Staff Profile

Mr John Murray, M.Rel.Sc., Ph.D. [Theol.]
  • Name: Mr John Murray, M.Rel.Sc., Ph.D. [Theol.]
  • School/Department: School of Theology
  • Email:
  • Telephone: 01 808 6547

I graduated from Mater Dei Institute in 1985 and taught Religion and English in two secondary schools: Presentation College, Carlow [1985-6] and St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School, Greystones [1986-2002].

 

I did a Masters degree in Mater Dei [1998-2001] and began lecturing here in 2002. I teach moral theology mainly, but also supervise Teaching Practice, conduct Religious Stuties tutorials, moderate theses, and so on. 

 

I have just finished a doctoral degree in theology [through St. Patrick's College, Maynooth]. My doctorate is entitled: "The Role of Religion as a Basic Human Good in the Moral Theory of Germain Grisez".

 

I am married to Sandra and have two children, Kevin and Rachel. We live in Kill o' the Grange [beside Dun Laoghaire].

 

Academic Qualifications
  • Doctorate in Theology (St Patrick's College, Maynooth, 2009)
  • Masters in Religious Science (Maynooth/Mater Dei, 2001)
  • Bachelor in Religious Science [Hons] (Maynooth/Mater Dei Institute, 1985)

 

Research Interests
  • Religion, faith and morality
  • The fundamental moral theology of Germain Grisez and his collaborators [esp. John Finnis, Joseph Boyle, and Robert P. George].
  • Fundamental Moral Theory in general [especially the issue of truth].
  • Moral theories.
  • Catholic Sexual Ethics [My Masters thesis was a philosophical analysis and defense of "Humanae Vitae"].
  • The nature and value of faith-based education/schooling.

 

Selected Books
  • John Murray, Issues of Justice and Peace. Into the Classroom Series. (Dublin: Veritas, 2005).

 

Selected Chapters

  • ‘The School Chaplain as Professional: Some Theological Reflections’ in J. Norman (ed.) At the Heart of Education (Dublin: Veritas, 2004), 213-225.

  • "Christ and Caesar: Reflections on Faith and Politics in The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church", in Eoin G. Cassidy (ed.), The Common Good in an Unequal World (Dublin: Veritas, 2007), 77-98.

 

Selected Articles
  • ‘Is Catholic Social Teaching a Communitarian Ethic?’ Irish Theological Quarterly Vol 68, No. 4 (Winter 2003), 379-391.

 

Conference Presentations

  • ‘A Pastoral and Theological Reflection on Suicide’ – talk given at the Catholic Healthcare Commission Seminar 2004 [available online at http://www.catholichealthcare.ie/events/chcseminar-johnmurray.html ].

  • "In Defence of Denominational Education" - given at the Iona Institute/The Word magazine conference on Denominational Education on 4th April 2008 [available online at http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/JohnMurray_address_04Apr08.pdf].
  • Expanded version of talk defending denominational education published by the Iona Institute [28th August 2008]:The Liberal Case for Religious Schools [with a preface by Bishop Leo O'Reilly]. Also available online at http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/Iona_denominational_schools_deb.pdf

 

External Associations
  • I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Iona Institute, Ireland. See www.ionainstitute.ie