Posted on 28. Jan, 2016 in Church Teachings, Humane Vitae, Technology
Last year the Children and Family Relationships Act, allowed for the creation of children through the eggs or sperm of third parties, i.e., ‘donors’, but the resultant child has no right to know his or her natural parent or parents until they are 18. The Iona Institute, a Christian Think Tank, is calling this an […]
Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Community, Ecology, Environment, Fundraising, Natural Disasters
Extensive hardship was experienced throughout Ireland as a result of recent floods. People across the country have been left without food, shelter, warmth and clothing as a result of water damage. Many are also left with the insecurity that these floods could come again in the next few years and that their houses may never really […]
Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Family, Refugees
Bronagh Ćatibušić has just returned home from Croatia where she spent two weeks volunteering in a refugee camp in the eastern town of Slavonski Brod. This camp is a transit centre for people fleeing conflict who are making the arduous trek along the so-called ‘Balkan route’. An average of between 2,000 and 4,000 people passed […]
Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Church Teachings
The International Anglican Communion has in recent times been struggling to reach a decision on their views of same sex marriages and relationships. Earlier this month, they managed to avoid a split by reaffirming the Church’s teaching on marriage as between a man and a woman, but it remains a difficult issue within all Anglican Churches. […]
Posted on 14. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Saints
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has expressed the hope that official events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will not try to airbrush religion from the story. Writing in a special commemorative issue of The Irish Catholic newspaper, which was dedicated to exploring the role of faith in the lives of the rebels as […]
Posted on 14. Jan, 2016 in Community, Family, Working Abroad
More and more Irish people are living abroad creating new homes and communities. Josepha Smith is currently living in Australia and returned over Christmas to visit her family. She talks about the migrant experience, the trials of living between two cultures and how Ireland will always be home. Miriam Gormally began by asking her whether […]
Posted on 14. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith Groups, Gospel Values
Sr. Bridget Dunne is the joint chair of the national service committee for charismatic renewal. Sr Bridget has been involved in the movement for 46 years. She talks about how we can use all parts of our body to praise Jesus and renew the Holy Spirit in our lives. Here she talks with Conor Deane […]
Posted on 07. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Feminism/Women in the Church, Gospel Values, Liturgy
Prof Siobhán Garrigan, Loyola Chair of Catholic Theology, says the commonly perceived image of God has a profound impact on how we view people’s roles in society. She argues that it infiltrates into our concepts of who is suitable to lead and which people are most likely to reflect divinity on earth. It is however also […]
Posted on 07. Jan, 2016 in Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Feminism/Women in the Church, Gospel Values
Brendan Butler from We are Church talks about his hopes for the Church for New Year. He looks at the concept of current Year of Mercy and asks whether it might be better to have a Year of Justice, where the Church take on a charter for human rights, including women and members of the LBGT […]
Posted on 07. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Climate Change, Community, Ecology, Economy, Environment, Nature
The recent United Nations climate change conference in Paris in December was declared by Francois Hollande as a “revolution for climate change.” 150 presidents and prime ministers were present, the largest ever single-day gathering of heads of state. Éamonn Meehan, Executive Director of Trócaire, was also present representing the Christian obligation to remember the poorest […]