1. "Most Serious crimes" in the Church
The Pope recently issued a document to revise the norms of canon law for dealing with pedophile priests. The new norms allow for faster action on abusive priests and introduces a clause for dealing with the possession of child pornography. The document also deals with guidelines for sanctions for the attempted ordination of women as well as con-celebration of the Eucharist with members of different traditions. All of these fall under "gravioribus delimits" or "the most serious crimes", something which many people find difficult to understand. Miriam Gormally spoke with Mary T. Malone, author and specialist in feminine theology and asked her what she thought about the document.
2. Haiti – 6 Months on
It is six months since the devastating earthquake in Haiti killed over 200,000 people. Now that it is no longer in the headlines, it can be easy to forget about all the people who are left to rebuild their country. Conor O'Loughlin from Trocaire was recently over there to assess the situation. He told Miriam Gormally that progress has been slow, but that some areas are showing signs of improvement.
3. Suicide in Ireland: A Conversation and Journey through Loss with Science and Arts
The increase in the number of people, particularly males, taking their own lives in Ireland in recent years is a major cause of concern.
Suicide is a societal problem and is one of the highest causes of potential life lost for all males in Ireland, superseded only by deaths from circulatory diseases, cancers and respiratory diseases.
Hidden behind the statistics, however, lie personal, untold, stories of lived lives of loved ones lost to suicide.
Some of these stories of loss, and of lived lives, have been captured in a unique collaborative project. Artist, Seamus McGuinness who lives in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, spent almost five years looking and listening to the untold stories of lived lives lost to suicide.
Invited by Prof. Kevin Malone of St. Vincent‘s University Hosptial, they held conversations and research interviews with 104 suicide-bereaved families from all over Ireland.
In this; the first installment in a short series, we hear principally from Dr. Ed Carroll, director of 'Blue Drum' - an Arts Specialist Support Agency. He speaks about the issue of suicide at this pivotal time for Irish society.
We also listen to Seamus McGuinness and Kevin Malone, who set out the aims and methods involved in the process.
Last month, at the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI), Seamus, Kevin and Ed spoke about and installed the outcomes of the process including family narratives and vignettes associated with the lived lives of loved ones lost to suicide.
The art installation included work created from objects, images, donated materials, narratives and research data.
Liam Ó Cathasaigh was a participant at that recent event, and produced this three-part series.
In this final installment, Prof. Janice Jeffries begins by introducing '21 Grams', and artwork that was central to the project, created by Séamus Mc Guinness. It was installed in the Library of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. We also hear from Dr. Ed Carroll and the views of family members who were involved in the project.
Would it be possible to leave a cheque in the office for me in the next day or two? Also, if I was to call in for a chat on Wed would you be about?
