Letters

Dear ICN Readers Grace and peace to you. It was eleven days ago when I last wrote to you saying "as the region enters yet another moment of deep uncertainty and escalation, Bethlehem University continues its mission of educating and forming young leaders for Palestine, grounded in faith, dignity, and hope." Today, I write to you from Bethlehem with a heavy heart, yet also with deep faith and hope,... Read More

Deacon Mark Paine write: I was recently contacted by a group in the US called 'Autistic Catholics'. Would anyone be interested in a UK version" If so, please contact me at: markpaine1970@gmail.com Deacon Mark Paine is a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Birmingham who has served for many years in Catholic education and parish ministry. He is autistic and a parent to autistic children, which i... Read More

To all of humanity, to the mothers of the world, to Doctors Without Borders, to journalists with dignity, to the governments that still believe in justice: My name is like millions of others. I don't have a well-known surname or hold an important position. I am an ordinary Cuban woman. A daughter, a sister, a patriot. And I write this with a broken heart and trembling hands, because what my people... Read More

Dear ICN Readers The British government is handing huge sums of public money to Palantir, a notorious US corporation that supplies Israel with AI and surveillance technology used as an essential part of its genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Yesterday evening, we protested at Palantir's secret reception, with politicians and senior civil servants, hosted to celebrate winning a £240m... Read More

A way forward for RE after double warnings issued to Irish Church by Fr Sean Smith, ICN Jan 15th, 2026 I write as a former RE teacher, lecturer and LEA Inspector in the north of England and as Interreligious Coordinator for the Diocese of Leeds. I know very little about the warnings issued to the Irish Church concerning RE. I totally agree that there is a need to find ways, as Fr Sean argues, t... Read More

As we enter 2026, we are adjusting to a world in flux. Last week the United States invaded Caracas and abducted Venezuela's president Maduro. He has issued threats to intervene in Cuba, Colombia, Greenland and Iran. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, ICE officers shot a woman in cold blood, claiming it was self-defense despite video footage showing the contrary, then slandered her as a "stone cold liar" a... Read More

At the end of October, we mark the Anniversary of the National Buffer Zone which came into effect on the 31st October 2024, and which bans prayer and offers of help or support to expectant mothers within 150 metres of every abortion centre. Although we have had to move down the road, we are still there seeing women who turnaround and need your prayers and financial support. October is also the mo... Read More

The following open letter was written after the bombing of a warehouse used to store archaeological finds belonging to the French Biblical and Archaeological Research Institute (École Biblique) in Gaza. Since then, a ceasefire has come into effect in Gaza, and the 20 surviving Israeli hostages have returned home. We welcome this development and hope it marks a true end to the war and the beginnin... Read More

It was intriguing to learn that a fellow "Peruvian" had been elected Pope in May this year. For a little while I pondered a particular "Paddington Bear" question. This prompted a letter to The Tablet asking whether Pope Leo would keep a marmalade sandwich under his mitre for emergencies? I even sent the printed article to His Holiness in Rome but heard nothing in response to this vital question. T... Read More

Referring to your article: Why won't the UK prosecute citizens suspected of genocide - https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/53236 Could it be that that would also involve prosecuting citizens (or Israelis visiting the UK) involved in the genocide in Gaza? And that the government want to avoid such obvious implications? Peter Oefferlbauer, Austria Read More

With all the protests taking place outside asylum hostels - it is perhaps worth remembering the following facts: 1) 26% of NHS doctors are foreign-born. The BMA advises that without immigrants "many NHS services would struggle to provide effective care". 2. Almost 5.5 million British people live permanently abroad. 3. Immigrants are 60% less likely to claim benefits than a British-born person. 4. ... Read More

Fr Jarek Pachocki OMI writes: 'I've had the opportunity to join a group of ordinary priests and religious sisters in Poland in signing an open letter written in response to the growing wave of far-right nationalism and anti-immigration sentiment in the country. In a time when fear and division are too often weaponized, this letter is a heartfelt call to return to the core of the Gospel-to stand wi... Read More

Dear Keir Starmer, As you must be aware, dreadful crimes are being committed by Israel in Gaza. I am told that our nation is actively supporting these crimes as an accessory, by providing spares for military equipment and by providing air surveillance and use of Akrotiri airbase. This will bring international shame on our nation and psychologically encourage domestic lawlessness. Moreover governme... Read More

On Tue, May 27, 2025 at 07:40 Sean Mac Niallluis wrote: Dear Jo and Colleagues Your email is usually the first I open every morning. It usually prompts prayer or concern, or gratitude, or some small action, donation or prayer. Today it prompted tears when I read about the 8th Colloquium of Buddhists and Christians in Cambodia. What a marvellous people they are! On the first Tuesday of the month, ... Read More