties of parenting and the strain it can put on a relationship – hence the need for learning appropriate skills and for a solid family support system.

Sean O’Rourke tells his experience of sharing prayer with his own young children.

Carmel Wynne argues that we do children no favours when we try to protect them from the reality of death; we should, rather, prepare them in advance, in a manner appropriate to their age, for each of the events surrounding the death of someone they know.

What we hand on to our children is not so much doctrines or practices as the capacity to love. Paul Andrews SJ has a sympathetic understanding of how parents hand on their faith to their children and what’s important.

Neil writes: “It amazes me how so many people in the modern world seem to be so anti-family. When I was young it was simply taken for granted that there was no better place for children to grow up than in a happy family. What has happened? Bernard McGuckian SJ [...]

Declan and Sarah O’Brien from Prosperous in Co. Kildare share a novel and simple way of preparing for Christmas with their children by building an atmosphere of love in the home.

There isn’t a family or an individual living that hasn’t had its own “earthquake” or “can of worms”. “Can you recover?” asks Jesuit priest and psychotherapist, Paul Andrews. The answer, he sees, is in the Gospel parables – the lost coin, the lost sheep, the prodigal son – and in [...]

President Mary McAleese tells how her experience of have children has given her some understanding of how God can extend his love to so many. There is no exclusivity in God’s love: it is all-including.