Tape Date: 8th July 1998

I hope all is well with you and that you are looking forward to getting a summer break - whether we get a summer or not is another question altogether. There will only be one more tape before we break for the summer. We will resume on August 26th, so you should have the tape that Thursday.

Side 1

1. Crossways: News in the Church and the World. In our main report this week we hear from Fr. Paul O'Connor, an Irish Augustinian based in Ecuador. Dozens have died and thousands have been left homeless due to a rainy season which has lasted for 18 months. The news was read by Alan McGuckian, SJ, and Elaine Comerford.

Time: 6.52

2. Religion as Story: Fr. Andrew Greally is a priest in the archdiocese of Chicago. He's a world-renowned sociologist, and unusually for a priest, a best-selling novelist. At the recent annual Ecumenical Conference in Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, he spoke on the theme 'Religion as Story'. He believes that for Christians, our telling of stories is much more important than doctrine or dogma. He spoke to Martin Browne.

In: (Browne) "We go through life.........or the hierarchy." Out" (Greally)

Time: 5.01

3. A Working Mother: Mary Holland has two children and is expecting her third child. She also continues to work outside the home. In this interview Mary tells Elaine Comerford about her experience of finding good childcare and the organisational skills needed to juggle her working and family life. Elaine began by asking Mary if she gave any thought to childcare in the initial stages of her first pregnancy

In: (Holland) "Initially I didn't......honestly more exhausting." Out: (Holland)

Time: 6.03

4. Tour de France: On the 11th July the Tour de France starts in Dublin. More than 70 million people world-wide will tune in to watch it live on t.v each day. But what drives the participants on, how do they focus themselves for such a difficult event and how do they prepare. Robbie Foy met up with our own Sean Kelly and asked he what satisfaction is tobe gained from the arduous sport of cycle racing. The interview took place in the Phoenix Park just after Sean had completed a 120 mile 'leisure' race. There is background noise on this interview.

In: (Kelly) "Well, I suppose......................he's my favourite." Out: (Kelly)

Time: 3.54

5. Women in Prostitution: The recent murder of a prostitute in Dublin has once again put the sex industry back on the political agenda. Since 1989 The Lady of Charity and the Good Shepherd Sisters have been running outreach programmes for women involved in street prostitution in Dublin. One of these nuns - known only as Sr. Therese - recently spoke to Maria O’Loughlin about what life is like for the women and what needs to be done to help them.

In: (Therese) "Well, very briefly....................women on the street." Out: (Therese)

Time: 5.36

Side 2

1. Jean Vanier: Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche Communities, was in Ireland recently giving a retreat to over 200 people in Maynooth. Alan McGuckian, SJ, asked him to talk about prayer. He said that it is much more than just saying prayers, but it is a 'meeting'.

In: (Vanier) "It is the meeting......................appreciate each other." Out: (Vanier)

Time: 6.58

2. If your Child is Gay or Lesbian: is the title of a booklet compiled by a group called Parents' Support. The group was set up in 1980 when some parents of gay and lesbians met to support each other when their children had come Out. This booklet is designed to advise parents on how best to deal with the shock, and sometimes guilt. Robbie Foy met Jim Egan, a member of Parents' Support whose some came out in 1989. Jim began by telling us what's in the booklet. (The booklet can be obtained free by ringing 01 872 1055, Sunday-Friday, 8.00pm - 10pm and Saturday 3.30 - 6.00pm. Copy enclosed.)

In: (Egan) "There's the first..........who are not gay." Out: (Egan)

Time: 4.33

3. Peace in Guatemala? Having experienced civil war for 30 years a Peace Agreement was signed in Guatemala in 1997. People finally had hope and something to look forward to. In April this year the Catholic Church in Guatemala published a report outlining human rights abuses during the war. Three days later the Chairman of the Office of Human Rights was brutally murdered. Bishop Juan Gerardi was the first-ever Catholic Bishop murdered in Guatemala. His murder has threatened the fragile peace process. Frank La Rue, a Guatemalan Human Rights lawyer, recently visited Ireland. Elaine Comerford asked him who was named in the report and what was in it.

In: (LaRue) "The report doesn't name....... future of Guatemala." Out: (LaRue)

Time: 5.53

4. Experience: A Sign of the Times: It seems to many people that today's world is obsessed with 'experience'. Many people are continuously hopping from one thing to the next, without ever really understanding what they are about. At the recent Glenstal Ecumenical Conference, Dr. Andrew Pierce spoke about this phenomenon. Andrew is a lecturer in church history and theology in the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin. He spoke to Martin Browne.

In: (Browne) "Experience seems to ................of talking about God." Out: (Pierce)

Time: 5.43