Organ stops, St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry – see report below on NI Organ Fesival
Official tells of ‘intimidating’ Ian Paisley cash for ash lobbying call
One of the senior civil servants administrating the RHI scheme has spoken about an “intimidating” phone call involving Ian Paisley and Northern Ireland’s dominant poultry processor, Moy Park. The phone call, made to Ofgem’s senior operations manager Teri Clifton, came in December 2015, several weeks after Stormont had finally introduced cost controls on the green energy scheme, a process which it is alleged that DUP members delayed, contributing to a huge surge in applications.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/rhi-inquiry-official-tells-of-intimidating-lobbying-call-with-paisley-1-8417986
https://inews.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/official-tells-of-intimidating-paisley-cash-for-ash-lobbying-call/
Ian Paisley tweets picture with Donald Trump and Sinn Fein-supporting Congressman
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ian-paisley-tweets-picture-with-donald-trump-and-sinn-feinsupporting-congressman-36710233.html
Church laws, not Irish language, behind decline in Protestants
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion/church-laws-not-irish-language-behind-decline-in-protestants-1-8416586
Joe Gaston, UUP man who survived IRA bomb, ‘one of great stalwarts’
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/joe-gaston-uup-man-who-survived-ira-bomb-one-of-great-stalwarts-1-8417387
Priest urges Catholics not to attend Holy Thursday masses
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/priest-urges-catholics-not-to-attend-holy-thursday-mass-1.3428781
Bishop to visit Laois parish where NI priest abuser served
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/bishop-to-visit-laois-parish-where-ni-abuser-priest-served-in-1950s-1.3428865
Dame Gillian Weir is to chair the jury for this year’s Northern Ireland International Organ Competition
Dame Gillian Weir is to chair the jury for this year’s Northern Ireland International Organ Competition (NIIOC), taking place Monday 13 – Wednesday 15August in the cathedral city of Armagh.
Dame Gillian will be joined on the competition jury by David Hill, former organist of Westminster Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral and St John’s College Cambridge and former chief conductor of the BBC Singers; and Martin Ennis, Director of Studies and Director of Music at Girton College, Cambridge.
https://www.niioc.com/news/2018/3/15/dame-gillian-weir-to-chair-northern-ireland-international-organ-competition-jury
Judgment reserved in same-sex marriage court battle –
http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/03/15/news/judgment-reserved-in-same-sex-marriage-court-battle-1279771/
Pope Francis: if you are in a state of mortal sin, you cannot receive Communion
http://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/03/15/pope-francis-if-you-are-in-a-state-of-mortal-sin-you-cannot-receive-communion/
In quotes – Five years of Pope Francis
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2018/03/13/in-quotes-five-years-of-pope-francis/
US Bishops call for legal protection for supporters of traditional marriage
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/03/15/us-bishops-call-for-legal-protection-for-supporters-of-traditional-marriage1/
Reports that the funeral of Sir Ken Dodd will be held at Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral on March 28.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-43422151
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/sir-ken-dodds-funeral-set-12195215
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5506067/Sir-Ken-Dodd-s-funeral-held-Liverpool-Cathedral.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Report on concerns raised by campaigners and faith groups over ‘pop up’ lapdancing clubs during the Cheltenham Festival race week. The article quotes Rev Gareth Dickinson, of Trinity Cheltenham Church.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5507183/Church-leads-protests-pop-strip-clubs-Cheltenham.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Report on visitor numbers to tourist attractions in the UK. The article reports that churches, which overall saw a drop in visitor numbers, were boosted slightly by ‘champing’.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/16/major-london-museums-see-visitor-numbers-plummet/
Coverage of BBC Easter schedule, including comment from Christine Morgan, head of radio Religion and Ethics.
https://www.christiantoday.com/uk/bbc-to-celebrate-easter-as-most-significant-and-holiest-of-times-with-boosted-coverage/127474.htm
Further coverage following letter published last week in the Daily Telegraph signed by a group of 70 faith leaders, politicians and academics, warning against lifting the cap which stops new faith schools admitting more than 50% of children on the basis of religion.
https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-religious-groups-unite-hit-back-claims-their-schools-are
Further coverage following BBC report that the Church in Wales has warned that the majority of its churchyards will soon run out of burial space.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/15/dont-expect-buried-close-home-say-church-leaders/
Article on Easter
http://www.theweek.co.uk/92052/easter-when-it-is-and-how-its-celebrated
Further coverage of controversy over an art installation, part of a Stations of the Cross exhibition, at St Stephen Walbrook in the City of London.
http://www.itv.com/news/london/2018-03-15/crucified-stromtrooper-relocated-in-church-after-parishioners-complain/
Comment
Nick Hasted: Mary Magdalene and Christian cinema’s resurrection.
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/mary-magdalene-film-rooney-mara-joaquin-phoenix-religion-a8258036.html
http://www.churchnewsireland.org/
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