The Centre has criticised the Government’s position towards tackling climate change, following the European Commission’s recent publication of its 2030 targets for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, for each Member State.

Ireland received significant concessions, reducing its 2030 targets significantly, in comparison to the targets of other EU Member States. While some have described the targets as ‘fair’ and ‘balanced’, the Centre claims that they do little for the world’s poorest, whose lives and livelihoods are already at risk because of climate change.

The Centre has called on the Government to end ‘severe confinement’ for young adults in prison. Out of fear for their own safety, 100+ young adults (aged 18–24) are spending up to 23 hours a day in their cell.

Our latest report, Developing Inside: Transforming Prison for Young Adults recommends that Youth Justice, under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs be assigned responsibility for 18–24 year olds in prison.

Liberals have argued that the Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis, The Joy of Love, is disappointingly traditionalist.Traditionalists, ironically, are disturbed that it is too innovative. 

In an article in the June Furrow JCFJ staff member Gerry O’Hanlon outlines why he thinks that, by reading between the lines, the traditionalists are closer to the truth, but he sees this truth as potentially revolutionary and liberating for Church reform.

Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice to jointly host seminar on Laudato Si’on June 8th

On June 8th, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice and Trόcaire, in association with the Loyola Institute (Trinity College Dublin) will host a seminar event titled ‘Caring for our Common Home; Towards an Integrated Perspective on Society and the Environment’. The seminar will mark the first anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si’, the social and environmental encyclical letter from Pope Francis.