Alive! (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
Alive! is a free monthly publication in the style of a newspaper
which has been produced, since its first edition in 1996, by Alive Group, an organization with an address at the Dominican Order
St Mary's Priory, Tallaght
in Dublin, Ireland
. The current editor is a Catholic priest, Fr Brian McKevitt, who refers to the publication as a 'newszine'. While it claims a circulation of over 300,000 copies, its actual readership is difficult to establish since a substantial portion of its circulation is delivered door-to-door, with most of the remainder being available through Ireland's network of Catholic churches (who do not provide estimates of take-up). It is printed by Datascope, an independent publishing company in Enniscorthy and contains an appeal in each issue for donations totalling EUR160,000 annually to remain in circulation.
Since September 2008, the front page has contained a disclaimer
text "The content of the newspaper Alive! and the views expressed in it are those of the editor and contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Irish Dominican Province".
Alive! upholds a right-wing
orthodox Catholic position on a number of issues which it believes are of prime importance to Catholics. These include abortion
, euthanasia
, marriage
, teenage sex, homosexuality
, feminism
, parenting
, children's education
, "moral decline", the European Union
, the idea that Global warming
is a hoax
and the broad environmental movement
is "anti-Catholic" and, ultimately, the necessity for the primacy of Catholic Christianity over all other belief systems. Each edition of the newszine will typically contain at least four or five articles on topics drawn from this list, and the majority of its articles are written anonymously.
The publication strongly opposed the Nice Treaty
and more recently, fiercely protested against the Lisbon Treaty, a position which drew criticism from Irish politicians such as Senator
Paschal Donohoe
as its position could be erroneously interpreted by many Catholics as representing the official views of the Catholic hierarchy. TD
Thomas Byrne
, attacked the publication claiming it "bombarded" church goers with its "anti-EU" views. While Senator Ivana Bacik
went further and described the publication as being the "equivalent of the paramilitary wing of the Catholic Church" Following Donohue's comments, Cardinal Seán Brady asked bishops to monitor unofficial literature which was distributed through Catholic churches.
A regular article entitled "Dumbag writes...!" features letters, purportedly from a devil
named Dumbag, which highlight what it believes is the folly of viewpoints which are not Catholic in scope or origin. This feature is inspired by The Screwtape Letters
by the Anglican writer, C.S. Lewis.
In 2009, McKevitt attended a meeting in Roscommon of the John Paul II Society along with Declan Ganley
(the founder of the now-defunct political organization Libertas
), Senator Ronan Mullen
and a number of other conservative Roman Catholics.
McKevitt was listed at number 67 in the Ireland’s Most Influential 100 list published by Village
magazine.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
which has been produced, since its first edition in 1996, by Alive Group, an organization with an address at the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
St Mary's Priory, Tallaght
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
in Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The current editor is a Catholic priest, Fr Brian McKevitt, who refers to the publication as a 'newszine'. While it claims a circulation of over 300,000 copies, its actual readership is difficult to establish since a substantial portion of its circulation is delivered door-to-door, with most of the remainder being available through Ireland's network of Catholic churches (who do not provide estimates of take-up). It is printed by Datascope, an independent publishing company in Enniscorthy and contains an appeal in each issue for donations totalling EUR160,000 annually to remain in circulation.
Since September 2008, the front page has contained a disclaimer
Disclaimer
A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally recognized relationship...
text "The content of the newspaper Alive! and the views expressed in it are those of the editor and contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Irish Dominican Province".
Alive! upholds a right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
orthodox Catholic position on a number of issues which it believes are of prime importance to Catholics. These include abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, teenage sex, homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, parenting
Parenting
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood...
, children's education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, "moral decline", the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the idea that Global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
is a hoax
Climate change denial
Climate change denial is a term used to describe organized attempts to downplay, deny or dismiss the scientific consensus on the extent of global warming, its significance, and its connection to human behavior, especially for commercial or ideological reasons...
and the broad environmental movement
Environmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
is "anti-Catholic" and, ultimately, the necessity for the primacy of Catholic Christianity over all other belief systems. Each edition of the newszine will typically contain at least four or five articles on topics drawn from this list, and the majority of its articles are written anonymously.
The publication strongly opposed the Nice Treaty
Treaty of Nice
The Treaty of Nice was signed by European leaders on 26 February 2001 and came into force on 1 February 2003. It amended the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome...
and more recently, fiercely protested against the Lisbon Treaty, a position which drew criticism from Irish politicians such as Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
Paschal Donohoe
Paschal Donohoe
Paschal Donohoe is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Central constituency at the 2011 general election....
as its position could be erroneously interpreted by many Catholics as representing the official views of the Catholic hierarchy. TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
Thomas Byrne
Thomas Byrne (Meath politician)
Thomas Byrne is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected to Seanad Éireann in April 2011. He was previously a Teachta Dála for the Meath East constituency from 2007 to 2011.-Personal life:...
, attacked the publication claiming it "bombarded" church goers with its "anti-EU" views. While Senator Ivana Bacik
Ivana Bacik
Ivana Catherine Bacik is an Irish politician and academic. She has been Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College, Dublin Law School since 1996, and was a made a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 2005. She was elected a Senator for the University of Dublin...
went further and described the publication as being the "equivalent of the paramilitary wing of the Catholic Church" Following Donohue's comments, Cardinal Seán Brady asked bishops to monitor unofficial literature which was distributed through Catholic churches.
A regular article entitled "Dumbag writes...!" features letters, purportedly from a devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
named Dumbag, which highlight what it believes is the folly of viewpoints which are not Catholic in scope or origin. This feature is inspired by The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters is a satirical Christian apologetics novel written in epistolary style by C. S. Lewis, first published in book form in February 1942...
by the Anglican writer, C.S. Lewis.
In 2009, McKevitt attended a meeting in Roscommon of the John Paul II Society along with Declan Ganley
Declan Ganley
Declan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...
(the founder of the now-defunct political organization Libertas
Libertas
Libertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and derived inspirations :In 238 BC, before the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...
), Senator Ronan Mullen
Rónán Mullen
Rónán Thomas Mullen is an independent Irish Senator and delegate to the Council of Europe. He was elected in the National University of Ireland Seanad constituency in July 2007 and re-elected for a second term in 2011. Mullen is a frequent media commentator on social and political topics...
and a number of other conservative Roman Catholics.
McKevitt was listed at number 67 in the Ireland’s Most Influential 100 list published by Village
Village (magazine)
Village is an Irish current affairs magazine founded by Vincent Browne. It was launched in October 2004 and was published weekly. In January 2007, it was announced that Village Magazine would be published monthly...
magazine.