Columns - Irish Examiner

Ronan Mullen

Traditional marriage works best, but politicians are afraid to say so

OF ALL the articles of faith of the modern western politician, one must surely be the greatest: ‘where there is division, let us bring compromise.’

Wed, 01 Feb, 2006

Value of celibacy is an issue which must be looked at in context

THE news that Clonfert priest Fr Mossie Dillane fathered a child has “reignited the debate over celibacy” according to one of last weekend’s newspapers.

Wed, 25 Jan, 2006

How a case can be misinterpreted to put the Church in a bad light

TODAY begins the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - a time when Jesus Christ’s wish that his followers ‘may all be one’ is the focus of Christian prayer both within individual denominations and at ecumenical gatherings.

Wed, 18 Jan, 2006

SF had stretched our credulity long before the Donaldson spy story

“A STRAIGHT arrow guy,” is how one veteran US Sinn Féin sympathiser, Maureen McCullogh, continues to describe Denis Donaldson, the central figure in what must rank as Ireland’s most unusual spy story.

Wed, 28 Dec, 2005

‘Happy Christmas.’ Why in God’s name should that cause offence?

THE most surprising statistic of the last few days, for my money, came from the priests of St Teresa’s Church, Clarendon Street, in Dublin.

Wed, 21 Dec, 2005

McDowell as Deep Throat was an admission of something irregular

REMEMBER ‘A Few Good Men,’ starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise?

Wed, 14 Dec, 2005

The Church speaks its truth on homosexuality - without hostility

I a recent television programme, the former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, paid tribute to Pope John Paul II.

Wed, 07 Dec, 2005

Road safety chief reaches end of line while we keep the boot down

IN the political world as we know it, the act of resignation means different things. Some politicians threaten to resign but don’t actually do it.

Wed, 30 Nov, 2005

Liz’s irrational tirade against the Church serves no useful purpose

IT IS one of the more simple and predictable tricks of public relations that when you are about to put the boot in, you should start by saying something nice about your victim.

Wed, 16 Nov, 2005

Liberty, equality, fraternity: France fails test it set for rest of the world

LIFE imitates art. Just over 10 years ago, a French film called La Haine (Hatred) won critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival.

Wed, 09 Nov, 2005