In this week’s Faith matters: Corrymeela, Northern Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community, started its work in 1965, just as the Troubles were emerging on the horizon. Fifty years on, is the community’s work still relevant? We speak to its new leader, Pádraig Ó Tuama, about Corrymeela plans for the future, the challenges facing Northern Ireland and his own faith journey. Plus, Trevor Johnston asks God why there are so many religions.

Faith matters #4 - Pádraig Ó Tuama; Why God? - 220215

On this week’s Faith matters, we talk cake, conscience and consequences - unintended or otherwise - and DUP MLA Paul Givan’s plans to introduce a so-called conscience clause into our legal system. Also, we hear about a new youth event in Derry which aims to tackle some of the really difficult issues, like suicide, that young people face in their lives and show how faith in God can help; visit a landmark Belfast church celebrating its bicentenary and ask why believe in God at all, when science seems to scream “don’t”?

Faith matters #5 - St Patrick's Belfast @ 200; conscience clause; Why God?; Derry YouthFest - 010315

Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and in Ireland this week, gives his response to comments by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, likening ISIS and the IRA. 

A full interview with Cardinal Turkson can be heard on Q Radio Network's Faith matters programme at 8.30am on Sunday March 8 2015.

Picture of Cardinal Turkson in St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast by Mal McCann for the Irish News.

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Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the pontifical council for justice and peace, on faith in the public square, Catholic legislators, whether Islamic State and the IRA are comparable and what Pope Francis is really like - and where is he leading the Church?

Photographed in St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast by Mal McCann (@MalMccann) for the Irish News (@irish_news)

Cardinal Peter Turkson - full interview - 050315

On this week’s Faith matters, we have a cardinal close to Pope Francis, in Ireland this week all the way from Ghana via Rome; and, for good measure, not one but two Archbishops of Armagh.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, who heads the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is a genuine heavy-hitter in the world of the Catholic Church.

The 66-year-old from Ghana was regarded as a leading contender to be Pope ahead of the conclave which elected Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis almost exactly two years ago.

He talks to us about why the Church should be in the public square and why he believes faith cannot be kept purely private; why Catholic politicians cannot disregard the teaching of the Church on subjects like abortion and marriage and at the same time claim to be committed Catholics; and what Pope Francis is really like, and where he thinks his reforms will lead.

And following comments from his colleague, the Archbishop of New York Cardin Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Turkson talks about whether Islamic State and the IRA are comparable.

We also hear from the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh Richard Clarke and his Catholic counterpart Eamon Martin about the Flesh and Blood campaign they are throwing their weight behind.

Flesh and Blood aims to encourage people to support blood and organ donation as part of a culture of giving.

The need is great – taken together, in Northern Ireland and the Republic, 800 people are waiting for an organ transplant and 96,000 people rely on blood transfusions annually.

The archbishops explain that blood and organ donation is completely consistent with a compassionate application of the Christian faith.

*Cardinal Peter Turkson photographed in St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast by Mal McCann for the Irish News. Flesh and Blood photographs by Ann McManus for the Irish News.*

Faith Matters #6 - Cardinal Peter Turkson; Flesh And Blood - 080315

In this week’s fracas-free Faith matters: marriage, the Pope and suffering.

MLAs at Stormont have repeatedly rejected proposals to redefine marriage but it could happen in the Republic, where voters in the Republic are prepare to take part in the marriage equality referendum in May.

We hear from the Catholic primate Archbishop Eamon Martin about why he is opposing it, and also ask how a Christian can be against equality, whether in marriage or anything else.

Our star contributor in a reasonably-priced radio programme returns – the Reverend Trevor Johnston, rector of All Saints’ Church of Ireland in Belfast’s university area, again raises the spectre of Stephen Fry, and asks: “Why God, should I believe when suffering hurts?”

And two years after Jorge Bergoglio was elected as Pope Francis, we look back at some of the memorable quotes he has given us.

*No producers were hurt in the making of this week’s Faith matters.

William Scholes