Sunday

BBC Radio 4
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Oct 14, 2018 • 44min

Andrew Brunson, Oscar Romero and Tommie Smith

Former Olympic champion Tommie Smith speaks to Rajeev Gupta about how his Christian faith inspired his iconic fist raised protest on the podium at the Mexico City Games 50 years ago this week.A court in Turkey has freed US pastor Andrew Brunson in a case that badly strained ties between the US and Turkey. We bring you the latest on his release.As the canonisation of the assassinated archbishop Oscar Romero takes place, Edward talks to CAFOD's South America regional manager Claire Dixon live from Rome.Reporter Trevor Barnes has been to a hand to hand food packaging event at the St Laurence's Church, Catford as they prepare food parcels to be sent out to Africa in time for World Food Day.PRODUCERS: RAJEEV GUPTA HARRY FARLEY SERIES PRODUCER: AMANDA HANCOX
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Oct 7, 2018 • 44min

Archbishop of York, Drones, Green Health Awards

As Archbishop John Sentamu announces his retirement, we look at the significance of the role of Archbishop of York in the Church of England. Trevor Barnes visits the winners of the first Green Health Awards, a collaboration of health care professionals and churches. The morality of killing with Drones - Dr Peter Lee, author of "Reaper Force: Inside Britain's Drone Wars" talks to William Crawley about the ethical and moral issues facing drone pilots. And why is Manchester celebrating Syria?Producers: Amanda Hancox and Dan Tierney
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Sep 30, 2018 • 44min

Alabama Window, Galileo Letter Revealed, Miracles

When four girls were killed by a racist bomb in an Alabama Baptist Church 1963,the late Welsh artist John Petts raised funds for the Church and created a stain glass window depicting Jesus as black. Now the window is in need of protection. Theodore Ted Debro Trustee, a Church Trustee, tells Edward why. A letter by the Italian astronomer Galileo challenging the official view of cosmology has been discovered 405 years after it was written. Dr Anna-Marie Roos sheds light on the significance of the letter. A ComRes survey for BBC Local Radio on miracles reveals three in five (62%) British adults believe that some form of miracle is possible today. Chris French,Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths College, and Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham discuss the findings. The Indian courts have made a number of ground breaking rulings over the past few weeks including a landmark decision lifting a Hindu temple's ban on women entering. The BBC's James Clayton tells us more. Voters in the Republic of Ireland are being asked to decide whether the criminal offence of blasphemy should be abolished or not. Professor David Nash, Historian of blasphemy and adviser to the Irish government, speaks to Edward Stourton.Producers: RAJEEV GUPTA HARRY FARLEYSeries Producer: AMANDA HANCOXPhoto Credit: Sophia Smith Galer
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Sep 25, 2018 • 44min

Exclusive bereavement survey, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Franklin Graham

Sunday reveals the results of the biggest ever UK survey into how people of different faiths cope with death, dying and bereavement. Co-op funeral care Managing Director David Collingwood and theologian Douglas Davies discuss the results.The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of 'hypocrisy' this week for his criticism of Amazon, a company the Church of England has shares in. Edward Stourton asks Catherine Howarth of Share Action, how far investors can influence the behaviour of companies.Bob Walker speaks to Nobel Peace prize winner and former Liberian Prime Minster Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who delivered a keynote address at Rising, a global peace forum held at Coventry Cathedral this week. Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, arrives in the UK next week for a three day event in Blackpool, prompting protests from LGBT activists and churches. Edward Stourton looks at what Franklin Graham believes and why he's such a controversial figure. Ahead of the first national Cathedral's conference in Manchester we speak to the Dean of Lichfield Adrian Dorber about how he hopes it will address the dire financial challenges many Cathedrals face. Crispin Blunt is the head of Humanist APPG in Parliament. Harry Farley speaks to him in the last of our series on Faith in Westminster.For the first time in years the number of people seeking to be ordained in the Church of England is on the up including among young people and women. Trevor Barnes finds out why.Producers: Catherine Earlam and Tara Holmes Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.
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Sep 25, 2018 • 44min

Niqab Wearing Superhero, Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Sara Alfageeh, an American illustrator and comic fan, annoyed by the tight costume worn by Marvel's Muslim superhero Dust she redesigned the niqab hero's attire and her designs have gone viral online.Rabbi Jonathan Sacks gives his first broadcast interview after his comments on Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism and he talks to Edward about his new Radio 4 series "Morality in the 21st Century".The Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Churches are in a tug of war over the status of the Ukrainian Church. Writer and journalist Jonathan Luxmoore discuses who the likely winner will be. Three years after David Cameron pledged 20,000 Syrians could seek refuge in the UK Bob Walker reports on the faith organisations helping many refugees to start again.Vatican commentators Austen Ivereigh and Edward Pentin discuss the letter sent by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano calling for Pope Francis to resign.Yasmin Qureshi MP talks to Harry Farley has he continues his series with politicians of faith.Cardinal Vincent Nichols tells Edward about his efforts to tackle human trafficking and modern day slavery. Producers Rajeev Gupta Peter Everett Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.
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Sep 23, 2018 • 44min

Franklin Graham, French Pilgrimage

As hundreds of people take part in the annual pilgrimage in the French city of Valenciennes, John Laurenson joins the pilgrims to find out why pilgrimages are becoming so popular in secular France. Usama Hasan, Head of Islamic Studies at Quilliam, gives his reaction to the release of Amjem Choudary.And where politics and morality clash - Edward discusses the cut in funding for Palestinian projects by the US Administration with Nigel Varnell of Embrace the Middle East and Sarah Elliott from Republicans Overseas. Franklin Graham talks to Sunday about his controversial visit to Blackpool. And the heart-felt appeal from a mother who wants more people of Asian heritage to register as stem cell donors. Producers: Carmel Lonergan and Lissa Cook Series Producer: Amanda Hancox
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Sep 9, 2018 • 49min

Religious education, Recovery walks, Moral economy

As Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing comes to an end, the BBC's White House reporter Tara McKelvey talks to William about his religious background and how it might appeal to the religious conservatives.Should Religious Education be renamed Religion and Worldviews and include non-religious perspectives such as Humanism and atheism? A major commission on RE has urged the Department for Education to do just this. William discusses it's findings with Rev John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey and chair of the commission.The Visible Recovery Movement is an alternative to 12 step fellowship programmes for those with addiction. Rosie Dawson went on a recovery walk in Shrewsbury to find out more.Professor Alison Scott-Baumann from SOAS tells William about the biggest research study ever of Muslim students in British universities.As the Archbishop of Canterbury warns of the need for the wealthy to be taxed more, theologian Dr Ian Paul and Andy Walton from the Centre for Theology and Community discuss whether the Archbishop is right.The Chief Rabbi has issued guidance for Orthodox Jewish schools on how to protect and improve the lives of LGBT pupils. Journalist Angela Epstein explains what the guidance entails and reaction to it.Harry Farley continues his series of interviews with politicians about their faith and politics by talking to the Conservative MP Gary Streeter.Producers: Catherine Earlam Peter Everett Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.
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Aug 26, 2018 • 44min

The Pope in Ireland - a Sunday Programme Special

William Crawley presents a special programme from Phoenix Park, Dublin: Pope Francis is in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families. What sort of welcome will Pope Francis receive amid global allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church? Over fifty thousand people are expected, and William Crawley will give a taste of the atmosphere as people flock to Dublin from across Ireland and beyond. He will look at the importance of Pope Francis's visit for Catholics in Ireland and examine how the Church in Ireland has changed since Pope John Paul II visited in 1979; a time when the church had much more influence on society and political life. The Pope will also visit the town of Knock. Rajeev Gupta went along to look at the history of this famous shrine and explore the importance of Pilgrimage. The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin gives his thoughts on the tensions and problems the Catholic Church is facing in Ireland and where he sees its future.Pope Francis met privately with 8 survivors of clerical and institutional abuse. One of them, a Catholic priest Fr Patrick McCafferty, spoke to the BBC's Callum May. Joining William live throughout the programme are former British Ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Campbell and Dearbhail McDonald, Editor for Independent News and Media. They will discuss the reactions to Pope Francis's visit and its legacy both for the relationship between Church and State and for the wider Society in Ireland now and in the future.Producers Rajeev Gupta Carmel LonerganEditor Christine Morgan.
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Aug 19, 2018 • 44min

Divine Aretha, Faith in Westminster, Pope in Ireland discussion

We reflect on the deep Christian faith and gospel roots of Aretha Franklin with music, archive and the reflections of biographer David Nathan. American pastor Andrew Brunson is at the heart of a trade war between Turkey and the US. Emily Buchanan talks to Pastor Ryan Keating, who was himself deported from Turkey on charges of being a threat to national security about the place of Christianity in Turkey today. A report at the UN this week claimed that China is holding a million Muslim Uighurs in detention in Xinjiang province. The BBC's China correspondent John Sudworth talks to Emily Buchanan. Carol Monaghan is the SNP MP for Glasgow North West. She talks to Harry Farley about wearing her faith on her sleeve for our series on faith in Westminster. Ahead of the Pope's visit to Ireland a debate is raging over whether the World Meeting of Families is too exclusive and conservative or too liberal and inclusive. Martin Pendergast and Anthony Murphy join the programme to discuss that question. As more and more cases of clerical abuse come to the fore, Emily Buchanan speaks to Mark Stibbe who alleges he was abused by conservative evangelical Christian camp leader John Smyth, who died this week. And Safeguarding expert Donald Findlater discusses why there are so many sex abuse scandals involving clergy.Ben Wood, Chair of the National Association of Teachers of RE, talks to Emily Buchanan about the dramatic drop in RE studies at A Level - why it's declining and what he thinks should be done about it. Editor: Christine Morgan Producers:Catherine Earlam Harry Farley.
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Aug 12, 2018 • 44min

Cremations in Bali, Teaching the history of the Middle East, Why wear the burka?

Hundreds of people have died after a devastating earthquake hit the Indonesian Islands of Lombok and Bali this week. As Hindus on the islands start making preparations for the cremations of loved ones, Maria Bakkalapulo reports on the rituals and the significance of food during the ceremonies.The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) accused two Catholic schools of allowing abuse to go unchecked for 40 years. They say both Ampleforth and Downside have blocked efforts to reform their structures. But how did safeguarding in these schools run by religious orders go so badly wrong. We start our series looking into how MP's with a faith balance religious beliefs and political life. This week Harry Farley meets Labour's Slough MP Tanmanjeet Dhesi at his local Sikh gurdwara.Wim Wenders' docu-film Pope Francis - A Man of His Word is out in the UK this week. Richard Fitzwilliams reviews the film with Emily Buchanan followed by an interview with director Wim Wenders himself.Only 2200 out of 550,000 GCSE history students took up the choice to study Israel-Palestine conflict this year. We talk to Michael Davies, a history teacher in Lancaster who says he has come up with an effective way to teach this topic in schools. Suhayl Patel, curriculum manager at the Abrar Academy faith school also joins us to tell us how Michael's teaching methods allowed pupils at his school to understand the conflict from a Jewish point a view.Why do some Muslim women wear a Burka when others feel a simple headscarf is enough to be compatible with their Islamic values? Mona Siddiqui and Fatima Barkatulla discuss the history and theology behind the Muslim veil. PRODUCERS: RAJEEV GUPTA PETER EVERETTSERIES PRODUCER: AMANDA HANCOCK.

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