Keeping the conversation going
Irish priests have suffered indiscriminate opprobrium for quite some time. They’re no longer on their own. “The doghouse no longer feels lonely,” says Fergus O’Donoghue SJ in the editorial of the Spring 2009 issue of Studies; “in fact, it is becoming rather crowded”. The clergy have been joined, he remarks, “by bankers, builders, property developers and government leaders”. In the light of all the mismanagement and corruption, the current issue of Studies asks “Can we govern ourselves?” It is a must-read. There are articles on the Central Bank, the public service, and local government, all contributing usefully to the national conversation about how we got into this mess and how we can get out of it. And Studies intends to contribute further – it hopes to engage interactively with its readers when it launches a blog next Friday. For directions, visit the Studies website.