BBC News
NI paper review
McGregor custody and bonfire dispute. Police progress in backpacker murder and a new Troubles exhibition also feature in the papers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43665617
BBC News
Newspaper headlines: The ‘villain who picked the wrong OAP’. The criminal past of Henry Vincent, who died in an alleged home struggle, features in the papers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-43663457
RTE.ie
Students may give up religious instruction to gain points advantage – TUI
Students may give up religious instruction in order to gain an advantage in the points race if a controversial Department of Education policy is implemented, according to the Teachers Union of Ireland. In February, the Department issued a circular saying that where students exercised their constitutional …
https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0405/952315-education/
Independent.ie
Teachers threaten they will not co-operate with religion class opt-out plan
Teachers, whose union annual conferences this week heard much about lack of resources in schools, are similarly infuriated and, today, delegates at the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) conference are expected to support an emergency motion banning co-operation unless supports are put in place.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/teachers-threaten-they-will-not-cooperate-with-religion-class-optout-plan-36776301.html
Independent.ie
My support for abortion is not at odds with my faith’ – Madigan
Arts Minister Josepha Madigan insists her religious faith does not conflict with her support for liberalising the country’s abortion laws. … “I mentioned my faith because I think there are a lot of people in Ireland… who are members of the Catholic Church and feel that the two aren’t reconcilable.” Read more: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abortion-referendum/my-support-for-abortion-is-not-at-odds-with-my-faith-madigan-36776285.html
Boston Globe
Northern Ireland is still in need of healing
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/04/04/northern-ireland-still-need-healing/Nwjd99z2LHf2eqOEkGpjHJ/story.html?event=event25
Belfast Telegraph
DUP’s Dodds hails report claiming Brexit will not require hard border in Ireland
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dups-dodds-hails-report-claiming-brexit-will-not-require-hard-border-in-ireland-36777529.html
Belfast Telegraph
Eilis O’Hanlon: The beneficiaries of Patrick Kielty’s monumental generosity don’t feel the need to return it however
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/eilis-ohanlon-the-beneficiaries-of-patrick-kieltys-monumental-generosity-dont-feel-the-need-to-return-it-however-36775719.html
Belfast Telegraph
Patrick Kielty’s family rejected ‘revenge’ offer from IRA following father’s murder
https://amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/patrick-kieltys-family-rejected-revenge-offer-from-ira-following-fathers-murder-36772050.html?__twitter_impression=true
Belfast Telegraph
Patrick Kielty Good Friday Agreement documentary impresses viewers
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/patrick-kielty-good-friday-agreement-documentary-impresses-viewers-36776058.html
Belfast Telegraph
Brave little Co Fermanagh group punching above its weight in the fight for victims’ rights
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ruth-dudley-edwards/brave-little-co-fermanagh-group-punching-above-its-weight-in-the-fight-for-victims-rights-36764262.html
Belfast Telegraph
Unionists will point to Michelle O’Neill’s double standard over Provo and dissident violence, but isn’t it better that the Sinn Fein leader supports the rule of law?
https://amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/unionists-will-point-to-michelle-oneills-double-standard-over-provo-and-dissident-violence-but-isnt-it-better-that-the-sinn-fein-leader-supports-the-rule-of-law-36771929.html?__twitter_impression=true
Irish Peace Process
Gerry Adams and GOD – Why the IRA hasn’t Repented
https://irishpeaceprocess.blog/2018/04/03/gerry-adams-and-god-why-the-ira-hasnt-repented/
Belfast Telegraph
SDLP may disband if Fianna Fail organises in Northern Ireland
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sdlp-may-disband-if-fianna-fail-organises-in-northern-ireland-36772364.html
Irish Times
Billy Hutchinson interview: ‘You can’t be a loyalist and a criminal at the same time’
Billy Hutchinson, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), says politics isn’t about changing the world but about making a difference. This is why he is still engaged in loyalist politics notwithstanding the low fortunes of the PUP, and the political deadlock and inertia of today compared with the energy and movement of 20 years ago when he and his friend David Ervine were about the business of negotiating the Belfast Agreement.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/billy-hutchinson-interview-you-can-t-be-a-loyalist-and-a-criminal-at-the-same-time-1.3448245
‘Irish Independent
My support for abortion is not at odds with my faith’ – Madigan
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abortion-referendum/my-support-for-abortion-is-not-at-odds-with-my-faith-madigan-36776285.html
Irish News
St Agnes’ Choral Society bring classic musical 42nd Street to Belfast
The award-winning St Agnes’ Choral Society, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest amateur dramatic companies, is marking its 60 anniversary in style with the staging of what has been described as the ‘mother of all musicals’ at Belfast’s Grand Opera House. Nominated for three Olivier Awards including Best …Pay wall
http://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews//arts/2018/04/05/news/st-agnes-choral-society-bring-classic-musical-42nd-street-to-belfast-1294817/content.html
News Letter
Roma Downey on her new book ‘If I’m knocked down, I get back up again’
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/lifestyle/roma-downey-on-her-new-book-if-i-m-knocked-down-i-get-back-up-again-1-8444280/amp?__twitter_impression=true
Daily Telegraph
‘Ken Livingstone must go’, Jewish leaders to tell Jeremy Corbyn at crunch meeting on anti-Semitism
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/04/ken-livingstone-must-go-jewish-leaders-tell-jeremy-corbyn-crunch/
Daily Telegraph
Police force kicks out all-male choir after it refuses to accept female singers
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/04/police-force-kicks-all-male-choir-refuses-accept-female-singers/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_em
Catholic Herald
German bishops ask Vatican to intervene on Communion for Protestants proposal
http://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/04/04/german-bishops-ask-vatican-to-intervene-on-communion-for-protestants-proposal/?platform=hootsuite
Times
Report on a letter to the paper signed by 60 Church of England bishops and representatives of the Board of Deputies of British, Muslim Council of Britain and other religious groups, expressing serious concerns about the effect of the “two-child limit” policy, which restricts tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in a family. The policy has been in place for a year and is expected to tip an estimated extra 200,000 children into poverty, according to the letter.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/child-benefit-cap-will-increase-number-of-abortions-3r0zkdtvs
The letter is published here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gender-equality-and-the-male-voice-choir-gphdtvp3l
Digital News
Detailed piece on the recent agreement between the CofE and Government on using church spires to enhance digital connectivity.
http://www.digitalbydefaultnews.co.uk/2018/04/05/the-need-for-better-rural-connectivityand-the-projects-delivering-it/
Church Times
Further coverage of the service held at Westminster Abbey to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2018/6-april/news/uk/westminster-abbey-marks-50th-anniversary-assassination-revd-dr-martin-luther-king-jr
BBC
How Bristol entrepreneur, Ian Johnson, is to restore fire ravaged St Michael on the Mount Without, creating a community space and museum.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-43653443
Standard
A preview of the forthcoming Royal wedding, which takes place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/royal-wedding-2018-guide-date-time-cake-meghan-markle-wedding-dress-a3804591.html
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