Church Leaders meet Sinn Féin to discuss Welfare Reform; Vatican Radio interview with Archbishop Jackson; ’Mums in May’ Inaugural Tea Party; Vatican embassy may re-open within two years; Vatican censures Fr Brian D’Arcy
Church Leaders meet Sinn Féin to discuss Welfare Reform
The four church leaders met with a Sinn Féin delegation yesterday, Friday 27 April, to discuss the implications of possible welfare reforms in Northern Ireland.
The meeting took place in Armagh and is part an ongoing involvement of the church leaders with this issue.
Before Christmas they travelled to London and met with Lord Freud and the Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland. Then in February they hosted a public debate in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, involving the Secretary of State Owen Paterson and Minister McCausland in front of an invited audience representative of interested community groups.
The church leaders who attended today’s meeting were Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Alan Harper, Methodist President Rev Ian Henderson and Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson.
Sinn Féin were represented by MLA’s Conor Murphy MP, Alex Maskey and Mickey Brady.
During the two hour meeting the current time frame for legislation was discussed together with ways in which the Northern Ireland Assembly could maximise positive benefits while at the same time mitigating the negative effects that any such reforms will bring aboutparticularly as it may effect children in poverty.
For the church leaders, Archbishop Harper, who chaired the meeting said, “We have already shown our concern over welfare reform and its potential impact on family life. Today’s meeting was part of our ongoing interest and engagement with this important issue.”
Alex Maskey for Sinn Féin said, “We very much appreciate the interest that the church leaders have taken in welfare reform. Today was an opportunity to discuss issues of common concern and encourage the church leaders to continue their involvement in speaking up for the most vulnerable people in our society.”
Vatican Radio Interview With Archbishop Jackson
Archbishop Michael Jackson has taken part in an interview on Vatican Radio. The interview was broadcast yesterday evening (Friday) and is posted on the station’s website having been translated into many languages for listeners worldwide. The station has conducted a series of interviews with the people involved in the International Eucharistic Congress 2012, which takes place in Dublin in June. Archbishop Jackson will participate in the first day of the congress. The text of the interview appears on Vatican Radio’s website. At the end of the article there is a link which will take you to the website where you can listen to the full interview.
http://dublin.anglican.org/news/2012/04/Vatican-Radio-Features-Interview-With-Archbishop-Jackson.php
’Mums in May’ Inaugural Tea Party
The inaugural ‘Mums in May’ Tea Party will be held following the Mothers’ Union Holy Communion
Service in Christ Church Cathedral on May 3. Jane Grindle, Sandra Knaggs and the Christ Church Cathedral Group Branch of the Mothers’ Union will host the tea party. Mothers’ Union Members from across Dublin and Glendalough are invited to attend and it is hoped that members and friends from all twelve dioceses will be represented.
‘Mums in May’ is how members of the Mothers’ Union will celebrate their 125th Anniversary of the Mothers’ Union in Ireland. Friendship and fellowship are much valued in the Mothers’ Union and there is no better way to form relationships and share each others’ stories and experiences in life than time spent over a cup of tea. It is hoped that members from all over Ireland will hold tea parties or some type of event during the month of May. The proceeds from ‘Mums in May’ will go to further the work of Mothers’ Union both at home and overseas. Holy Communion starts at 11.15 am on May 3 in the cathedral. All are welcome.
Vatican embassy may re-open within two years
Examiner – Negotiations to re-open a scaled-down embassy to the Vatican are under way which could see a mission to the Holy See open its doors within the next year or two.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/department-vatican-embassy-may-re-open-within-two-years-191998.html
Vatican censures Fr Brian D’Arcy
BBC & The Tablet – One of Ireland’s best known priests, has been censured by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, according to the Tablet newspaper.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17857980
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/4066