In Memory of Lyra McKee

Posted on 02. May, 2019 in Community, Crime, Death, Young people

The death of Lyra McKee should be the end of all violence in Northern Ireland, so says Don Mullan, author and journalist who grew up only 200 metres away from the street where Lyra was shot. She was killed by indiscriminate fire as she observed clashes between police and New IRA dissidents on the Creggan estate […]

Protecting Babies

Posted on 04. Apr, 2019 in Community, Crime, Death, Ecology, Humanitarian Aid, Young people

 Aoife Hearne from Operation Transformation to host ‘Tigers’ The promotion of formula is very problematic, so says Aoife Hearne, Dietician from Operation Transformation and member of BFGLI, Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland. BFGLI They will be holding a private screening of the movie ‘Tigers’ in the Light House cinema in Dublin on Monday April 8th. 12 years […]

Responding to the Abuse Summit – 1

Posted on 28. Mar, 2019 in Conflict, Crime

Sr Veronica Openibo who challenged ‘culture of denial’ at Abuse Summit The recent extraordinary summit on clerical sexual abuse convened by Pope Francis in Rome, and attended by Cardinals and Bishops from all over the world met with mixed reactions. While most noted that Pope Francis inherited a monumental mess and has done far more than […]

Responding to the Abuse Summit – 2

Posted on 28. Mar, 2019 in Christian Values, Conflict, Crime

Theologian – Gerry O’Hanlon In this second part on responding to the Abuse Summit, theologian Gerry O’Hanlon looks at whether there will be any concrete changes coming out from the summit. He holds that openness and a willingness to listen is, ”part of a necessary process that the Church is going through, so much better than […]

Listening to survivors of abuse

Posted on 28. Feb, 2019 in Christian Values, Crime

Jim Corkery is a Jesuit theologian who teaches in the Gregorian University in Rome. He also assists in the Centre for the Protection of Minors there, working at times with Hans Zollner SJ, a psychologist and leading expert on child sexual abuse. In this interview with Pat Coyle, he reflects on the recent summit on […]

Freedom of Angels

Posted on 08. Jan, 2019 in Conflict, Crime, Grief, Stress

Bernadette Fahy, counsellor, writer and survivor of institutional abuse talks with Pat Coyle about how her faith was broken by the Church. She says that the faith of survivors was broken, not just once but three times. She grew up in Goldenbridge, and in her book, Freedom of Angels  she tells the inside story of […]

Abused Priest meets Pope

Posted on 29. Nov, 2018 in Christian Values, Crime, Vocation

Father Paddy McCafferty was one of the eight abuse victims who met with the Pope while he was visiting Ireland in August. The Belfast priest, who was abused during his training, said that Pope Francis accepted responsibility for the abuse during his visit and was very visceral in his condemnation of the abusers. Fr Paddy […]

Response to Pennsylvania Report

Posted on 06. Sep, 2018 in Crime, Grief

Renowned American Jesuit, James Martin, who spoke to us about his talk in the RDS on  “Showing welcome and respect in our parishes for LGBT people and their families” gives his response to the recent Pennsylvania report in the United States. Being from Pennsylvania himself, he felt particularly horrified it and he says that it […]

The Pope’s Biggest Challenge

Posted on 23. Aug, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Crime

This week we have a special edition dedicated to the Pope’s visit. One of the most challenging things that many believed Pope Francis would have to face on his visit was the issue of addressing abuse within the church and listening to survivors. Kevin O’Rourke SJ, assistant director of Jesuit novices, speaks to Pat Coyle […]

Restricting travel for Paedophiles

Posted on 19. Apr, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Crime, Faith and Justice, Humanitarian Aid

Fr Shay Cullen, an Irish missionary and  four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee has called on Ireland and other wealthier countries to restrict paedophiles from foreign travel. He also called for their passports to be highlighted in such a way that they could not gain entry to countries like the Philippines, Cambodioa, Laos, Vietnam and Thai Land […]