A NEW magazine show hosted by RTÉ daytime radio presenter Joe Duffy is to replace Mass and Protestant religious services, broadcast once a month on RTÉ 1 television.
As part of its religious programming, RTÉ broadcasts Mass or other Christian worship services each Sunday at 11.15am.
However once a month from February 22nd, these services will not air and will be replaced by Spirit Level presented by Radio 1 Live Line host Duffy.
The show is described by RTÉ as a magazine series exploring the Christian life of today’s Ireland through a mixture of discussions, interviews, features and music.
Church worship broadcasts were still an important aspect of RTÉ religious output, “but it is only one aspect” the station said.
It added that the various Christian churches were “hugely supportive” of the move which was an enrichment not a diminution of its religious programming.
The new show will be asking challenging religious and ethical questions, the station said, such as “Does God really love the poor?” “Does God hate gays?”, “Can Christianity save the planet?” and “How would Jesus vote?”
The programmes will feature one-to-one interviews with public figures and inspirational individuals talking about the impact of faith in their lives and the effect of life on their faith.
Former Big Brother contestant Anna Nolan, who was once a novice nun, will be presenting outside broadcasts.
She will be travelling from county to county in search of stories that reflect the place of faith in today’s Ireland.
