Focolare Movement

From the economic boom to the search for a profound ethical dimension

Mar 16, 2004

Trip to Ireland

 The Governor of the Bank of Ireland, Laurence Crowley, opened the meeting sponsored by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Dublin. The meeting, was entitled “Humanizing global economy – towards an Economy of Communion”. It is the innovative economic proposal, born in the terrain of the Focolare spirituality of unity, which has aroused much interest in the Irish academic community. Indeed Chiara Lubich’s message was warmly received by the qualified audience of scholars, entrepreneurs, and students – 200 in all. A group of experts demonstrated that the Economy of Communion is a wellspring of new ideas and the herald of an innovative economic culture. The experiences of several businessmen and women, starting with the pioneers of the Spartaco Business Park in Brazil and others, added credibility to the project. Governor Crowley affirmed: “I’m interested in the Economy of Communion, certainly because of its underlying aspects regarding economic and business theory. But, from what I understood, the project emerges from a spiritual culture which I deem to be very important. Economics needs a profound ethical dimension which the Economy of Communion can give in Ireland, too, where the current economic dynamism demands a supplement of ethical values.”

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