Pope Benedict XVI
“The Conclave is very much a struggle for the institutional heart of the Church”
Tweet No white smoke yet White smoke from the papal conclave. The successor to Benedict XVI will need the support of two thirds of the 115 cardinals present – the Guardian is live-blogging events. And, as the BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt reminds us, the choice is not the one some might wish it to be. [...] more »
Pope Benedict XVI: “with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome”
Tweet For anyone seriously concerned with his “legacy”, the surprise announcement by Pope Benedict XVI, of his intention to renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome “as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours”, deserves a more considered approach. For example, following on from his initial response, at the Telegraph Blogs Damian Thompson reproduces the [...] more »
FMdFM: “It was important that we were there and right that we were there…”
Tweet The First and deputy First Ministers continue their evasive response to criticism of their failure to accept their invitation to attend Pope Benedict XVI’s official welcome on the first-ever papal state visit to the UK. One’s clinging to his political psychosis/comfort blanket, the other’s claiming they were double-booked. That’s why you have junior ministers, guys. As for the [...] more »
Pope’s visit and “historical ignorance—that great anaesthetic of all debate in England”
Tweet We’ve had a few emotive posts on the Pope’s – in the end – fairly quiet and unobtrusive visit to Britain. Ironically, his visit to the British parliament was shunned by both First and deputy First Ministers for different reasons. Brian says it’s because Britain is a civil nation. Well that depends on which way [...] more »
OFMDFM’s dilemma
Tweet Nevermind the Presbyterian moderator, at least he’s going to be there. Our own little Process™ might have got a special mention as Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Edinburgh today on his first ever state visit to the UK, but no-one from the Northern Ireland Executive was there to hear it - despite an invitation being sent to the Office of [...] more »
“I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment.”
Tweet The last minute substitution of one of Emperor Pope Benedict XVI’s team to visit the UK has been, officially, blamed on ill health. The Telegraph’s “blood crazed ferret” Damian Thompson has welcomed the news that a moderate theologian, the 77-year-old Cardinal Walter Kasper, will not be part of the semi-state visit. But I doubt the reference to [...] more »
Don’t go back to the bad old days
Tweet The question discussed by BBC NI religion presenter Will Crawley of whether the Irish Presbyterian moderator should attend on the Pope reminds me of the stern warning issued by the Skibbereen Eagle in west Cork in the 1850s, Skibereen has its eye on the Czar.” Not many outside Skib noticed until the headline became a cute byword for [...] more »
“verdict against Galileo was rational and just…”
Tweet Galileo Galilei didn’t invent the telescope. But he was convicted of heresy by the Catholic Church. I’ve mentioned his trial before. And Pope Benedict XVI’s argument that the “verdict against Gaileo was rational and just, and revisionism can be legitimized solely for motives of political opportunism.” [Adds As tierney comments below, I should have noted [...] more »
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Books
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…if University education were universally available and availed of, the country would collapse in one generation
Tweet The words of Brian O’Nolan, variously Brian Ó Nualláin, Myles na gCopaleen, Myles na Gopaleen and, of course, Flann O’Brien. That O’Nolan was referencing his own dissolute student days at UCD only mildly distracts from the prophetic undertone of his words: I paid no attention whatsoever to books or study and regarded lectures as [...] read our review »
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At the current rate of progress, gender equality of MLAs at Stormont will only take another 65 years
Tweet Bronagh Hinds’ chapter of Everyday Life After the Irish Conflict: The Impact of Devolution and Cross-Border Cooperation [reviewed yesterday] examines women’s political participation points to limited progress in addressing the gender balance of political institutions. The proportion of councillors who are female rose to 24 per cent in 2011 from 14 per cent in [...] read our review »
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Learning from 1798?: Northern Ireland’s Upcoming Decade of Commemorations
Tweet Last year, the Lilliput Press released a new extended edition of Tom Dunne’s Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize winning book, Rebellions: Memoir, Memory and 1798. First published in 2004, Dunne’s book provoked considerable controversy with its critique of the ‘commemorationist’ history that Dunne believed dominated the 1998 commemorations of the 1798 Rebellion. The book blasted the [...] read our review »
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