Matthew Bell
PRI
Boston, MA, United States
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Past articles by Matthew:
For Irish Catholics, there’s both enthusiasm and anxiety about Pope Francis’s visit
Pope Francis visits Ireland this weekend for the first time as head of the Catholic Church. In a country where 4 out of 5 people identify as Catholic, the trip will not be easy. → Read More
‘They like me a lot in the UK,’ says Trump. He’s not entirely wrong.
Donald Trump’s first visit to Britain as US president is expected to coincide with large anti-Trump protests in London. But Trump does have his fans in the UK. → Read More
Ireland votes to repeal abortion restrictions, but there’s still a lot to talk about
Right up until the day of the referendum, pretty much everyone thought Ireland’s vote on abortion this past Friday was going to be close. It wasn’t. Two-thirds of voters said ‘yes’ to repealing the country’s constitutional ban on abortion. → Read More
Negotiating with the North Koreans was never going to be easy
After lots of initial fanfare, the lead-up to a planned Trump-Kim summit has hit some serious bumps in the road. But one former US adviser on North Korean affairs says President Trump should stick with his game plan. → Read More
A Trump-Kim summit would be historic too, but can it succeed?
The leaders of the two Koreas just made history. Now, it’s Donald Trump’s turn. The American president, who once dismissed the idea of negotiating with North Korea, is expected to do just that. → Read More
Ireland's strict ban on abortion could soon be a thing of the past
The right to life of the unborn is protected by Ireland's constitution. The Eighth Amendment was passed by national referendum in 1983. In May, Irish voters will take part in another referendum. This time, they're being asked whether they want to repeal the abortion ban. → Read More
Two views of the Gaza protests, from each side of the border fence
Palestinians are protesting in the Gaza Strip, with demonstrations planned for several more weeks. One Palestinian man says people just want a better future. An Israeli who lives on the other side of the border fence says he just wants to live in peace with his neighbors. → Read More
Two priests from opposite sides of Northern Ireland's sectarian divide have something to say about forgiveness
The city of Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland is still healing from years of sectarian conflict. Two priests, one Catholic and the other Protestant, have written a book about how to get to true peace. The only way, they say, is through forgiveness. → Read More
For this city in Northern Ireland, Brexit is a big headache
Londonderry, or Derry, Northern Ireland's second-biggest city, borders the Republic of Ireland. Residents worry Brexit will bring changes at the border - and a return to the days of "the Troubles." → Read More
'America's pastor' Billy Graham leaves global legacy
The Rev. Billy Graham was known as "America's pastor." But his legacy as a Christian leader is very global. → Read More
The Vatican seems to be keen for a deal with Beijing
Pope Francis appears to be eager to make a historic compromise with the Chinese government for the sake of Chinese Catholics. His critics worry that he’s making a huge mistake. → Read More
In President Sisi's Egypt, human rights are under threat
"Fear has returned," says an Egyptian human rights activist. President Sisi is likely to win re-election next month easily. But the human rights situation under him is grim. → Read More
This Lebanese film received an Oscar nomination, but then the filmmaker was arrested
Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri was very happy when his new movie "The Insult" won a prize in Venice. But when he returned to Lebanon, he was promptly detained by authorities. → Read More
For some Christians, being 'pro-life' isn’t just about being against abortion
Activists from the anti-abortion movement in the US are feeling energized. President Donald Trump says his administration stands with them. But some Christians are frustrated with the president's words and actions because they see a connection between being “pro-life” and “pro-immigrant.” → Read More
What do the North Koreans want?
Officials from the DPRK – North Korea’s official name — and South Korea are talking again. So, what exactly is North Korea after? If you listen to its own propaganda, the North's leader Kim Jong-un intends to win the Korean War. → Read More
Are Christmas trees religious? Well, yes
Many people look at a Christmas tree and don’t see much religious meaning. But the history of the Tannenbaum, as they call it in Germany, says otherwise. → Read More
The late Cardinal Law will be remembered as the face of the Catholic Church’s child sexual abuse crisis
Cardinal Bernard Law has been described as "a titan of 20th century American Catholicism." But he will be remembered for one thing: covering up child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. → Read More
Australia reckons with the national tragedy of child sexual abuse
Five years and thousands of interviews later, an Australian government investigation has released its final report on child sexual abuse. The prime minister said it added up to, "a national tragedy." → Read More
World leaders react to Trump's Jerusalem announcement
Among those applauding the move by President Trump was Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. But other leaders were critical of Trump’s decision to dispense with nearly 70 years of US foreign policy tradition. → Read More
After a mass shooting, thoughts and prayers. But then what?
No place in America feels safe from gun violence these days — not even the pews in a small-town Texas church. So, how are people of faith thinking about the problem? → Read More