A daily online review of the main news reports on faith, society and politics.
‘Families of all shapes and forms should be celebrated’ during Pope’s Irish visit – Varadkar
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said “families in all their shapes and forms should be celebrated” when Pope Francis visits Ireland next August. Mr Varadkar … That view would be relayed by Ireland’s embassy to the Vatican but would not seek to impose government views on a religious body. Mr Varadkar …
Corbyn apologises for ‘hurt’ caused by anti-Semitism in Labour
Labour leader seeks “urgent meeting” with Jewish leaders to discuss their concerns amid London protest.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43536830
Relatives of IRA victims have sent a joint letter to the Mayor of New York demanding he apologise for his honouring of Gerry Adams on St Patrick’s Day.
http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/03/27/news/families-of-ira-victims-demand-apology-from-new-york-mayor-over-gerry-adams-day–1288044/
Fr Malachy Finegan abuse investigated by PSNI
http://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews//news/northernirelandnews/2018/03/27/news/fr-malachy-finegan-details-of-police-probe-1288317/content.html
Plan to merge Church of Ireland parishes
A plan to merge two West Cork parishes of the Church of Ireland into one single larger entity – stretching from just west of Skibbereen to the end of the Mizen peninsula – is believed to be currently under consideration. The two parishes involved are Ballydehob Union, which includes the churches of St…
http://www.southernstar.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/03/27/4153902-plan-to-merge-church-of-ireland-parishes/
Irish priest who claimed he had sex with a murder victim accused of raping a schoolgirl
Shamed Nugent – who was born in Dublin – was removed as parish priest following the murder of Angelika Kluk whose body was found in his church, St Patrick’s in Anderston, Glasgow, in 2006. Polish national Angelika was murdered by serial killer Peter Tobin who had been unwittingly hired as a …
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-priest-who-claimed-sex-12251876
Report that students at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham are twice as likely to worship on a Sunday as the general population, according to Church of England data. Rev Megan Daffern, chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford and the Dean of King’s College, Cambridge, Rev Dr Stephen Cherry, are quoted.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/holier-than-thou-students-most-likely-to-attend-church-pm83b6q5r
Report that fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) cost tax payers as much as £210 million a year by placing extra demand on healthcare and other public services, according to analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research. The article mentions that the Church of England is among several organisations to back a £2 stake limit for the machines.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fobt-fixed-odds-betting-terminals-cost-taxpayers-gambling-public-health-hospital-admissions-research-a8276336.html
Coverage of announcement that the Archdeacon of Rochester, Simon Burton-Jones, is to be the new Bishop of Tonbridge.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blair-sees-error-of-his-ways-0q7p2w3nw
https://www.kentlive.news/news/new-bishop-tonbridge-says-kents-1389661
Reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has repeated his offer to contribute towards efforts to bring about an end to violence in some parts of Nigeria.
http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2018/03/archbishop-of-canterbury-offers-to-contribute-to-peace-negotiations-in-violence-hit-nigeria.aspx
https://www.christiantoday.com/uk/archbishop-of-canterbury-offers-to-help-end-violence-in-nigeria/127866.htm
Report on terms of reference for the independent inquiry into the actions of the disgraced breast cancer surgeon Ian Paterson, who was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding patients with intent last year and jailed for 20 years. The chair of the inquiry, the Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, is quoted.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-43552926
Timeline of events in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing last May. Includes mention of address by the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, at vigil in front of Manchester Town Hall.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43555145
Previews of Sir Ken Dodd’s funeral which is taking place later today at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43556933
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5552117/Funeral-comedian-Sir-Ken-Dodd-held.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5550033/Ken-Dodd-funeral-need-know.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Articles on Easter
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/937729/Easter-2018-when-is-Easter-Sunday-why-celebrate-Easter-Good-Friday
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/when-is-easter-holidays-2018-in-uk-what-weekend-easter-sunday-a3799751.html\
Report that the Churches Conservation Trust has received £2.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to save and transform Sunderland’s Holy Trinity Church into a cultural centre.
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2018-03-27/at-risk-sunderland-church-secures-2-8m-funding/
Diary item on remarks by actor Hugh Bonneville, who is set to present the documentary Jesus: Countdown to Calvary on Irish channel RTE on Easter Sunday.
https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/937642/hugh-bonneville-downton-abbey-religion-jesus-countdown-to-calvary-atheists
Letters
Data protection laws
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/26/church-data-is-being-scrutinised-now-for-facebooks-files
Comment
Linda Woodhead
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/27/jesus-latest-first-victim-metoo/
Presiding Bishop of US-based Episcopal Church installed as Canon of St George’s, Jerusalem
The presiding Bishop of the US-based Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, has been installed as a canon of St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem during a Palm Sunday Evensong (Sunday, 25 March). The Archbishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, said that he prayed that the honour would help the presiding bishop carry “this cathedral and the people of this land in your heart throughout your ministry.”
http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2018/03/presiding-bishop-of-us-based-episcopal-church-installed-as-canon-of-st-georges-jerusalem.aspx
5 things you didn’t know about Arthur Guinness
Richard worked as an agent for the cleric Dr. Arthur Price, A Church of Ireland Archbishop, and some say he brewed beer for the house. … Irish Unionists and Arthur Guinness accepted the system, with Arthur “directly opposed to any movement toward Irish independence” and wanting “Ireland to remain …
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/facts-arthur-guinness
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