Position Papers May 2024

Editorial Gavan Jennings In Passing: Endgame? Michael Kirke A society now being mugged by sexual realities Margaret Hickey The Epic Leap over the Atlantic Pat Hanratty Why the American Left will bring Trump back to power James Bradshaw Searching for the keys to unlock Vatican II Gavan Jennings The Fullness of Life: Bishop Erik Varden’s Resurrection of Chastity Dr. R. Jared Staudt Film review: The Godfather and the world he came from James Bradshaw

Editorial Gavan Jennings In Passing: The Journey of T.S. Eliot Part Two: Into The Waste Land and Beyond Michael Kirke Will Leviathan save us? Margaret Hickey Church and community in a post-Christian world (Part One) James Bradshaw The tragedy that was the Reformation Tim O’Sullivan A world seen through the eyes of a “warped bird” Margaret Hickey 5 Recommended Reads for the New Year Dr Holly Ordway Twelve cues and trends in 2023 movies and series José María Aresté

Editorial Gavan Jennings In Passing: A Howling Emptiness Michael Kirke The hidden legacy of ordinary people Margaret Hickey A call to action for the twenty-somethings Luke Power The master of misguided philanthropy James Bradshaw God’s undying love for all of us Pat Hanratty Civilization at the crossroads David Gibney The Keys to the Kingdom: A Gentle But Firm Correction to The Chosen Dr Richard DeClue Film review: Cabrini Matthew Becklo

Editorial Gavan Jennings In Passing: Endgame or Game On? Part Two Michael Kirke The Evangelicals and a secularising America James Bradshaw The 1968 presidential election’s 2024 re-run James Bradshaw Creating safe, connected and anxious children Margaret Hickey The myths surrounding mythology David Gibney The uniqueness of the Book of Genesis Patrick Gorevan The Real Saint Patrick? Pat Hanratty Films: What IF Says About AI and Love Karl D. Stephan

Editorial Gavan Jennings In Passing: The Journey of Thomas Stearns Eliot Part One: A Cold Coming Michael Kirke Desmond Fennell’s thinking is more important than ever James Bradshaw “Contextual” theology and Fiducia Supplicans George Weigel Parents can defeat wokism Margaret Hickey Christ’s solution to all our problems Pat Hanratty Has the world gone completely mad? Gavan Jennings A defence of classic stories for children David Gibney Film Review: A Haunting in Venice John Mulderig

Editorial Gavan Jennings In Passing: Faustian temptations and Promethean dreams Michael Kirke Blessed are the Peacemakers Pat Hanratty The Cardinal who fearlessly opposed the “armed struggle” Tim O’Sullivan Church and community in a post-Christian world (Part Two) James Bradshaw Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson on the Bible Christopher Kaczor New Atheism grows old Patrick Gorevan Film review: Poor Things Juan Luis Sánchez

Inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the six Western Balkan (WB6) economies depends on greater economic competitiveness. Although the gap is closing gradually, the standards of living in WB6 are well below those of the OECD and EU. Accelerating the rate of socio-economic convergence will require a holistic and growth oriented approach to policy making. This is the fourth study of the region (formerly under the title 'Competitiveness in South East Europe') and it comprehensively assesses policy reforms in the WB6 economies across 15 policy areas key to strengthening their competitiveness. It enables WB6 economies to compare economic performance against regional peers, as well as EU-OECD good practices and standards, and to design future policies based on rich evidence and actionable policy recommendations. The regional profile presents assessment findings across five policy clusters crucial to accelerating socio-economic convergence of the WB6 by fostering regional co-operation: business environment, skills, infrastructure and connectivity, digital transformation and greening. Economy-specific profiles complement the regional assessment, offering each WB6 economy an in-depth analysis of their policies supporting competitiveness. They also track the implementation of the previous 2021 study's recommendations and provide additional ones tailored to the economies’ evolving challenges. These recommendations aim to inform structural economic reforms and facilitate the region’s socio-economic convergence towards the standards of the EU and OECD.

The 24th meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 24 to 28 April 2023. The Committee considered 85 applications proposing additions, changes and deletions of medicines, medicine classes and formulations on the Model Lists of Essential Medicines. The Committee evaluated the scientific evidence for effectiveness, safety and cost- effectiveness of the medicines in question. The Committee also considered a review of the age-appropriateness of formulations of essential medicines for children, the AWaRe classification of antibiotics, and other matters relevant to the selection and use of essential medicines.