Dr David Cowan, Author at Catholic Herald

Dr David Cowan

July 04, 2021

The veteran canon lawyer Fr Ladislas Orsy, who turns 100 this month, speaks to Dr David Cowan

Built to train 500 priests a year, Maynooth marks its 225th birthday

October 08, 2020

This year Ireland should have been celebrating the 225th anniversary of St Patrick’s College in Maynooth, once the largest seminary in the world. Covid-19 put paid to celebratory events in this mad year, which also saw the loss of one of the college’s most illustrious alumni, John Hume (whose obituary appeared in last month’s Catholic

Has contemporary art criticism lost its soul?

September 27, 2018

Today’s critics have a blind spot when it comes to religion, says David Cowan No Idols: The Missing Theology of Art by Thomas Crow, Power Publications, 144pp, £18 It is increasingly difficult to detect spirituality in art, especially when art is largely seen through recording devices and smartphones or used as a backdrop for selfies.

Analysis: Why Macron accepted a title from the Pope

June 28, 2018

Francois Hollande never took up the traditional honour. But his successor has surprisingly strong Catholic sympathies

The fashion world looks for its Catholic roots

May 02, 2018

Christian imagery has inspired a major fashion exhibition in New York

Arts essay: The fashion world looks for its Catholic roots

May 02, 2018

Ever since Adam and Eve decided to cover up, humans have made both functional and creative use of dress. Whether it is the everyday need to cover oneself up, wearing a uniform to identify our function or resorting to little more than a fig-leaf bathing costume, we think about what we wear. Whatever our budget

Is there any hope of Saudi Arabia lifting its church ban?

March 09, 2018

Christians shouldn't hold their breath, but change may yet be possible

This is an important trip for Mohammad bin Salman – and an awkward one for the PM

March 07, 2018

The Saudi Crown Prince's visit has prompted a debate in the UK which wouldn't happen in an absolute monarchy

The man who invented economics

January 11, 2018

Many believe that the science of economics began with the Scottish moral philosopher Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. In fact, the origins go back further to Richard Cantillon, an Irish Catholic Jacobite, whose life is shrouded in controversy and mystery. Given his life story, it is hardly surprising that it has taken so long

Why the West keeps getting it so wrong on Iran

January 03, 2018

Many Western observers fail to understand the religious side of the debate

The Saudi revolution

November 02, 2017

When I first visited Saudi Arabia, I headed to a restaurant with a group of colleagues. When we arrived, it had closed for prayer time. If you’re already inside, you can carry on your meal. But you cannot enter if prayer has started; instead, you must wait outside. This rule was reinforced by the Mutawa

The Saudi crown prince wants to return to ‘moderate Islam’. But what does that mean?

October 27, 2017

Don't expect the country to turn to Western-style secularism any time soon

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