Dear parishioners and all people of good will in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, Spring has at last come and I wish to send you greetings and good wishes. The harsh winter we have experienced is now coming to an end as the signs of new life are all around us. ...
New life At long last, spring is in the air, and with it, a new spring in our step. All around us life is burgeoning again, new life. We cannot cut hedges anymore this year. It is strictly forbidden until autumn: the birds are nesting. Our laws are determined to...
I am aware that the current debate on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution is complex, sensitive and painful for many. I offer this reflection, therefore, with respect for all concerned. Compassion Compassion is at the core of the Christian way of living. It...
In less than two weeks’ time we will be asked to vote on whether to remove from our Constitution the last remaining protection for children who are growing towards birth. It is a profound responsibility, for each of us will hold in our hands the power of life and...
In a few weeks’ time, the people of Ireland must make a decision that will have a profound impact on the kind of society we will be in the future. We will be asked to decide on whether to retain the Eighth Amendment in our Constitution by voting ‘No’ or to remove it...
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”. Jer.1:5 Debate, Discernment and Decision The national debate on the life question is in full flow. Our decision is required on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland which guarantees the protection...
My dear people, In these days, every person in Ireland, is being asked to consider a fundamental question, a question that lies at the heart of allowing a child the possibility of reaching their potential. All of us, especially people of faith must engage in this...
It is not easy to speak about the up-coming referendum. But it is absolutely necessary. We will not get this chance again. It is about life and death. Every one listening to or reading this letter started life in the womb of his or her mother. We are reminded of...
The decision of the Government to hold a referendum on repealing article 40.3.3 - the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland - is a major challenge to the respect for life that has been so much part of our culture for generations. Article 40.3.3 – the Eighth...
“So great is the value of human life, and so inalienable the right to life of an innocent child growing in the mother’s womb, that no alleged right to one’s own body can justify a decision to terminate that life… ”(Pope Francis, ‘The Joy of Love’ 83) The current...