A daily online review of the main news reports on faith, society and politics.
All the main news at a click…
BBC News: Newspaper headlines: Airline fees and plastic bottles ‘victory’
The government is planning a “crackdown” on hidden fees charged by airports, reports the Times.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-43523587
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Northern Ireland
The couple met the public at a number of engagements during their first official joint trip to NI.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43512212
Harry and Meghan given honeymoon tip during Belfast walk about
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/harry-and-meghan-given-honeymoon-tip-during-belfast-walkabout-36737576.html
Ben Lowry: If Dublin is hostile to UK then so be it, but relations cannot stay the same and London must be hard in response
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion/ben-lowry-if-dublin-is-hostile-to-uk-then-so-be-it-but-relations-cannot-stay-the-same-and-london-must-be-hard-in-response-1-8430477
Labour MPs attack sacking of Owen Smith over Brexit
The shadow NI secretary’s dismissal is described by one former minster as a ‘Stalinist purge’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43524945
Civil servant retracts major RHI claim about Arlene Foster
https://inews.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/civil-servant-retracts-major-rhi-claim-about-arlene-foster/
Irish Girl Guides told to ‘go home and make lunch’ by St Patrick’s Day parade MC
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/irish-girl-guides-told-to-go-home-and-make-lunch-by-st-patricks-day-parade-mc-36736455.html
A Joint Holy Week and Easter Message from the Archbishops of Armagh
https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/7853/a-joint-holy-week-and
Archbishop Martin pays tribute to his “humble” mother
The archbishop was joined at St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn by his predecessor, Cardinal Sean Brady, as well as Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo. Up to 40 priests took part in the Requiem Mass along with Bishops Donal McKeown (Derry), Noel Treanor (Down and Connor), …
https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/03/24/news/archbishop-martin-pays-tribute-to-his-humble-mother-1286485/
Cardinal who suffered a spectacular fall from grace
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/cardinal-who-suffered-a-spectacular-fall-from-grace-1.3437745
Catholics are keeping a low profile in Ireland’s abortion referendum campaign
Now, 35 years later, as Ireland prepares to vote, in May or June, on a proposed repeal of the amendment, overt Catholicism has all but vanished from the scene. Although the religious affiliations of many activists are, of course, known, contemporary pro-life groups like the Iona Institute, the Pro Life …
https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21739197-ireland-prepares-vote-debate-notably-secular-catholics-are-keeping-low-profile
Pope could herald new start for Catholic church in Ireland if he shows contrition
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/pope-could-herald-new-start-for-catholic-church-in-ireland-if-he-shows-contrition-1.3438147
First Irish priest to oppose papal contraception ban dies at 94
The death has taken place of Fr Jim Good, the Cork priest who became the first Irish cleric to oppose the Catholic Church’s ban on artificial contraception. He was 94. His funeral Mass yesterday afternoon in the parish church of his adoptive Douglas heard a tribute from the Bishop Emeritus of Turkana in …
https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2018/0323/949521-jim-goode/
Charles signs slate in support of Truro Cathedral’s new roof appeal
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/charles-signs-slate-in-support-of-truro-cathedrals-new-roof-appeal-36733027.html
Our society has fallen back into paganism and idolatry of sex, says papal preacher
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/our-society-has-fallen-back-into-paganism-and-idolatry-of-sex-says-papal-preacher/
I came out as a gay, Catholic priest on the Feast of the Annunciation
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/03/23/i-came-out-gay-catholic-priest-feast-annunciation
Author points to persistent ‘slaveholder religion’ among evangelicals for Trump
https://www.religionnews.com/2018/03/22/author-points-to-persistent-slaveholder-religion-among-evangelicals-for-trump/
thetimes.jpg