Rté - The God Slot

Anthone Munnelly discusses if St. Malachy got things right, and will Pope Francis be the last pope.

Jim Corkery SJ, Fr. Tom McCarthey OP, Anne Thurston, Abbot Mark Patrick Hederman with Fr. Timothy Radcliffe OP discuss our new Pope Francis.

Two religious sisters give their side of the Magdalene story to Claire McCormack + analysis from the Irish Catholic's Michael Kelly.

Children on papal resignation; Cardinal Keith O'Brien; Des Fisher on Vatican 2.

On Thursday, 14 February, Pope Emeritus Benedict spoke of the difference between what actually happened at Vatican 2 and how the media presented it. Former Head of News at RTE Des Fisher in a rare and exclusive interview begs to differ.

Chris Lambert, our regular contact at The Tablet, talks about the ramifications of the resignation of Scotland’s Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

A group of children, age 6 to 12, from Kilconly Primary School in Ballybunion, Co. Kerry discuss the papal abdication and its aftermath.

Sunday night is Oscars night, and regular film correspondent and lecturer on theology and ethics at Galway/Mayo IT Barry McMillan casts his offbeat eye on two of the contenders, both of which deal, in their own way, with oppression and redemption, subjects of great interest to The God Slot; Les Miserables and Lincoln.

In this era of recession, material poverty is all too familiar, and many agencies and religious organisations respond to this state of affairs, but what about spiritual poverty? Sr. Mary Threadgold tells us about the work of Sonas Spirituality.

Here’s something that is not known by too many people; whoever occupies the chair of Peter is nominally the Bishop of Kilfenora and parish Priest of Liscannor, and the same will apply to his successor. Holding the fort for the Pope is Fr. Denis Crosbie, who reveals all to The God Slot.

Last Friday, when we announced the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, who could have anticipated that Pope Benedict XVI would be performing one of his last public duties on that very day, having taken the secular and religious world by storm by announcing his resignation on Monday? This podcast is an extended edition of tonight's programme.

With Lent approaching, we ask various people to define the word 'holy'. Buddhist Vajrashoora, Journalist Sarah Carey, Hare Krishna Manudas, Benedictine Brother Anthony, Broadcaster and Journalist Pat Coyle, Singer Nóirín Ní Riain, Psychologist John Francis Leader, and Abbot of Glenstal Mark Patrick Hederman.

David H Glass, author of 'Atheism's New Clothes' published by APOLLOS, debates with Mike Nugent of Atheist Ireland. Pictured: L to R: David H Glass, Eileen, Michael Nugent.

Kate Fitzpatrick, an expert on St. Brigid, talks about the saint on this, her feast day. ‘The Light of Brigid’ with Kate Fitzpatrick. 028 37529644. www.navan.com Festival of Brigid at Imbolc. 087 1363224. www.doloreswhelan.ie/events/brigid-faughart-festival.

Rabbi Anna Gerard talks to Gerry about liberal or progressive Judaism in Ireland.

Rhona Tarrant reports from Warsaw on the funeral of Cardinal Glemp last Monday.

This Sunday is Holocaust Memorial Day, and Yanky Fachler tells Eileen how the day is being marked. Religious services on Radio change from this Sunday; Mass will be at 11 and Morning Worship at 11.45 on LW and Radio 1 Extra. The God Slot will be repeated on Radio 1 Extra on Sunday mornings at 10.30.

Rev. Darren McCallig, C of I chaplain at TCD, reviews 'Permanent, Faithful, Stable: Christian Same-Sex Marriage' by Jeffrey John, published by DLT.

A bill is being put through the UK Parliament changing a law that forbids hiers to the throne from marrying Catholics. Christopher Lamb of The Tablet discusses the ramifications with Eileen.

Breda O’Brien reviews the third part of Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth Trilogy; the infancy narratives. Author and columnist David Gibson, from New York, on President Obama’s inauguration benediction. Hindu actor and dancer Sanjeev Kumar on the greatest gathering of people on this planet; the Kumbh Mela Festival in India.