Dr Michael Punch of the School of Sociology UCD analyses how as a society we got to where we are and how we might do something better.

If you are weak or disadvantaged and you want your rights protected under this government – forget it, writes Peter McVerry, S.J.

In 2005 the Church published The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. This is an accessible summary of Catholic social teaching of the last century. Gerry O’Hanlon stresses that this is not something added on to our faith. It is the practical application of the Gospel.

She reached out to every need, providing health-care, education and social services in a time when these were not provided by the state. Úna O’Neill RSC writes about the work of the founder of her order.

The reasons for migration and refugee flows are often complex, say Mark Raper SJ and Amaya Valcàrcel, but the main reasons are violations of human rights, military conflict, and the violence of poverty. This is Chapter 3 of Raper and Valcàrcel’s book, ‘Refugees and forcibly displaced people’.

Margaret Burns points out that the foundation for human rights is the inherent dignity of the human person. Because of this human rights are inalienable: they exist prior to and independent of the person exercising responsibility. A child has rights. Indeed their vulnerability calls for greater determination to protect their [...]

For many years Fr Niall O’Brien has been a promoter of active non-violence. He has a few suggestions for those who ask “What can I do?”.

Peter McVerry SJ outlines the basic principles of social justice – upholding the dignity of every human person especially where the structures of society impinge in a way that the person’s dignity and rights can not be exercised.

Mark Raper SJ and Amaya Valcárcel outline a Christian response to the plight of refugees. This is Chapter 6 of Raper and Valcàrcel’s book, ‘Refugees and forcibly displaced people’.

Pope Benedict XVI chose the theme of love as the subject of his first encyclical. In response the Pontifical Council Cor Unum organised the “World Conference on Charity” held at the Vatican from January 23-24, 2006. This is a transcript of the presentations that were made on that occasion as [...]

Kevin O’Higgins SJ reminds us that refugees are ordinary people like ourselves, caught in a life-shattering situation, and in need of our solidarity and our practical help.

Fr Paul Andrews SJ highlights unconscious prejudice and how we can annihilate the more vulnerable people in society without ever being aware of what we are doing.

Peter McVerry SJ reviews the first report of the Inspector of Prisons in Ireland, and is glad to see that it has not missed the shameful reality of life for many criminals in the prison system.

Forty years ago in his encyclical “Populorum Progressio”, Pope Paul VI warned that “the disparity between rich and poor nations will increase rather than diminish” and so it has happened. Eugene Quinn addresses the problem of social justice and what we must do about it.

Sean O’Conaill argues for the continued aptness of the title of ‘King’ for Christ and for the language of the Kingdom of God, seeing it as an affirmation of the essential equality of all humans.

Not all of us makes the best of the hand of cards that fate has dealt us, but Paul Andrews met someone who definitely did – “one of the most remarkable people I have met”.

In this booklet, John Dardis SJ brings together a set of essays on the complex realities of migration in the world today, urging Irish people to welcome those who come to this land in their hour of need.

This is an excellent and user-friendly guide to the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church”. It is also an invaluable reource for anyone searching for direction from the Church’s social teaching on many of the social and ethical problems facing the modern world. The author, Pádraig Corkery, is [...]

This series of essays from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice reflects on the integration of spirituality with a commitment to working for a more just world.

The social teaching of the Church is often described as its best-kept secret. Gerry O’Hanlon SJ from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice introduces Messenger readers to this rich source of wisdom for our lives together that is to be found in the social teaching of the Church.

Tom Cahill talks with Jean Quinn, founder of the Sophia Housing Association which takes a holistic approach to helping homeless people.

Jesuit University Support and Training (JUST) is a project seeking to help young people (and some not so young) in Ballymun break the cycle of deprivation that kept them from getting into third level education. Tess Martin tells the story.

Pat Connor explains how SVD and SSpS missionaries are working through VIVAT International to help the UN develop solutions to the world’s problems.

John Murray’s book is about social analysis. Social analysis involves examining economic, political, cultural and social structures to gain a more complete understanding of social situations. The aim is to investigate the way things are and why. It is one of the “Into the Classroom” series designed for teachers at [...]

Andy Campbell, an Irish SVD missionary, brings a little joy to Ghana’s lepers at Christmas. Here he talks about challenging the stigma attached to the disease.

Seosamh MacReamon tells of his experience with the Society of St Vincent de Paul as a student in Trinity College and with the organisation “Slí Eile” as team coordinator for the group’s retreat programmes. Through these activities he helped hand on the faith and its values to another generation.

Through dedicated care and tireless fund-raising, Fr Liam Hayes SVD has brought hope and sanctuary to some of Argentina’s abandoned disabled. Sarah MacDonald reports on this “remarkable” achievement.

Ciarán O’Rourke writes: In early March this year, a team of twenty from Gonzaga College travelled on a house-building trip to Zambia, where they spent nineteen days living and working with the native people. Having spent the previous five months fundraising and preparing for the trip, all involved had their [...]