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Getting to Know the Association of Catholics in Ireland–Q & A with Martin Murray, Part 2

Today we continue with Part 2 of our Question and Answer series with Martin Murray of the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI), which began last week with this post. In the first post, he dealt with the questions of how the ACI started and why he thought such an association was needed. Today’s questions [...]

Getting to Know the Association of Catholics in Ireland – Q&A with Martin Murray, Part I

Last week, I wrote about the launch of the Association of Catholics in Ireland, a new lay-led organisation that has adopted the motto, “Following Christ, Changing Church.” (You can view its objectives on its website). The event also was  reported on in the Irish Times, as well as the Irish Independent. Martin Murray, a member [...]

Cathy Higgins’ Churches in Exile – Challenges for the Churches in Ireland (Book Review, Part 2)

In a previous review of Cathy Higgins’ Churches in Exile: Alternative Models of Church for Ireland in the 21st Century, I promised to note some of her most compelling challenges for the churches in Ireland. Higgins’ challenges are present in every chapter in the book. Indeed, the discussion or reflection questions at the end of [...]

Association of Catholics in Ireland Launches Tomorrow, 1 June, in Dublin

The new “Association of Catholics in Ireland” (ACI) launches tomorrow in Dublin. ACI is lay-led and has adopted the motto, “Following Christ, Changing Church.” It lists the following “objectives” on its website (click the link to see a more extended statement): Statement of Objectives Association of Catholics in IrelandFollowing Christ, Changing ChurchAr lorg Chríost chuig [...]

Cathy Higgins’ “Churches in Exile”: Book Review and Book Launch 22 May – What’s Emerging among Churches in Ireland?

Cathy Higgins’ new book, Churches in Exile: Alternative Models of Church for Ireland in the 21st Century (Columba, 2013) starts from the premise that churches in Ireland are in crisis, wedded to an outdated ‘Christendom’ model of church that has not served Christianity well. But in this thoughtful and easily digestible book, Higgins reflects on [...]

Fr Martin Magill’s Ecumenical Tithing–Prof John Brewer at Fitzroy Presbyterian

This week we continue with Fr Martin Magill’s experiences of ecumenical tithing. Last night he visited Fitzroy Presbyterian in Belfast, where Prof John Brewer of Queen’s University spoke on the findings in his new book, Religion, Ex Combatants and Peace in Northern Ireland, co-authored with David Mitchell and Gerard Leavey. (I earlier reviewed the book [...]

Fr Michael Bennett Guest Post–Response to The Catholic Church in Ireland in Transition – Reflections for Zimbabwe

In a recent post I shared the text of an article that was published in the latest issue of Mukai/Vukani (meaning “Wake up!”), the Jesuit Journal for Theological Reflection in Zimbabwe, titled ‘The Catholic Church in Ireland in Transition – Reflections for Zimbabwe.’ Fr Michael Bennett has written a response to the post, which I’ve [...]

The Past Still Haunts the Present–my post on the 15 Years On Blog

My post titled “The Past Still Haunts the Present” has been published on the “15 Years On” blog. The blog was set up to mark the 15th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and to stimulate conversation about where we go from here. It is described this way on the “15 Years On” website: We [...]

The Catholic Church in Ireland in Transition – Reflections for Zimbabwe, Published in Mukai/Vukani

I have had an article published in the latest issue of Mukai/Vukani (meaning “Wake up!”), the Jesuit Journal for Theological Reflection in Zimbabwe. This edition (volume 64, April 2013) discusses “The Church in Transition.” With kind permission from the editor, Gift Mambipiri, I’ve reproduced the article below. The Catholic Church in Ireland in Transition – [...]

Can I Stay in the Catholic Church? by Brian Lennon–Book Review

I’ve reviewed Brian Lennon SJ’s latest book, Can I Stay in the Catholic Church?, on the Slugger O’Toole blog.

Fr Alec Reid and “14 Days”: Are we “Keeping the Faith” this Good Friday?

Good Friday is the darkest day in the Christian calendar. As the day passes this year, I can’t help but think about a programme that aired recently on BBC Northern Ireland, 14 Days (11 March 2013). 14 Days traced a series of events in March 1988, beginning with the killing of the Gibraltar Three, including [...]