ireland
In Ireland, a Citizens’ Assembly helped shape public policy. Could it work here?
Cultivating a democracy that deliberates
Terrorist, spy, prisoner, truth-teller
When Sean O'Callaghan joined the IRA, nationalism was his religion. Later he saw how it poisoned his soul.
by Samuel Wells
How St. Patrick evangelized a violent culture
It is hard to imagine a time or place more opposed to the gospel than fifth-century Ireland.
Priest under threat
Calvary is a masterpiece of religious filmmaking. Its greatest achievement is to convey the impact of a community's near-collapse of faith.
The Irish nones
For centuries Ireland was synonymous with staunch Catholic piety. Now it seems to be undergoing a process of secularization as rapid as any in history.