A conversation with Ciara Murphy

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Meeting our Eco-friends:

Edmond Grace, Secretary for Ecology at JESC, interviews Dr. Ciara Murphy, the Environmental Policy Advocate at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Dublin and member of the Ecojesuit-Europe. Ciara is currently conducting a series of consultations with Jesuits, lay workers and volunteers at part of the planning process for a policy in the Irish Jesuit province to promote the Fourth Universal Apostolic Preferences on the care of our common home. She is on the steering committee of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, an alliance of thirty environmental campaigning organisations in Ireland.

 


How did you develop an interest in ecology?

I’ve always been interested. In secondary school my best subjects were biology and chemistry, In college I studied environmental biology and my PhD I focused on the impact of different stressors on the microbial community in intertidal sedimentary systems

You came with this scientific background to work for the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Dublin. What was that like?

I found that the theological approach to ecology is much broader. The focus is on the interaction of humans and the natural environment. The scientific approach is focused on the interaction of differing species with each other and their physical environment and it sees the role of humans as ‘disturbances’ or ‘external stressors’ which can be positive or negative. The theological approach is not so clearly defined, but its focus is on the role of humans. Our relationship with the environment but also with each other is key. I find that the word ‘integral’ is a helpful way of describing this approach.

How did you find the underlying emphasis on spirituality in a Jesuit work?

My scientific background provides me with a foundation. I am still learning how to articulate this whole realm of spirituality, but it has always been there in a sense of wonder at how nature works. I don’t think you can engage in the scientific study of nature without that sense of  wonder. Hearing Jesuits and others talk about spirituality has helped me to understand and articulate that sense more clearly. Some people have an ingrained connection with nature but may not identify it as a spiritual connection. You always need that kind of connection, whether you identify it as spiritual or not, if you want to take action to protect our shared environment.


What did you do between finishing your PhD and joining the staff of the JCFJ?

After the PhD I headed for Tanzania with my partner Eric. I have an aunt there, a Palatine sister, who lived in a place called Singida. They have a primary school for local children and a secondary boarding school for girls. They also have a house for physically and mentally disabled children. Eric taught English in the school and I taught some biology classes, but my main work was with the disabled children and, when I say work, I spent most of the time playing with them! We then travelled around Central and South Africa for three months.

Could you tell us more about your aunt?

She was a figure in our family as I grew up. She came back every two years. She was involved in the founding of the schools in Singida. She had already been a nun for some years before she went out to Africa. I had always wanted to see where she lived and worked and finishing my PhD seemed like the perfect opportunity to take the time to visit. 

 What did you do after Singida?

We went to New Zealand where I worked in various different jobs. I was lucky enough to get a position in the Ministry of Primary Industries as a policy analyst in the biosecurity department. I was able to bring my background in environmental science into this new role. It was very interesting to see how science and policy meet. While we were there we also had the opportunity to travel a lot, New Zealand is an amazing place with a huge emphasis on appreciating nature and conservation.  

Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand’s treasured natural icons and is internationally recognised as part of the wider UNESCO World Heritage.

And then you came back to Ireland?

I did. It was May 2019. My sister had spotted the job at the Centre and told me about it. I applied but I did not expect to get it. I began the job within a month of coming back.

Could you tell us about your work?

A big part of my job is analysing and advocating in relation to national policy. I am on the steering committee of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. This is made up of 30 campaigning organisations, including traditional conservation groups, but faith based groups also play a significant  role. As a member of the steering committee I help sign off on policy briefings and public engagement activities. A Climate Bill is now before parliament and that obviously features in the Coalition’s works. Some parts are good, but other parts need to be challenged. SCC are currently hosting workshops to  help people navigate the Public Consultation on Climate Action recently launched by the Irish Government. JCFJ is helping with these workshops, taking the lead in hosting the Just Transition workshop in May 

I write about all of this in Jesuit journals and the JCFJ website. The Messenger in a popular religious journal. Working Notes is published by the Centre four times a year. Other Jesuit social centres around Europe have similar publications.

One part of my work, which has emerged quite recently, is helping to develop a Jesuit province policy on the care of our common home. The Centre has developed its own strategic plan which identified developing an ecology policy as a key action and more recently the strategic planning process of the Province has also identified this as an integral part of the Caring for our Common Home UAP which has given us a mandate to start this important work.

 

I have been consulting Jesuits, lay workers and volunteers to find out their views on which areas need most work as well as their ideas for what should be in the policy and how it should work. 

People’s reaction to being consulted is itself a source of change. A lot has already been going on and now different projects are learning that they are not alone. Even among those who have not been directly engaged, people have been thinking about these issues and figuring out what structures and resources are needed. When they are approached for their views, it generates momentum and interest. They start looking at issues more closely and the result is learning and new insight. They move from passive interest to focused engagement.

What would you say by way of conclusion to this conversation?

The internal Jesuit project is a real source of hope. I am excited by the possibilities. I believe something will happen and that bubbles of interest will become action. In Ireland generally a lot is happening. In the past the environmental movement has been a ‘niche’ activity, confined to traditional environment and conservation groups such as Friends of the Earth and BirdWatch Ireland. The movement is becoming much broader with Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion bringing momentum to the movement. Other groups with wider agendas are also getting more involved helping to bring a diverse group of people together to campaign for climate justice. The Jesuits are part of this development. The Fourth Universal Apostolic Preference on the care of our common home gives the whole issue an impetus among Jesuits and those who work with them.

Thank you very much for providing us all with a very valuable insight, and thank you for accepting our invitation to participate in our series.


Interview by Edmond Grace SJ
Secretary for Ecology