Gay marriage referendum

Posted on 12. Mar, 2015 in Christian Values, Faith and Justice, Family, Relationships, Weddings and Marriage

This coming May, the people of Ireland will be asked to decide whether the following new wording should be added to the Constitution: ‘Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.’ Faith in Marriage Equality is a group of religious people who have come together to […]

Trócaire Box

Posted on 05. Mar, 2015 in Climate Change, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Lent, Natural Disasters

Every Lent, the Trócaire boxes arrive to remind us to share what fortune we have with those who are less well off. This year the focus is on adapting to a changing climate, something which is hitting the developing world more and with graver consequences.  Communities in developing countries are suffering from ongoing extreme water […]

Objection to Vatican image for women

Posted on 19. Feb, 2015 in Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Feminism/Women in the Church

In the Irish Times recently, Soline Humbert, a spiritual guide and advocate for women’s ordination, asked “How has a headless, truncated, nude, female bondage image recently acquired pride of place on the website of a Vatican all-male body?” The image was chosen by the pontifical council for culture, headed by Cardinal Ravasi. The council regularly […]

The Alpha Course

Posted on 05. Feb, 2015 in Church of Ireland, Church Teachings, Faith and Justice

The Alpha course has been one of Christianity’s biggest success stories. First started in the church of Holy Trinity Brompton in west London it is now practiced in 169 countries. It is a ten week course that explores basic truths of the Christian faith. The course asks questions such as “who is Jesus” and “why […]

Creating a Fair Economy

Posted on 29. Jan, 2015 in Community, Economy, Faith and Justice

Social Justice Ireland are working to build a just society where human rights are respected, human dignity is protected, human development is facilitated and the environment is respected and protected. At a recent conference they looked at some ways in which the tax system could help contribute towards a fairer society. Michelle Murphy, from Social […]

Whose à la Carte Menu?

Posted on 22. Jan, 2015 in Church Teachings, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Uncategorized

“À la carte Catholic” was often a derogatory term used to describe somebody who selectively picked  the pieces of Catholicism that suited them while not being fully committed to the religion. Angela Hanley turns the term À la Carte Catholic around in her new book, “Whose à la Carte Menu?” In it she argues that essentially everybody […]

The Pope in the Philippines

Posted on 22. Jan, 2015 in Community, Faith and Justice, Humanitarian Aid, Mass

The Pope captured the world’s attention with his recent trip to the Philippines. Gathering record crowds of over six million in Manila, he brought a message of compassion and simplicity to the people. His Papacy has been strongly focused on people living in the economic margins and he faced up to some hard questions from […]

Advent Reflection – Take Time

Posted on 27. Nov, 2014 in Faith and Justice

Reflection by Dermot Roantree on the importance of ‘taking time’.

Questioning Capitalism

Posted on 30. Oct, 2014 in Christian Values, Economy, Faith and Justice

Does the growth model of economics serve everybody? Sr. Aine O’Connor, Mercy Global action coordinator for the Sisters of Mercy at the United Nations, believes that it needs to be questioned closely. Her job is to question the impact of industries at a local level. They bring the voice of the local people in to […]

Understanding Option for the Poor

Posted on 09. Oct, 2014 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Economy, Faith and Justice, Poverty

Gustavo Gutierrez, founder of liberation theology gave it the central tenet of, “the preferential option for the poor” or “option for the poor” as it is often known. This service of the poor is also one of the clear guiding principals of Pope Francis’ theology. The phrase was also seen to have links with Marxism. […]