Australia Fires Burning Through Aboriginal Identity

Australia’s bushfires are a devastating consequence of a combination of environmental and social injustices, decades in the making. For Aboriginal people, the fires are burning not only through their land, but also through their identity.

Emissions from an industrial refinery

A Good News Focus for the New Year

2020 is just a week old, but between the prospect of war and a continent aflame, it is all-too-easy to grow despondent.

Image of light coming through prison window

Prisons: Disappearing the Failures of Social Services

Last week, a homeless, brain-damaged man was revealed to have been on indefinite remand for over a year within the high dependency unit in Mountjoy prison. He was deemed unsuitable to stand trial. Yet, due to the cancellation of a care-plan by the HSE for “resource” issues, he was to remain imprisoned as he was… Read more »

Ciara Murphy, John Guiney SJ, Kevin Hargaden, Keith Adams, Berna Cunningham

Launch of the JCFJ Strategic Plan (2019-2023)

On December 5th, 2019, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice welcomed friends, supporters and collaborators to the beautiful Ignatian Chapel in Gardiner Street for the launch of our 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. Hosted by JCFJ Director, John Guiney SJ, the event was an opportunity to share and reflect on the goals and ambitions of the… Read more »

News  

Neoliberalism as a Religion

This episode of The Ethics Age podcast is the first in a series of four which discuss the book, Theological Ethics in a Neoliberal Age by Kevin Hargaden, social theologian of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ). The book addresses the Christian problem with wealth and provides a persuasive theological critique of neoliberalism.… Read more »

Extinction Rebellion & Protesting About Protests

Last week saw the most concerted campaign yet by the Irish wing of the international environmental activist group, Extinction Rebellion (XR). Those who think it is a disproportionate response would be wise to think again. While the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice is not aligned with XR (we are committed to addressing climate injustice… Read more »

Budget 2020: A Tale of Three Crises

While the Irish Government has paid lip service to the existence of both a housing and homelessness crisis and to a climate crisis, Budget 2020 reveals that action is reserved for the fiscal crisis that could emerge from a No Deal Brexit. A Budget Without Precedence Last Tuesday, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe used language… Read more »

Afforestation Plan Can’t See The Wood For The Trees

The Irish Government’s afforestation plan is to plant 22 million trees every year for the next 20 years. While this sounds ambitious it will do nothing more than reach quantitative targets as it currently lacks the substance and complexity to reduce our carbon footprint, says Ciara Murphy. On the surface the Government’s plan sounds positive.… Read more »

EU Report Finds Homelessness Figures Misreported

A recently published report by the European Commission echoes the view of the JCFJ that there is “statistical obfuscation, if not corruption” in the Department of Housing’s monthly homelessness figures, says Keith Adams. Much has been written in the past three years about the homelessness and housing crisis in Ireland. Analysis and human-interest pieces are… Read more »

Climate Strikers Want A Just Transition

The Global Climate Strikes that take place this Friday (20th September) are about demanding that climate breakdown be addressed with the urgency it requires by governments. Part of this process is engaging with, and moving towards, a just transition to a low carbon economy. A Just Transition*, according to the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) is… Read more »