“Our prisons are not working” was the title of an article written for Reality magazine in 2001. And, it seems, little has changed since then. Fr Tony O’Riordan SJ is a visiting chaplain to a number of prisons in Dublin and is also Director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith [...]

This is a book of papers delivered at a conference on the encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI Deus caritas est. And like Jesus’ reply, it pushes beyond the defences implied in asking the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Eoin G. Cassidy, Head of the Philosophy Department at Mater Dei is [...]

Well-known social campaigner Peter McVerry S.J. reflects on his experiences in Dublin’s inner city. His heart-felt sympathy for the young people from disadvantaged families – and his equally heart-felt anger at the failure of the establishment even to understand these people – is palpable throughout.

 Globalisation has integrated the world economy and brought prosperity to some countries, but left many others on the margins. This book examines the phenomenon of globalisation and argues that, to make it ethical, values of solidarity, preferential for the poor, promoting human dignity and the common good should guide the [...]

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 [...]