Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Church Teachings
The International Anglican Communion has in recent times been struggling to reach a decision on their views of same sex marriages and relationships. Earlier this month, they managed to avoid a split by reaffirming the Church’s teaching on marriage as between a man and a woman, but it remains a difficult issue within all Anglican Churches. […]
Posted on 29. Oct, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Family, Sexuality, Young people
We are Church Ireland declared themselves very disappointed with the final report by Catholic Bishops meeting in Rome over the past three weeks on the issue of the family in contemporary society. The report ‘s 94 paragraphs indicate that the majority of the voting Bishops do not favour change either in the teaching or discipline of the […]
Posted on 08. Oct, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Church Teachings, Gospel Values
Dr Riaan van der Merwe from South Africa recently gave an interactive presentation on “A Multimedia Engagement with the Spirituality of Vulnerable Embodiment of Henri Nouwen”. Henri Nouwen teaching on a spirituality of vulnerability has touched a cord with many people all over the world. He had his own inner struggles included trying to reconcile […]
Posted on 08. Oct, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Humane Vitae
The first full day of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family, Monday October 5, was dominated by the introductory address of the synod’s general relator, Cardinal Peter Erdö of Esztergom-Budapest. In his speech Cardinal Erdö reasserted much of the Church’s teaching, and cast doubt on the possibility of changes during the Synod. Cathal […]
Posted on 17. Sep, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Church Teachings, Married Couples, Sexuality, Uncategorized
Pope Francis has authorised the most far-reaching reform of the Church’s marriage annulment process in three centuries. The Pope has not changed the criteria under which the Church grants annulments, but has streamlined the process to make it faster, easier and less expensive. Francis’ reforms remove the need for all judgments to be reviewed automatically, getting rid […]
Posted on 20. Aug, 2015 in Book Reviews, Celibacy/Sexuality, Church Teachings, Discrimination
Oscar Wilde and the Catholic Church certainly make for a strange combination, but Father Leonardo Sapienza, head of protocol at the Vatican, published a book called, “Provocations: Aphorisms for an Anti-conformist Christianity” devoting a large section to quotes by Oscar Wilde. This use of a homosexual icon is no doubt a surprise to many. Miriam Gormally […]
Posted on 16. Apr, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Vocation
Thirty-Three Good Men by Dr John A. Weafer analyses the lives of thirty-three Irish Catholic diocesan priests and former priests during a period of significant change in the Irish Church and Irish society, 1960–2010. The book looks at the way Irish diocesan priests experience celibacy and obedience in modern Ireland, and how they understand their […]
Posted on 26. Feb, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Feminism/Women in the Church
Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. It is the first installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual […]
Posted on 05. Feb, 2015 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Church of Ireland, Church Teachings, Gospel Values
Ireland will make history in May 2015 when it becomes the first country to hold a referendum on gay marriage. While other countries have legislated for it, no country has ever held a referendum until Ireland decided to do so. This coming May, the people of Ireland will be asked to decide whether the following […]
Posted on 13. Nov, 2014 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values
Controversy regarding the Church’s approach to the acceptance of gay people arose at the recent Catholic Church Synod. A draft report issued halfway through the meeting had called for greater openness towards homosexuals and divorced Catholics who have remarried. But those paragraphs were not approved, and were not in the final text. The report will […]