It’s nice to find something to get optimistic about at the start of a new year. And so, I bring you glad tidings.
Education Nation (Spotify) is a new podcast from The Irish Catholic stable, exploring various aspects of the Irish education system. And it’s complicated! This was certainly clear in presenter Nicholas Cuddihy’s interview in the first episode, with Eilis Humphreys, who has navigated her way through many paths of the labyrinth. She has been a teacher in Ireland and abroad, a school principal, involved in the early days of the Transition Year programme and served on various educational bodies – truly a servant leader.
Among the complexities in evidence was the wide range of school types – community schools, community colleges, ETB schools, private secondary schools, non-denominational, multidenominational and more. And then there is a bewildering array of management models – trusts, patrons, managers, principals, boards of management. You’d need a glossary to get your head around the acronyms for some of these bodies – JMB, CEP, APTCS and more. And just when you’ve got a grip on all that, there is what used to be just a syllabus, but now there are also ‘specifications’, ‘frameworks’ and the like. Ms Humphreys had seen it all – I like that she was still enthusiastic about education.
Some of the discussion centred on Catholic Education. While generally committed to that, she had concerns about the quality and content of religious education, especially in relation to senior cycle non-exam religion. She reflected on new moves towards divestment of Catholic primary schools towards other patronage, but realised that often parents do not want this change. With dwindling attention spans it was good to hear such a long-form interview (one hour) and I’m really looking forward to future episodes and guests – so much to discuss.
There was certainly much to discuss after what journalist John Foley of Boston, on Today with David McCullagh (RTE Radio 1, Monday) called ‘another crazy week brought to you by the Trump administration’, with the shooting by ICE agents of protestor Alex Pretti. Once again people rushed to judgement, driven by ideology and politics rather than evidence.
Entirely related, on Divine Sparks with Áine Lawlor (RTE Radio 1, Friday), the issue was religion and politics in the USA. The introduction referenced ‘faith and friction’, faith meeting power, belief colliding with politics. Early on we got a clip from President Trump – ‘God is very proud of the job I’ve done’ – outrageous presumption or what! We heard that three serving cardinal archbishops had issued a warning that the moral foundations of US foreign policy were ‘in jeopardy’. The polarisation among religious people was painful to hear about, with talk of liberal-conservative divisions, Christian nationalism, some pastors being members of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), some Catholic parishes protecting immigrants, with the usual talk of ‘the radical right’ and ‘incels’. Unfortunately, while detailed, interesting and timely, the discussion was not well balanced, with analysis varying between centrist and liberal. The conservative viewpoint was spoken about but a conservative voice was not included.
Happening that same day, the annual March for Life (EWTN, Friday) in Washington deserved a mention, but was ignored. In the broadcast Mass prior to it I saw a motivational homily from Cardinal Sean O’Malley, well worth searching for it online. He stressed how life was a gift, how we needed to show compassion. He urged followers to avoid polarised politics and being judgemental or self-righteous. One commentator called the march the ‘largest human rights gathering in the world’. It certainly seemed so, making all the more unfortunate that mainstream media give it so little coverage. It seems some human rights are more equal than others.
It was great as always to see such strong pro-life leaders, mostly articulate women, and the presence of so many enthusiastic young people. There was satisfaction that Roe v Wade had been overturned, leaving abortion legislation to individual states, but serious concern about the prevalence of people getting abortion drugs through the post with all the health dangers that brings for mothers and especially of course for their babies. One commentator described the situation as ‘The Wild Wild West’. Some had reservations about the current administration’s approach – e.g. President Trump looking for ‘flexibility’ over federal funding for abortions.
The supportive letter from Pope Leo XIV was very welcome … apparently, he was a former marcher for life himself!
Pick of the week
Film: HIDDEN FIGURES
Film 4 Saturday, January 31 3.35pm and Friday, February 6 6.25pm
(2016) Oscar-nominated fact-based drama about three extraordinary women, who made a significant contribution to the space race. Religion treated respectfully. Edited for content.
Songs of Praise
BBC One Sunday, February 1 1.30pm
Sean Fletcher meets Christians inspired by Jesus’ parables, exploring the profound meaning in the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and, most famously, the Prodigal Son.
Hope in the Media
Radio Maria Wednesday, February 4 7pm
Topical discussion of media matters, with Fr Eamonn McCarthy and Donal O’Sullivan-Latchford.
