Sunday

President Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel sparked a mix of protest and praise this week. Journalist Allison Kaplan Sommer tells Edward why many believe the move was made to bolster support amongst his Evangelical voters in the US. What's being billed as the first ever Muslim panto begins a six day tour of Britain. The actor and comedian Abdullah Afzal is in it and he tells Edward why this pantomime is different.The Australian Royal Commission into child abuse will deliver its report next week. Interim findings have done deep damage to the reputations of many of the country's institutions, especially the churches. Australian writer Thomas Keneally, who himself trained for the priesthood, gives Edward his reaction to the fallout from the inquiry.When traumatic events happen to a community, one of the first people on the scene to organise support will be a local member of the clergy but many have received no specialist training. Sarah Swadling reports on a scheme that aims to address this.Some of the lowest paid workers are cleaners. Many have zero hour contracts and receive no holiday or sick pay. Trevor Barnes reports on a business that calls itself an ethical cleaning company to discover what they are trying to do differently.Last winter more people than ever before used a church night shelter according to research published by the charity Housing Justice today. James Langstaff , Bishop of Rochester is the Chair. ISIS may be losing the war on the physical battlefield but it's their digital strategy that is now believed to be posing the most serious threat according to Haroon Ullah, a former Senior Adviser at the US State Department.Producers: David Cook Rajeev GuptaSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Actor Tamsin Greig talks about her visit to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an Ambassador for Tearfund and describes the work being done to tackle sexual and gender-based violence. Martin Bashir on the Pope's visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh.The Department of Education's survey of vulnerable children includes a new category "those vulnerable to abuse linked to faith and belief". How is that to be defined and prevented? Trevor Barnes reports.The story of what happened to the last Jews of Iraq is the subject of a new documentary "Remember Baghdad". Edward talks to David Dangoor about his great grandfather who was a former Chief Rabbi of Baghdad. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting married - and the flurry around the news revealed quite a lot of confusion about the status of divorcees in Church of England and the rites of baptism and confirmation. Rev Ian Paul will shed some light on it on the confusion. The Muslim population in Europe could almost double by 2050. Conrad Hackett, from the Pew Research Centre tells Edward about the predictions of their report 'Europe's Growing Muslim Population'. Sheik Ibraham Mogra and Katie Harrison, Director of the Faith Research Centre, discuss the report's findings.Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Geoff Crawford Go to www.tearfund.org/ukaidmatch to find out more.

Following the deadly attack on a mosque in northern Sinai, the Egyptian government have launched air strikes against those responsible. We look into what motivated the attack with Scott Lucas from the University of Birmingham.St Francis is the first purpose built Anglican church to open in 40 years. Bob Walker asks if a new church on a North London housing estate can really make a difference to inner city communities.As Pope Francis prepares to fly to Myanmar and Bangladesh we hear from Catholic commentator Tom Reese who believes he shouldn't be going. Chris Bain, Director of the Catholic Aid agency, CAFOD will tell William Crawley what the Pope's likely to see on the ground.Do you prefer gin or champagne in your advent calendar? And then there's the question of what your cat should have in theirs. Alternatively you could do a Reverse Advent Calendar and make donations to a foodbank. Churches have an abundance of land that could be turned over to environmental projects to help local communities increase biodiversity in their neighbourhood. Sarah Swadling reports from two schemes that are making the most of the land around churches in the south west of England.Hindu nationalists in India have threatened actors and the director of a Bollywood film which they claim distorts the past and hurts Hindu sentiments. Rahul Tandon tells William threats have been extended to cinemas in the UK to prevent the film being screened here. As Zimbabwe's new President takes office, we explore what role the Churches will have as the country moves forward. We hear from two religious leaders there and from Christopher Chessun, the Bishop of Southwark whose diocese has links with country.Producers: David Cook Peter EverettSeries Prodcuer: Amanda Hancox.

Writer Mark Vernon has been to see the Roman Temple of Mithras that has been restored in the City of London. He joins Edward to discuss who the deity Mithras was and what the cult's followers believed. While many Hindus avoid eating beef because they consider the cow as sacred - milk and clarified butter are regularly used in religious worship. But a campaign's been launched by a Hindu vegan calling on temples to abolish all use of dairy. Vishva Samani reports.A new report from the University of Exeter says religious education teaching is 'incoherent, confused and outdated.' Professor Rod Freathy, and Ben Wood, vice chair of the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education debate.The Voce Chamber Choir has released a new disc "99 Words" a tribute to the late Sir John Tavener. It features a number of works by him and by composer Roxanna Panfunik. Roxanna explains why she is inspired by Tavener. Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare on the latest situation in Zimbabwe. Madeline Davies from The Church Times tells Edward why the Greek Orthodox Church is selling it's land in Israel. A British citizen Jagtar Singh has been arrested in the Punjab over allegations he was involved in funding the killings of Hindu nationalist leaders. Dr. Jasjit Singh researcher of Sikh religion at Leeds University and journalist, Amardeep Bassey discuss Sikh fundamentalism in the UK and the impact it's having in India.Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Temple of Mithras dig 1954 photo by Robert Hitchman (c)️MOLA.

This Remembrance Sunday we are looking at the life of the only soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during World War One. He was a doctor, a sportsman and the son of a former Bishop of Liverpool. His name was Noel Chavasse. He's still revered in his home city and Kevin Bocquet has been to Liverpool to hear about the man.In her book 'The Keys and the Kingdom', Catherine Pepinster looks at the relationship between the papacy and the British. Edward asks her how have things changed in the last 25 years.On November 15, the results of Australia's postal ballot on same sex marriage will be announced. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney on how religious groups there are reacting ahead of the results.Satnam Sanghera is the author of 'The Boy with the Topknot'. He talks to Edward about the BBC 1 adaptation, as it dramatises his story of growing up as a second generation Sikh in the UK , not having an arranged marriage and discovering secrets about his family. All week revelations from the 'Paradise Papers' have given an insight into the tax affairs of individuals and institutions. Many of the tax arrangements are legal but are they 'morally criminal' as the Methodist Tax Justice Network claim? Barbara Ridpath, Director of the St Paul's Institute and Laura Taylor, Head of Advocacy at Christian Aid debate.What was the contribution of Muslim soldiers during World War One and why is knowing this important to British Muslims? Hayaan Bhabha, from the All Party Parliamentary Group of British Muslims tells us about new figures he's uncovered and their relevance to Muslims in Britain today.Producers: David Cook Lissa CookEditor: Amanda HancoxPhoto of Noel Chavasse & Doreen the horse courtesy of Liverpool Scottish Museum Trust.

Abbey House, retreat centre in Glastonbury is closing after 80 years. Despite a growing interest in pilgrimage, Sarah Swadling explores why a growing number of venues are shutting their doors.Bishop James Jones reflects on his time listening to and supporting the families of the 96 unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. This week the Bishop released his report which recommended how public institutions should treat the relatives of people killed in tragedies. The church played an important role in drawing up the 2005 Gambling act but what influence can they have on legislation tackling "Fixed Odd Betting Terminals" Bob Walker reports. Humanists say Lords reform proposals give more voting power to Bishops at a time when their significance in society is diminishing. Andrew Copson the Chief Executive of Humanist UK and Lord Richard Harries debate this and the role of other faiths in the House of Lords. First lady of Zimbabwe Grace Mugabe will be attending "Super Sunday" rally with religious groups. Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare on the implications of her presence at the rally and tells us who the religious group are? Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda Hancox.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia said this week that he wants to return the country to 'moderate Islam'. Gulf analyst Bill Law tells Emily why he believes the Prince is pursuing this policy.On Tuesday a service will be held to mark the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation in Europe. The Archbishop of Canterbury will present a text supporting an agreement to resolve the theological dispute that divided the churches. Professor Eamon Duffy and Rev Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch will debate if the divisions have been healed.Martin Bashir meets one of the world's leading geneticists who says advances in foetal testing may lead to increased screening for minor abnormalities and non-medical traits - in addition to conditions like Down's Syndrome. The Chief Rabbi has called on Jews around the country to celebrate an authentic Shabbat for ShabbatUK. Trevor Barnes talks to the Chief Rabbi and meets a family who are trying to manage without breaking the rules.Sexual harassment allegations against the film producer Harvey Weinstein have led to a public discussion about how institutions and organisations deal with these serious issues. This week some women in the Church of England have written about their experiences. Emily speaks to The Rev Charlotte Bannister-Parker who says it can be difficult for women to speak out while the Revd Canon Dr Emma Percy says the Church has clear guidelines on dealing with serious complaints. For the last ten years photographer Matt Writtle has been documenting how people spend their Sunday. With fewer people attending church he set out to discover what they are doing on the traditional day of rest.Producers: David Cook Louise Clarke-RowbothamSeries Producer: Amanda HancoxPhoto: Matt Writtle.

Trevor Barnes visits 'Imagining the Divine,' a new exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum of some of the oldest religious art from India to Ireland.. Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi is the first person from the African continent to be installed as the new Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome next week. It is a key position in the Anglican Communion and comes as the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches are forging a closer relationship on common issues.Baroness Elizabeth Berridge previews the report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief ahead of its launch next week.This week people from the Baha'i faith, will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of their founder's birth. Dr Julia Haviland tells Edward about the faith and the key message of Bahá'u'lláh's life and teaching. The Archers has been bringing us the latest news from the farming community of Ambridge for over 50 years. We will be taking a look at "God in Ambridge" with Revd Dr Jonathan Hustler who has contributed to a new book on The Archers: Custard, Culverts and Cake.In the aftermath of this week's debate on Universal Credit, Kevin Bocquet visits a food bank run by The Trussell Trust and the Bishop of Manchester David Walker comments on the impact the welfare reform is having on claimants. Edward speaks to Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs, about how and why Sikhs were excluded from the Government's Hate Crime Action Plan.Producers Carmel Lonergan Peter EverettEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit : Footprints of the Buddha (c) Trustees of the British Museum.

An Islamic faith school's policy of segregating boys from girls is unlawful sex discrimination, court of appeal judges have ruled. What are the implications? The new global spiritual head of the Swaminarayan Hindu organisation is in the UK this week in the run up to Diwali. Mahant Swami Maharaj's first official visit as leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan sect has been attracting thousands of daily worshippers - Vishva Samani went along to meet them. Senior Anglican Bishops have accused the Church of England's main insurer of "horse-trading" in the way it treats survivors of clergy sex abuse. The Archbishop of Canterbury has asked for a review of the way Lambeth Palace deals with those who have been abused in a church context. Donna Birrell reports.We report from Germany's oldest folk festival that celebrates St Lullus, a monk who travelled from Wiltshire to Germany in the 700s and is credited with spreading Christianity in Europe.A High Court Judge has ruled the Government's policy on torture victims is unlawful. Freedom From Torture tell us what the implications are for vulnerable people when a government changes their definition of torture. Jonathan Clark, Bishop of Croydon and Chair of the Churches' Refugee Network explains his response to the ruling.And ahead of World Food Day on Monday, Bob Walker reports from a church in Bristol hosting an event to highlight the moral issues of food waste.

More than 700 students and families displaced by Hurricane Irma have relocated to Preston to continue their studies at the University of Central Lancashire. Kevin Bocquet looks at how the university providing spiritual and emotional support.After the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Patrick Carolan, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network says "Gun safety is not a political issue. It is a pro-life issue, a moral issue, and an ethical issue. We need to stop just offering prayers and start acting" he debates with Pastor Vance Pitman of Hope Church, Las Vegas.Alex Strangwayes-Booth has been on a "Bring Your Own Religion" pilgrimage with the British Pilgrimage Trust, reviving the tradition of making journeys on foot to holy places.The Scottish Episcopal Church will face sanctions after breaking with Anglican teaching on same-sex marriage. Primus, Bishop Mark Strange talks to William on what this means.Zoe Clark-Coates has lost five pre-term babies. She tells William why she and her husband, Andy, set up a charity the Mariposa Trust Melvyn Bragg on why it is a disgrace that society has deemed the Bible too complicated, describing the King James version as one of the greatest pieces of art ever produced.The Nobel Peace Prize 2017 has been awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Russell Whiting from Christian CND talks to us about faith based promotion of the campaign.Producers Carmel Lonergan Peter EverettEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: University of Central Lancashire.