Today’s overview of news reports with links
Syria’s ‘extreme suffering’ and MPs’ Brexit suggestions for May – BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43132565
The EU is muddying the Ireland issue – Daily Telegraph leader
https://digitaledition.telegraph.co.uk/editions/edition_967qx_2018-02-21/data/452536/index.html?
SF must be conscious of unionist feeling on Irish language act: Ahern
Paisley’s war of words over Good Friday Agreement
Irish Minister hits out at criticism of Good Friday agreement
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/irish-foreign-minister-hits-out-at-criticism-of-good-friday-agreement-36623143.html
N Ireland could see same sex marriage through Westminster vote
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-could-see-samesex-marriage-through-westminster-free-vote-36623423.html
Two thirds of Irish ministers will campaign for abortion
http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/ietopstories/~3/mrL_HCG4n2E/two-thirds-of-ministers-will-campaign-in-favour-of-abortion-cabinet-majority-backs-12-week-limit-467371.html
Five religious orders criticised for ‘significant’ child safeguarding weaknesses.
The audit turned up 1,882 allegations of sexual abuse against 549 members of orders in Ireland. It says around 10% (56) of the total number of religious against whom allegations were made were convicted for child sexual abuse offences. Tusla gives an “excellent” child protection rating to 29 orders, …
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0220/942147-child-abuse-catholic-church/
Further coverage that church spires could play a key role in bringing wifi, broadband and mobile access to rural areas through a new agreement between the Church of England and the Government. (See also Comment, below)
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2018-02-20/divine-intervention-to-beat-broadband-blackspots/
Report on Chichester Cathedral fundraising appeal, The appeal, whose patron is Dame Patricia Routledge, hopes to raise £5.8 million to replace the Cathedral’s copper roof.
https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2018-02-20/appeal-to-repair-chichester-cathedral/
Reuters news agency report on conversion therapy aimed at altering sexual orientation. The article refers to the General Synod motion passed in July last year backing a ban on conversion therapy.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-5413499/Time-shine-light-ban-conversion-therapies–experts.html
Report that the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that it would be a ‘tragedy’ if Britain backed off its commitment to spend 0.7% of its national income on overseas aid.
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop-of-canterbury-warns-cutting-0-7-aid-budget-would-be-tragedy/126093.htm?utm
Report that the Bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson, is supporting a campaign by the Meaningful Chocolate Company to distribute a quarter of a million Easter eggs alongside the Easter message.
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/eggs-not-eggheads-the-answer-to-atheism-lies-in-easter-chocolate-says-bishop/126096.htm?
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http://www.churchnewsireland.org/news/irish-uk-news/