Everyday Ethics

On this Easter Sunday morning we ask if there more darkness than light in our lives? More hopelessness than hope? Where can the light and hope be found in a world that's full of pain, conflict, poverty and hate? Journalist Liz Kennedy, Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick from Ulster University and by Dr Naomi Green, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain join Audrey Carville to share their sources of hope.Fr Carlos Ferrero, parish priest in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza. He tells us how this Easter will differ from the last two years.Later this morning, Pope Leo will deliver his first traditional Easter Urbi et Orbi address from the balcony in St Peter's Square in Rome. Much attention will be on it, particularly following his sermon on Palm Sunday when he spoke out strongly against those leaders who start wars. Journalist and long time observer of the Vatican, Austen Ivereigh, gives us his assessment of Pope Leo's comments.And as the NASA Artemis 2 spaceflight heads towards the far side of the moon, we hear from space communicator Dr Niamh Shaw who was present at the launch, and space journalist Kate Arkless Grey, about why they think space exploration matters when there are so many challenges on the ground on Earth.

This week the British government announced its Aid priorities which include reducing the amount spent on aid by £6 billion by 2027. Along with the cuts to USAID by the Trump Administration what will be the impact on programmes around the world. Audrey talks to Rosamond Bennett from Christian Aid Ireland, Sean Farrell from Trocaire and Dominic McSorley from Concern about making the case for aid in turbulent times. Author Freya India talks to Audrey about how the architecture of life has changed for young women and how many are struggling to cope in the online world. At the start of Holy week we hear from Jim Deeds and Liz Hughes about this years Darkness to Dawn meditations and other Easter coverage. And fly to the moon. Science Educator Niamh Shaw tells us why humans are returning to the moon for the first time in decades.

Tech Billionaire Peter Thiel went to Rome this week and gave a closed door lecture about the Antichrist, just a stone's throw from the Vatican. Audrey talks to CNN’s Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb about what happened and also his new book American Hope, what Pope Leo the 14th means for the church and the world.The Living Wage is 25 years old but what role has it had in raising people out of poverty when the wealth inequality gap is bigger than it has ever been?Audrey talks to two people who were there at the start - Bernie Harris who is orginially from Sligo but has worked as a nurse in east London for more than 40 years and Paul Regan is a retired methodist minister and Mary McManus the Living Wage co-ordinator for Northern Ireland.Peterson Toscano is this years Artivist in Residence at the Imagine Festival. He talks to Audrey about his journey from Evangelical to Quaker and the bumps along the way after he spent years in Conversion therapy.A newly composed suite of psalms based on the experiences of victims and first responders during the Troubles is to be launched by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland this week. Audrey talks to Rev Dr Karen Campbell who along with her husband David has composed the new works.

Later tonight Irish actress Jessie Buckley will find out if she has won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet.It's a film about family, love, grief, and the aftermath of losing a child. Audrey talks to psychotherapist Julia Samuel about how the film forces you sit with the rawness of grief. Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain whose son Benedict was tragically drowned while on honeymoon tells us what has helped him in the aftermath of such incredible loss.“Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle”- the US government quoting scripture to explain the sacrifice of war in Iran. Theologian Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick tells us what the Book of Revelations says and how it has been interpreted by the Church over the centuries to make claims about the end of the World and the Battle of ArmageddonSilence- it's been used for hundreds of years, in books, plays, poetry...the irony of that is profound. Audrey talks to Oxford Professor Kate Mcloughlin about her new book which traces 12 centuries of literature uncovering the power and possibilities of silence.And this week 300 delegates will be meeting in the Archdiocese of Armagh to ask how do we pass on the faith to the next generation? Audrey speaks to Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh; and Janet Forbes the diocesan Youth Coordinator.

The United States and Israel began bombing Iran just over a week ago. Iran responded by bombing their aggressors' allies in the Gulf States. Hundreds are dead and the purpose of the war remains unclear. We discuss the latest developments, examine the theocratic system in Iran and whether Christian nationalism influences the Trump administration. Taking part are Tara Kangarlou journalist, author of The Heartbeat of Iran and adjunct professor at Georgetown University in Washington DC and by Oliver McTernan, director of Forward Thinking- a mediation and conflict resolition NGO.The group of Conservative Anglicans, known as Gafcon, met in Nigeria's capital Abuja this week. They are opposed to the appointment of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury - Sarah Mullally. There are 95 million Anglicans around the world with the Archbishop of Canterbury being their spiritual figurehead. It had been thought that Gafcon would elect their own leader and cause a full scale split but instead they elected their own leadership council. Madeline Davies from the Church Times has been following the story.We also talk to Prof. Daisy Fancourt on how being involved with artistic pusuits, whether it's dancing, reading or visiting msuems and galleries, can lower the risk of developing depression, lower blood pressure and ease chronic pain. And Brian Heffernan- an expert on Augustinian history talks about his new book on Pope Leo the 14th and whether being an Augustinian is more important to The Pope than being American.

In his first interview since being elected as Moderator Designate the Rev Richard Kerr talks to Audrey about the PCI safeguarding scandal and the next steps for the church.Agreement is Owen McCafferty's dramatisation of the final four days of talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement. It starred among others Dan Gordon as John Hume and Ruairi Conaghan as David Trimble. Dan and Ruairi chat to Audrey about playing the Nobel Laureates and Brian Rowan gives us the inside story of the human personalities striving for peace.This week we marked the 4th anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Audrey talks to local poet Angela Graham about her new collection which was inspired by photos from the war in Ukraine.

It's a unique moment in the Islamic and Christian calendars as the seasons of Ramadan and Lent coincide.Fasting is central to both, so this morning we are examining the role of fasting in today's world. Whether for spiritual reasons or wellness and lifestyle reasons: Is it a sacred path to renewal and wellness? Audrey speaks to Dr Naomi Green, Dr Tina Beattie and Pastor Andrew Gibson.The Presbyterian Church in Ireland held a second special meeting of its general assembly on Wednesday - in response to the safeguarding scandal which has engulfed the church since its moderator and clerk the Reverend Dr Trevor Gribben resigned in November. Alan Meban reports from the Assembly and former Moderator Rev Dr Norman Hamilton gives his response.And is this the way forward? Jim Deeds joins the drive through queue to get Ashes at a North Belfast Church and finds himself surprisingly moved and blessed by the experience.

US bishops warn that citizens may be called to 'put our bodies on the line' in protests in order 'to stand by their values'. Irish historian Dr Leeann Lane (Dublin City University), journalist and author Mihir Bose, theologian and sociologist Dr Elaine Storkey, and Irish church historian Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick join Audrey Carville to discuss the ethics, history and theology of taking a stand.We hear from Father Simon Sleeman who has been keeping bees for 50 years. He explains the tradition of 'telling the bees' about big life events.And we ask whether romantic love is prized above the love between friends. Liz Kennedy and Rosie Turner's friendship spans many decades. They look back on some of their adventures and talk about what sustains a strong friendship.

On Racial Justice Sunday Mark Devenport talks with New York Times Bestselling author and historian Jemar Tisby about how the church fails to tackle racism. Local woman Maureen Hamblin and Tim Magowan, from the circle of change group, give an account of what is happening here in Northern Ireland.We also investigate the ethics of memory looking at how memory can be manipulated and false memories created. Psychologists Ciara Greene and Gillian Murphy tell us why having a flexible rather than a photographic memory can be a good thing.And Dr James Nelson gives us his best guess as to what the new RE Curriculum in Northern Ireland might like and what it should be called.

This week on Sunday Sequence Mark Devenport is in the Chair kicking off with an interview with Bishop Rose Hudson Wilkins about her remarkable journey from poverty in Jamaica to becoming the first Black female Bishop in the Church of England and Chaplain to the late Queen Elizabeth II. We also look at a new Interfaith project in Belfast which begins this Sunday with a Jewish/Catholic St Brigid's day event. And we talk to Presbyterian Minister Neil Craigan who now lives and works in Minneapolis about his experience of the violent ICE crackdown in the city and how that impacts his faith.