Literature Committee13 May 10

'Broken Trust in Ireland' Launched at General Synod

New Book on Broken Trust in Ireland Launched at Church of Ireland General Synod in Dublin

 L-R: Bishop Michael Jackson, Dr Kenneth Milne, Dr Susan Hood, Fr. Peter McVerry SJ, the Very Revd Leslie Forrest, launching the book at the General Synod 2010 (photo: Church of Ireland Press Office)

Church of Ireland Publishing has published a topical and timely new booklet entitled ‘Broken Trust – and how to restore it’ to coincide with the Church’s 2010 General Synod which met last week at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Produced by the Church of Ireland’s Church in Society Committee’s Social Justice and Theology Group (Republic of Ireland), it focuses on how trust in institutions has eroded dramatically throughout Irish society, how people can respond to the crisis pastorally and how trust might ultimately be recaptured.

The authors state that ‘the breakdown of trust in Ireland is so serious that it should be a major preoccupation of anyone with pastoral responsibility’. The problem goes far beyond the boundaries of the Church, but, they argue, ‘as followers of Jesus, Church members can respond pro-actively’.

The 64-page publications contains four articles — two from Church of Ireland clerics, one from a lay member, and one from a Jesuit champion for social justice. The former Dean of Leighlin, the Very Revd Gordon Wynne, provides an ‘inside view’ about how the Church might approach breakdowns in trust. The Dean of Ferns, the Very Revd Leslie Forrest gives a contrasting and radical alternative clerical perspective. Mark James, a parishioner of Ferns parish, provides a layperson’s thoughts, and finally, Fr. Peter McVerry SJ illustrates how the law has failed, and how trust might be restored in it. Ideas are also shared about how the booklet might be used for future study.

This is part of a series of publications on issues of social concern and contemporary relevance in which the Theology and Social Justice (RI) Group of the Church in Society Committee has specialized, always working ecumenically. The book is available from the Good Bookshop, Donegall Street, Belfast and the Resource Centre, Holy Trinity, Rathmines, Dublin, priced €6 and £5. For further information on Church of Ireland Publishing, visit www.cip.ireland.anglican.org

ENDS