Two seemingly unrelated news stories that dominated headlines and social media in the US this spring serve to demonstrate the moral schizophrenia of American moral and political life. Reactions to these stories, among Catholics and non-Catholics alike, serve to demonstrate why so many public questions in the US and other liberal societies resist coherent resolution.
Margaret Attwood’s scary story of existence under a pernicious Christian fundamentalist regime, The Handmaid’s Tale, made grim reading as a novel, was unbearable to watch as a TV series, and wins few converts to theocracy in the operatic adaptation by Danish composer Poul Ruders which has just had a new staging at English National Opera. Nearly three
Where would you go? To Skellig Michael. I went there in 1989 after my mother died and I had become rather agitated about my Irish identity because I had parked it with my mother. We started having holidays in the Gaeltacht; that year I got a boat to Skellig Michael and went to the monastery
The God of Surprises strikes again; I am spending the summer term as Acting Head of Religious Studies & Liturgy at More House School, on the corner of Pont Street and Sloane Street, London. Founded by the Canonesses of St Augustine in 1952 with just three girls, it grew rapidly before passing into lay management
Having been unable to sell in churches for well over a year due to the pandemic, we are now inviting readers to support the Herald by investing in our future. We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values.
Please join us on our 130 year mission by supporting us. We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching. For more information from our chairman on contributing to the Herald Patron's Fund, click here
Make a Donation
Donors giving £500 or more will automatically become sponsor patrons of the Herald. This includes two complimentary print/digital gift subscriptions, invitations to Patron events, pilgrimages and dinners, and 6 gift subscriptions sent to priests, seminaries, Catholic schools, religious care homes and prison and university chaplaincies. Click here for more information on becoming a Patron Sponsor. Click here for more information about contributing to the Herald Patron's Fund