RTÉ Podcast

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? By now, his life and career have been parsed and analysed by all and sundry, but on The God Slot we will spend this week’s programme hearing about various aspects of his Papacy from some voices that you may not have heard yet, either on radio or television. Dr. Jim Corkery SJ, who is recognised as one of the foremost interpreters of Benedict’s thought in the English speaking world; he’s the author of ‘Joseph Ratzinger’s Theological Ideas’; Dr. Andrew Pierce from the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College, Dublin, and Irish Catholic journalist, Sarah Carey form our studio panel. Throughout the programme, we’ll have comments from historian and author Prof. Eamonn Duffy, Benedictine nun and lecturer on women’s affairs Sr. Joan Chittister and former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Papal Knight Dr. David Rosen from Israel. This podcast is an extended edition of tonight's programme.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.