Divine Election: A Christian Guide to Irish Politics
Welcome to Divine Election, a podcast from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, exploring what it might mean to approach elections from a Christian perspective. I am Cherise McClean. I direct Communications for the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. And as the Republic of Ireland goes to the polls in a General Election on November 29, we thought it was a good time to think theologically about the opportunities and obligations that fall to us as Christians in a democracy. While these issues are especially timely for Irish people, we hope that this series will be of general interest even after the election is completed and a new government is formed and that while it has Ireland as its context, it will be relevant for Christians anywhere.
Over the course of the series we pair big theological ideas with questions of applied public policy. We speak to experts in their fields to inform our reflection on a Christian approach to political life. And we argue that regardless of your particular political persuasion, there are common - and exciting! - commitments that Christians across the spectrum share around what it means to seek the common good. The Christian faith is about love and justice is what love looks like in public. So join us as we invite you to think deeper about these issues
Divine Election: A Christian Guide to Irish Politics
Siobhán Garrighan - Power | Divine Election: A Christian Guide to Irish Politics
Welcome to episode 3 of Divine Election.
Lord Acton was one of the most important figures in 19th century British intellectual life, but he is now largely remembered for one absolute zinger of a line. You have undoubtedly heard it. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
There are seams of Christian thought that resonate strongly with this sceptical position, counselling that Christians should stay clear of politics and avoid the messiness and compromise it entails. This is especially easy to understand in Ireland, where the legacy of the 20th century involves a dark entanglement between the church and the State that discredited the Gospel.
In today's episode, we are joined by Siobhán Garrigan, the Loyola Professor of Catholic Theology, at Trinity College in Dublin. Siobhán proposes a much more constructive stance towards political power, encouraging us to remember that even if we never become a Minister in the cabinet, the nature of democracy means we all have agency.
In a profound reflection, she suggests Christians can actually pattern their political life after the very essence of God - seeking out those policies and positions that create true things, sustain good things, and redeem those things that are broken, flawed, or unjust in our common life.
This framework resonates deeply with the principle we find in Catholic Social thought about the place of Rights and Duties. Christians are staunch supporters of a robust account of human rights, but we recognise that rights entail duties. When we have freedoms, we also have a responsibility to use them well.
Siobhán's gentle and creative intervention invites us to take seriously what it means to be a citizen who is a Christian. Join us as Kevin Hargaden, the director and social theologian at JCFJ, interviewed her here.
Reach out with your feedback, queries, or any other input @JCFJustice on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, Linked In, or directly at www.jcfj.ie.