Singing in the rain

Jesuit Volunteers Philippines have agreed to accept two Irish applicants, at the request of JVI Ireland, to join their 29th batch of volunteers. Each year about 20 volunteers take part in the 11 month programme. As well as work assignments, the group will spend time training and reflecting together. Past volunteers speak highly of the experience.  Contact: JVI Ireland, Liam O’Connell SJ, jvi[at]jesuit.ie, (00353) 61 480923 or
Debbie Moore, (00353) 1 8880606, debbie.moore[at]sli-eile.com.

The female face of AIDS

The Church needs to show a more feminine profile in response to the feminisation of HIV/AIDS in Africa, argues Michael Kelly SJ in his contribution to Trócaire’s Lenten Campaign.

---

Gender-Based Violence
Violence against women is a major human rights problem that has special significance for HIV and AIDS. Violence in sexual encounters greatly increases the possibility of HIV transmission, both at the time of the assault and in subsequent life. This is the situation with numerous women and several children. Read more »

Is ‘Fortress Europe’ really what we want?

Getting migration policy right after onset of ’asylum fatigue’

by John Dardis SJ

There are over 45 million refugees and displaced persons worldwide and 80 per cent of these are women and children. In Africa and Asia they live in camps while here in Europe they are frequently detained in detention centres. Read more »

Some news travels slowly…

Clerical sex abuse is no arguement against celibacy, argues Edmond Grace SJ. Clerical cases make up only a small percentage of the total problem, though you couldn’t tell this from media coverage.

---

Some news travels slowly, especially news about sexual abuse of minors which does not involve priests and religious. Take, for instance, a report prepared for the U.S. Department of Education, entitled ‘Educator Sexual Misconduct,’ by a Professor Charol Shakeshaft. Read more »

Have homosexuals been barred from the priesthood?

Ron Mercier takes a close look at the recent Vatican instruction concerning the suitability of homosexuals for the the priesthood and draws some important distinctions.

---

The recent document from the Vatican entitled “An instruction concerning the Criteria of vocational discernment regarding persons with homosexual tendencies” has certainly stirred much controversy and spilled more than a little ink. Still, the issue is important enough to warrant some careful reflection. Read more »

“Just a lad of eighteen summers”

Oliver Murphy, museum curator at Belvedere, takes a look at the life of Kevin Barry, a former Belvederean who was hanged on November 1, 1920, after his involvement in a raid on a British Army lorry which left three young British soldiers dead.

---

Last Tuesday, November 1, was the 85th anniversary of the execution of Kevin Barry. Belvedere College marked the day by opening an exhibition to the public from 11.00 am until 4.00 pm. The exhibition reveals much about Kevin Barry – and raises questions about how he should be remembered. Read more »