Mgr Michael Nazir-Ali is one of the leading international advocates on behalf of persecuted Christians worldwide. He addressed a meeting of The Iona Institute and Skellig on the topic in Booterstown parish centre, Dublin. He discussed the various forms anti-Christian persecution takes, and why it is largely ignored in the West. The talk took place...
Hear a fascinating and in-depth talk by Jennifer Lahl on the history of surrogacy, the industry that services it, and the victims it has left in its wake. The talk was hosted by The Iona Institute. Jennifer is the founder and president of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network(CBC) in California. She has 25...
Fr Vincent Twomey, Emeritus Professor of Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, addressed a packed University Church on Wednesday night. The event was co-hosted by The Iona Institute and the Notre Dame-Newman Centre for Faith and Reason. In his wide-ranging address, Fr Twomey surveyed the situation of the Church in Ireland, discussing in particular...
Mary Kenny, writer and journalist, gave a talk on the topic “Do feminists hate motherhood?” to the Iona Institute on October 2nd. In particular she examined the work of Simone de Beauvoir, one of the chief founders of modern feminism and revealed her hostility to motherhood. The text of the talk can be found here.
Professor Richard Rex of Queen’s College, Cambridge, addressed a packed University Church in Dublin last week on the topic: The Two Thomases, namely Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. In particular, he examined the portrayal of both in Hilary Mantel’s best-selling and widely-praised novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Professor Rex, who lectures in Reformation and Tudor...
David Quinn of the Iona Institute discusses anti-Catholicism in Ireland. He asks if it exists and how we would recognise if it does. He also speaks about the hero priests, religious and lay-people we have forgotten in the rush to condemn the Catholic Church’s past. He looks back at the visit by Pope Francis to...
Rod Dreher, author of ‘The Benedict Option’, addressed a meeting co-hosted by The Iona Institute and the Notre Dame Centre for Faith and Reason. He discussed what Irish Christians needs to do to pass on the faith and live out the faith now that they are in a minority situation in their country, and in an...
How Relationships and Sexuality Education is taught in schools is currently under review. The Iona Institute recently heard from Dr Olwyn Mark who described what a good RSE course looks like and what elements it ought to contain. One important point she made is that it is impossible for RSE to be morally neutral. Dr...
Dr Stephen Bullivant of St Mary’s University in London analyses the religion results from Census 2016 and finds an Ireland where religious affiliation is falling but is still very high by European standards. You can view his presentation here. He addressed the topic at a meetings of The Iona Institute held on August 24, 2017....
The Iona Institute hosted Dr Finola Kennedy recently who described how, from 1930, and very much against the prevailing mood of the time, Frank Duff and the Legion of Mary helped unmarried mothers to keep their babies. He did this with scarce resources and the help of the Legion’s volunteers. This was in strong contrast...
