Update: Disgraced cardinal was Irish guest; The on/off Vatican embassy; The NI education minister’s school visits; St Patrick’s Day; Irish Twitters Lent denials
Disgraced cardinal was guest at Republic of Ireland’s Vatican embassy
Belfast Telegraph – The report found that, similar to Ireland, offending priests were transferred from parish to parish where they were able to abuse again, and the hierarchy seemed more concerned with the church’s reputation than protecting children.
Read more – http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/disgraced-cardinal-was-guest-at-republic-of-irelands-vatican
Lifeline for Vatican Embassy? Talks on sharing with Rome Embassy to start
Independent – A civil servant appointed non-resident ambassador to the Vatican is to open talks with the Pope’s representatives on sharing an embassy building with other diplomats assigned to Rome. Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said the option of using one site to house staff liaising separately with the Holy See and the Italian Government will be on the agenda. David Cooney, secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs and one of the country’s most senior civil servants, will be responsible for the delicate discussions.
Read more – http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lifeline-for-vatican-embassy-talks-on-sharing-with-rome-embassy-to-start-3024595.html
O’Dowd’s visits to own constituency questioned
News Letter – One in four of NI education minister John O’Dowd’s school visits have been to just one constituency — his own — it has been revealed. The Sinn Fein minister has visited schools in his own Upper Bann constituency 10 times since taking office last May — almost a quarter of his total visits to schools.By the law of averages, if Mr O’Dowd had 42 visits available to schools, he should have visited between two and three schools in each of the 18 constituencies. However, the huge spike in the number of visits to schools in his own Assembly seat area means that many schools in other constituencies have been rejected. In total, Mr O’Dowd has turned down 64 schools hoping for a ministerial visit, including five in his own constituency. Out of a total 42 school visits the minister has not visited schools in five constituencies — North Down, Strangford, East Antrim, South Antrim and East Belfast. Strangford, North Down and East Belfast are three of the four constituencies where Sinn Fein does not have an MLA.
Read more – http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/o_dowd_s_visits_to_own_constituency_questioned_1_3539674
World’s famous landmarks go green for St Patrick’s Day
Independent – The world’s most famous landmarks will go green next month to mark St Patrick’s Day. Niagara Falls, the TV tower in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, the London Eye and Table Mountain in South Africa are among some of the well-known sites that will be lit up on March 17. Tourism Ireland said the celebrations were part of a promotional drive to grow overseas tourism.
Read more – http://www.independent.ie/national-news/worlds-famous-landmarks-go-green-for-st-patricks-day-3025024.html
What the Tweeters are giving up for Lent (and no it’s not Twitter)
Irish Times article – revealing.
Read more – http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0220/1224312045749.html