It is widely believed among Catholics in Northern Ireland that the number of the Titanic could in some way be read as "no pope" and the Titanic was sunk as divine retribrution for the lack of employment of Catholics in the shipyards. While subsequently Catholics were excluded from the shipyards, many worked on the Titanic as the employers viewed the firing of Catholic workers as demanded by Protestant workers as an interference with management prerogative. Terry McDonough
