About RENEW

RENEW is an Irish-based advocacy and lobby group established in 2009. It was founded by Mary Doherty from Buncrana in Co. Donegal.  We felt something had to be done about the lack of moral direction in modern Ireland, the commerical exploitation of human sexuality, the objectification of women and the sexualisation of children by the media, entertainment and commercial industries.  In recent years we have seen a radical shift away from traditional moral family values. 

In the past in Ireland the family was seen as the basis of our society, but now the emphasis is on the autonomous individual. And a philosophy unfavourable to the family has been incorporated into political and economic policy and reflected in our laws.

The family is under severe pressure and under attack from the lack of prayer, the abuse of drink and drugs, the mass media, promiscuity, pornography, seperation, divorce, the proposed new laws to give gay and co-habiting couples marriage-like rights, and the tax individualisation system at present which discriminates against marriage and family life. We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is the basis of any stable society and the best environment for the healthy nurturing of children.

This fact has been well studied and documented. A study in Sweden published last year stated that active father figures in a tradtitional home, with a mother and father, played a key role in reducing behaviour problems in boys and psychological problems in young women. Our aim is to influence, educate and lobby the industries responsible and the government.  To campaign for standards of decency in the media and the re-introduction of moral values for an end to the commerical exploitation
 of human sexuality, the objectification of women and the sexualisation of children by the media, entertainment and commerical industries. 

We regard the commercialisation of human sexuality and the objectification of women as a violation of the dignity of the human person and their basic human rights.
We see this as detrimental to marriage and  family life. Our organisation seeks to influence and renew modern day thinking in regard to human sexual behaviour and to position itself as an authoritative voice on Christian moral values.

We believe in freedom of expression, however we feel strongly that freedom comes with responsibility and accountability for decisions made. Freedom does not mean  that you can say and do anything you want without due care for others. And we know that it is only truth that sets you free. 

We will be a voice that will lobby for the protection of individuals and the family unit against the value-free systems and the idea that you can make up your own version of morality, at present being promoted by the government, media etc. it is obvious that these value-free systems have resulted in social chaos.

We want to see a return to the idea of what is right and wrong instead of the idea that everything is just a matter of opinion. There has been a severe attack on Christianity in recent modern society, yet many fail to recognise the fact that Christianity has been responsible for Western civilisation. We see the Church, media, government and our education system as the main pillars of influence in modern society, therefore our campaign will focus on the moral responsibilities and accountability of these organisations.

    NAME AND LOGO

The name RENEW reflects our policy ethos which is to renew modern day thinking in regard to human sexual behaviour and to protect children and families from exposure to indecent and pornographic material which is so damaging to their psychological and emotional well-being.

The logo consists of lilies and a stoat, both the lilies and the stoat are symbols of purity. The stoat in winter has a white fur and a black tip to the tail 'legend has it that it died if its whiteness became soiled'.
Catholicism teaches that mortal sin results in the death of the soul, so we thought the stoat was the appropriate symbol to express that.

St. Maria Goretti (at the top right of the website) died at the age of 11 after being stabbed by a farmhand who tried to seduce her. She was willing to die to defend her 
virginal purity. She told her attacker she would rather die than commit sin.

We are all called to chastity whether married or single so we wanted our logo to reflect that.