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Ón Talamh Aníos / From the GroundUp

An interview with Frank Brady SJ on the Irish language and renewing ecosystems “When I was in the Gaeltacht in West Cork,” Frank Brady recalls, “many, many people spoke English. But any time I spoke Irish, I was always answered in Irish.” That simple act of response – of being met where one is, i.e.… Read more »

 

Laudato Si’, Ten Years On: Reflections from An Animal Theologian

Ruby R. Alemu Ruby R. Alemu holds a PhD in Theological Ethics from Aberdeen University. Her recent thesis The Cries of the Animals: Integral Ecology After Laudato Si’, explores missing nonhuman animals in the encyclical through the perspective of ‘anthropocentrism’ and the Thomistic and Franciscan influences of Laudato Si’ and Catholic Social Teaching. She has… Read more »

 

The Importance of a Healthy Ecology of Protest

Judith Russenberger Judith Russenberger, Christian Climate Action, is a retired mother of three, with degrees in Building Surveying and Biblical Studies, and a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis. Her activism has included weekly vigils outside the British Parliament, Lloyds of London, and the headquarters of Shell and BP. Her… Read more »

 

Justice for Peatlands: field notes from a Catholic ecological engineering PhD researcher

Mariana Silva Mariana Silva is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin, working with Bord na Móna and the Environmental Protection Agency on bog rehabilitation. INTRODUCTION: GENERATION Z, GENERATION LAUDATO SI’ I am a 26-year-old Catholic peatland ecohydrologist. My faith formation, among other Catholics of my generation,1 has been indelibly influenced by Pope Francis’ ecological… Read more »

 

Buildings and climate change: How building decarbonisation can help mitigate climate change

Davide Dell’Oro SJ Davide Dell’Oro, SJ is an Italian priest of the Society of Jesus. He is currently a visiting scholar at Politecnico di Milano, where he researches building decarbonisation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. He has a Ph.D. and an MSc in Civil Engineering-Architecture from Politecnico di Milano. He was a visiting scholar… Read more »

 

Pope Francis and his papacy: A turning point in Christian history?

Peadar Kirby Peadar Kirby is Professor Emeritus of International Politics and Public Policy, University of Limerick and Research Coordinator, Cloughjordan Ecovillage. His novel on the last of the Avignon popes, ‘Misean go Peñiscola’ won second prize in Comórtas Liteartha an Oireachtais 2024. The avalanche of tributes that followed the death of Pope Francis went far… Read more »

 

Profile photo of Pope Francis

Editorial

Kevin Hargaden Kevin Hargaden is the Director and Social Theologian at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. Ten years ago, Pope Francis gave the Church and the world a great gift. Laudato Si’ was not just an encyclical. It was a turning point: a summons to conversion, a prophetic warning, and a charter for… Read more »

 

Destabilising the Fight Against Poverty

Introduction Many people in Ireland live in poverty. This daily reality for countless households is evident by the large network of organisations—statutory, community, and voluntary—that seek to alleviate poverty and its pernicious effects. These organisations target an array of demographics and focus on ameliorating its specific symptoms such as unemployment or low educational attainment. It… Read more »

 

From Philanthropy to Solidarity: Diverse Expressions of Prisoner Advocacy and Support

Introduction As soon as the modern prison was established, concerns about the treatment of prisoners were expressed from many quarters. With a focus on Irish prisons and prisoners, this essay examines some of the people and organisations involved who conveyed compassion for the plight of prisoners, advocated for improved prison conditions, and supported penal reform.… Read more »

 

Solidarity as a Political Practice: A European Perspective

Introduction “Più Italia, meno Europa” (More Italy, less Europe). This was one of the slogans adopted by the Italian far-right party Lega (the League) for the last European elections. Another one was “Cambiamo l’Europa prima che lei cambi noi” (Let’s change Europe, before it changes us). Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), the political party of… Read more »