It’s a truism to say that the News, as typically presented by the media, is depressing. After the euphoria of the papal election, it was particularly bad last week. Early in the week, on Sky News I saw news coming through of the Scottish Parliament voting in favour of ‘assisted dying’, just like the Parliament…
I could fill the whole paper reviewing how the media covered the Conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV – it feels weird to write that name, but I suspect we’ll get well used to it. On Times Radio Breakfast (Tuesday), in a discussion on the Conclave, presenter Stig Abel reflected on the process…
When I heard that RTE Investigates was doing yet another abuse-themed exposé related to the Church, I thought, ‘Here we go again’. Broadcast of Christian Brothers: The Assets, the Abusers (RTÉ One, Thursday) was delayed after the death of Pope Francis. Perhaps they thought it would be tone-deaf to show it so soon after, or…
Easter is normally a pretty intense time for religious programming. This year however it was wall to wall religion in the media because of the death of Pope Francis. Last I wrote about my initial shock and sadness and initial reaction in the media. The week following was dominated by coverage of the Holy Father’s…
I write this column in a state of shock – at the dramatic news of the death of Pope Francis. I saw the sad news breaking on Sky News last Monday morning. The general reaction was one of shock but not surprise, given the Pontif’s ill-health. Last Sunday, watching the coverage of the Easter ceremonies…
In our largely Christian country, you might think that an act of forgiveness wouldn’t be that noteworthy, but maybe our residual faith has left the concept lagging behind. And so it was that on Drivetime (RTÉ Radio 1, Thursday) I first heard the story of the court case in which stabbing victim and army chaplain…
I’ve often wondered if ‘Cultural Catholicism’ is better than no Catholicism. It may be more a matter of routine and cultural identity than deep faith, but at least people are arguably, however superficially, on the right track, which may eventually lead them to something deeper. As Doris Day sang: ‘Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps’. This becomes especially…
In today’s diverse and scattered media landscape it’s rare to find a programme that everybody is talking about. Adolescence (Netflix) has bucked the trend, with its grim tale of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a female classmate. It’s dark stuff for sure, but relevant considering news stories of children murdering children. We surely have…
There is so much aggravational division in the world. Some of it due to identity politics, but a related problem is labelling – instead of seeing people as complex individuals, made in the image of God, we prefer to label people. This is particularly problematic when it comes to children – sometimes doing it for…
Understandably the North of Ireland gets in the limelight when programme makers turn their attention to St Patrick’s Day. Catherine Fulvio’s St Patrick’s Way (RTÉ One, Thursday and Friday) saw the well-known TV chef take the St Patrick’s pilgrimage route from Navan Fort in Armagh to Downpatrick in Co. Down. She was a cheerful and…
Brendan O’Regan