Everyday Ethics

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland held a special meeting of its general assembly on Thursday- five weeks after its moderator and clerk, the Reverend Dr Trevor Gribben, resigned over what he called serious and significant failings in its safeguarding process. Alan Meban reports from the Assembly and then Audrey talks to former PCI Moderator Norman Hamilton and Belfast Telegraph journalist Angela D...

We are approaching the shortest day of the year- it's next Sunday when the Winter Solstice will happen at three minutes past three on December 21st. So that, plus the fact that today is the start of the Festival of Hannukah- the Jewish festival of Lights, got us thinking about the part light plays in all our lives, and especially for those of faith. Audrey is joined by Professor Laurence Kirkpatri...

As more cases emerge, safeguarding expert Ian Elliot calls for a public enquiry into PCI. Audrey talks to journalist Angela Davison about the latest developments and also to retired Presbyterian minister Rev Tony Davidson about what needs to happen at the special general assembly. Pope Leo’s first overseas trip takes him to Lebanon where he met some of the victims of the Beirut port explosion and...

As we digest this week’s budget, we discuss the ethics of what and who governments choose to spend our money on. Audrey talks to journalist Anne McElvoy, Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick from Ulster University and Agnes Lunny the CEO of Positive Futures. The uncertainty around what the Supreme Court decision on Religious Education will mean continues. Audrey talks to Naomi Green and Edwin Graham about their p...

Christian religious education (RE) taught in schools in Northern Ireland is unlawful, the UK Supreme Court has ruled. Audrey is joined by Dr James Nelson from Queens University, Bishop Donal McKeown and Boyd Sleator from the Northern Ireland Humanists to discuss the implications for schools. As the Presbyterian Church safeguarding scandal continues, we talk to church members about their reaction t...

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has stepped down after "serious and significant failings" in safeguarding. The Rev Trevor Gribben said "people have been placed at risk" due to the failings in its processes between 2009 and 2022. We look at the wider implications of the story and ask whether an outside body needs to lead the denominations safeguarding process. The COP 30 meeting...

Zohran Mamadani made history this week when he was elected Mayor of New York City. The 34 year old is the first mayor born outside the US and the first Muslim. So how central was faith in the campaign and how important is it to him personally? Audrey talks to Professor Najam Haider from Columbia University. On Remembrance Sunday we look at the religious practice of silence with Jim Deeds, Rabbi Ni...

Archbishop Eamon Martin reflects on the life and death of his predecessor Oliver Plunkett. Born 400 years ago this weekend, the saint's head is preserved in St Peter’s Church in Drogheda. Mark Devenport is joined by Dr Niamh Wycherley and John Thavis to discuss the role of relics in the 21st century. The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times Africa correspondent Declan Walsh explains the backgroun...

Gaza priest Father Carlos Ferrero tells us how the ceasefire is holding and what difficulties his congregation are still facing. The Anglican Church is in the news. In Rome, King Charles becomes the first monarch since Henry VIII to pray with the Pope. Elsewhere the communion faces its biggest challenge as conservative Gafcon Bishops say they will no longer recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury,...

The United Nations will be 80 years old next Friday but is it thriving or dying?

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza.

Dr Mohammed Mughaisib has spent the nearly two years working in hospitals in Gaza, in the midst of  bombs, death and destruction.  His family fled to Egypt in February of last year- he hasn't seen them since.  He himself escaped to Dublin around three weeks ago.

Is the Social Contract dying?

After a UN Commission of Enquiry rules that Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza, where do we go from here?

The 6th century monastery of St. Catherine's and the tourist mega resort on its doorstep

Rev Izzy Hawthorne Steel and Rev Chris Bennett on how they dealt with church arsonists aged 10 and 11 and Carl Stauffer on restorative justice around the world.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde recalls her sermon before Trump—a plea for mercy in Washington National Cathedral that sparked his outrage the morning after his inauguration.

On the 80th anniversary of the publication of George Orwell's powerful political satire Animal Farm, we hear about the author's motivations and the power of his storytelling from Professor Jean Seaton, director of the Orwell Foundation. Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov is perhaps most famous for his book Death and the Penguin. He lives and works in a war zone. En route from home in Kyiv to Edinbur...

Fr. Carlos Ferrero on the bombing of his church and the starvation of the people of Gaza.

Rod Dreher on JD Vance's conversion to catholicism

A new technique creates IVF embryos with DNA from three people to stop a genetic disorder

This weekend marks the feast day of Benedict- a 6th century monk who had his own rule, which has survived down the centuries. That rule emphasises moderation, work and prayer. Our journey this morning will begin in the Great Italian Monastery of Monte Cassino as we learn about the man himself and how he shaped monasticism in Western Europe. The Benedictine Order still exists across Europe- and we...

A special programme remembering the London bombings 20 years on. Audrey talks to two men connected by the explosion at Edgeware Road Station. David Gardner was reading the script of a Shakespeare play when the bomb went off. He lost a leg and the hearing in his left ear. 22-year-old David Foulkes was killed on his first work trip to London. He had accidentally boarded the wrong tube. His father Gr...

Lamorna Ash talks about her conversion to Christianity.

Will Leitch explores the meaning of Sancutary Sunday.