Sunday

Does the consecration of an Anglican Bishop in England by a breakaway South African Church make an eventual schism over the issue of homosexuality inevitable? Edward Stourton explores the arguments with Gavin Ashenden, an Anglican priest who left the Church of England earlier in the year, and Anglican theologian Ian Paul. A new report provides the most detailed analysis yet about the make-up of nearly half the adult population in Britain who describe themselves as non-religious. Author of the report Stephen Bullivant reveals the findings.Belfast woman Laura Lacole on her legal bid to have her forthcoming humanist marriage legally recognised in Northern Ireland. And legal historian Professor Rebecca Probert explores the disparity in the law regarding humanist weddings across the UK.As Iran prepares for its presidential election, Dr Siavush Randjbar-Daemi, Lecturer in Iranian History at Manchester University previews the vote.On a high-profile pilgrimage to the Fatima shrine in Portugal, Pope Francis has canonised two of the three shepherd children believed to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary there 100 years ago. Trevor Barnes reports. And music composed for the inaugural Mass of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral will finally be performed to celebrate the cathedral's 50th anniversary. Elizabeth Alker has been to the rehearsals.Producers: Dan Tierney and Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Series producer: Amanda Hancox.

A new study suggest medieval Benedictine Monks aided the evolution of the modern chicken because of their dietary rules discouraging the consumption of four-legged animals. Edward talks to the author, Anders Erikson and Dr Andrew Jotiscky, from the University of London The Archbishop of Canterbury is half way through a twelve day trip to the Middle East. During a visit to a refugee camp in Jordan he said Christians in the region "are the past, they are the present and they must be the future." Our Middle East Correspondent, Yolande Knell reports.To mark the first anniversary of the death of MP Jo Cox this June, her husband Brendan is launching the Great Get Together. The initiative is designed to bring people from all faiths and none together in an attempt to bring diverse communities together. Bob Walker reports. Father Andrew Forshew-Cain who was the first Church of England vicar to be in a same sex marriage is leaving his north London Parish. He tells Edward why he believes the Church of England is in a 'mess' and out of step with wider society.Kati Whitaker visits the the Dharma primary school in Brighton where pupils practice mindfulness to help with the stress of exams and school life. Archbishop Peter Jensen explains why the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) have decided to create the post of a missionary Bishop based in England. What role should faith play in politics? The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, talks to Edward followed by a discussion with Theo Hobson, theologian and writer and Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist association.Producers: Carmel Lonergan David Cook Editor: Amanda Hancox.

In a special report for Sunday a senior barrister calls for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to urgently investigate the Jehovah's Witnesses, as we hear allegations that the organisation has an extensive database of suspected paedophiles.Edward Stourton hears reaction to Pope Francis' visit to Egypt, as he shows solidarity with persecuted Coptic Christians, and reaches out to the Islamic world. The traditionalist Anglican organisation known as Gafcon - the Global Anglican Future Conference - have announced that they are consecrating what they call a "missionary bishop" to look after like-minded Anglicans in Britain. Jonathan Petre from the Mail on Sunday explains the development.Plans to transfer a Dublin maternity hospital's ownership to an order of Catholic nuns has resulted in fierce public opposition. Patsy McGarry from The Irish Times explains why. A prominent musician in India has called for a ban on all loudspeakers used for religious worship in public. Rahul Tandon reveals why this has caused a heated debate across the country.And Lucy Winkett reports on how the Reformation 500 years ago was spread by music as well as theological writings.Producers: Dan Tierney and Rosie Dawson Series producer: Amanda Hancox.

French voters take part in the first round of the Presidential elections on Sunday. Dr Charles Devellennes from the University of Kent tells Edward Stourton why religion, once a taboo in French politics, has grown in importance in political discourse.Pope Francis arrives in Cairo on Friday. He will meet the Coptic Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque. Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the LSE and Samia Sidhom, of the Coptic newspaper Watani International discuss the significance of the visit for Muslims in Egypt.An influential report by the Church of Scotland's Theological Forum says the Kirk should allow ministers to conduct same-sex marriages. Journalist Rosemary Goring tells Edward about the proposals.The remains of five Archbishops of Canterbury have been found beneath a medieval parish church next to Lambeth Palace. Trevor Barnes investigates why their remains appear to have been mislaid.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are leading the Heads Together campaign to end stigma around mental health. It's the official charity of the London Marathon. Edward hears from Dan Dark, an RE teacher who is running to support his wife who has struggled with anorexia. Later, Edward explores how churches are changing their approach to mental health. The Archbishop of Canterbury's daughter Katharine Welby-Roberts talks about her depression with Dr Kate Middleton a Director of Mind And Soul. 'Islands' is a new play that commemorates the 350th Anniversary of the 1667 Treaty of Breda in which the Dutch ceded Manhattan to the English in exchange for the tiny spice island of Rhun. Rosie Dawson has been to rehearsals.Producers: David Cook & Carmel LonerganSeries Producer: Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Craig Dick.

Emily Buchanan presents a special Easter Sunday programme exploring the place of religion in rural communities.Emily visits a cattle auction in Yorkshire to examine the changing face of church ministry in the countryside.Rev Sarah Lunn, who is responsible for thirteen churches in Cumbria, explains how she's also helping with a shortage of GPs in the area.Bob Walker reports from the largely rural diocese of Lincoln, where three quarters of churches no longer have a regular weekly church service. The future of the thousands of listed rural Church of England buildings is debated by Bishop John Inge, lead bishop for cathedrals and church buildings, and Simon Jenkins, former chair of the National Trust.Bishop of Ripon, James Bell, and Professor of the Sociology of Religion, Linda Woodhead, consider the future of congregation-led church communities. And London vicar Marie-Elsa Bragg explains her spiritual connection to Cumbria, and how it inspired her first novel. Producer: Dan Tierney Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

After the Jorvick Viking Centre was damaged by floods in December 2015 the attraction used the rebuilding opportunity to tell visitors more about the city's Viking history. As Kevin Bocquet discovers, the exhibition now demonstrates how Christianity and traditional Norse pagan beliefs overlapped in Viking-age York.Exactly two weeks after the terror attack in Westminster, four British Imam's travelled to Rome for a private audience with Pope Francis. Although planned long before Khalid Masood's attack, it was the latest effort at improving interfaith dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Islam. The BBC's Religious Affairs Correspondent Martin Bashir travelled with the Imams and reports on how the meeting went.In a week of government trips abroad with Theresa May in Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox in the Philippines, Sunday asks whether post Brexit we will still be able to afford ethical foreign and trade policies? Dr Philip Cunliffe Senior Lecturer in International Conflict at the University of Kent and Professor Scott Lucas from The University of Birmingham discuss where lines should be drawn.Ministers from the Church of England, Methodist and Catholic Church have begun offering Chaplaincy services to staff at Sports Direct headquarters in Shirebrook. Edward talks to the new chaplain Rev Karen Bradley. The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker and Kati Harrison, Katie Harrison, Director, Faith Research Centre take a look at the findings of a new ComRes poll on belief in the resurrection and life after death.In response to the lorry attack in the centre of Stockholm on Friday. Edward speaks to Hans Ulfvebrand the Dean at Stockholm Cathedral. Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamEditor Amanda Hancox.

The Church of England’s first black bishop in more than 20 years says he came to Britain from Nigeria as a missionary to help a “spiritually deficient” country. William Crawley speaks to the Right Rev Dr Woyin Karowei Dorgu, the 13th Bishop of Woolwich.The Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico has condemned as "traitors" any local businesses that help build President Donald Trump's proposed border wall. David Agren is a journalist based in Mexico.Stephen Rasche, from the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil tells Edward Stourton that Iraq’s oldest Christian community is at risk of a ‘sudden slide towards extinction’ unless action is taken to safeguard their future. Campaigners from the art world have been lobbying the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, urging him to save a rare mosaic by the artist, George Mayer-Marton. It forms part of a church building in Oldham which is scheduled for closure. Kevin Bocquet reports.To help to cover the costs of the elaborate passion play being staged at Manchester Cathedral next weekend, the fund-raising team came up with a novel idea. In return for a generous donation, you can experience 'an almost authentic' crucifixion. Alex Stewart-Clark Head of the Passion Trust defends the idea while Geoff Millard from the Manchester Passion explains why it won't be happening.The state of Gujarat in India has passed a law to introduce a life sentence for anyone caught slaughtering a cow. Rahul Tandon reports.A carol sung by the monks of Battle Abbey has been set to music for the first time in 500 years. Kati Whitaker was invited to the recording of the carol which was recently discovered at the 11th century Benedictine abbey.Producers: David Cook Peter EverettEditor: Christine Morgan Photo credit: Diocese of Southwark

Yollande Knell reports on the completed renovations at the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.Baroness Pitkeathly, Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities, talks about her new report on the future of British charities and how Brexit is going to affect their funding.Last week, Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans, publicly accused the Bishops of the Church in Wales of "anti-gay discrimination" after he was informed that his name will not be taken forward as a candidate for the See of Llandaff. A few days later, a group of Welsh MPs published an open letter to the Church in Wales College of Bishops in support of Jeffrey John. Madeleine Moon MP for Bridgend explains why she co-ordinated the letter and the Bishop of Swansea - the Rt Rev'd John Davies - responds to Jeffrey John's criticisms.Following the death of Martin McGuiness, two of his friends discuss the fact that he was a devout Roman Catholic. David Latimer (a Presbyterian Minister) and Father Michael Canny both took part in his funeral service.Ben Moore reports from the 16th-century chapel at The Vyne in Hampshire where they have created a 'soundscape' of a Tudor Lady Mass, as Henry VIII might have heard it when he visited in October 1535.It has been revealed that the man who committed the terrorist attack at Westminster on Wednesday was a Muslim convert who, it is believed, turned to Islam whilst in prison for violent crimes. His actions have been widely condemned by the Muslim community but how can British mosques identify and prevent the development of those who join the faith to pursue a Jihadist path? To discuss, Edward is joined by Jamal Heath (a convert to Islam in later life) and by Ibrahim Asmary (a Senior Outreach Worker in Westminster).

The remains of hundreds of babies and toddlers found at a former Bon Secours mother and baby home at Tuam, Co. Galway have led to calls for further investigation. Joe Little from RTE talks to Martin.The first publication of a historical encyclopaedic text on Jainism has been launched by SOAS University of London. It was written by Dr Johannes Emil Otto Klatt who dedicated his life primarily to the study of the historical records of Jainas. Martin talks to Dr Peter Flügel, he's made the writing accessible in English for the first time.Bob Walker reports on the religious response to the European Court of Justice ruling on the wearing of hijabs at work.Bishop Anba Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom is calling for the international community to do more to address the escalating deadly attacks on Christians in Egypt. The Vatican has confirmed that a papal trip to Egypt will happen in April. It follows the end of a five-year freeze in relations between the Vatican and the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. The Tablet's Christopher Lamb talks to Martin about the state of Catholic-Islamic dialogue.Senior government defense adviser, Major-General Tim Cross, has said that Foreign Office officials' understanding of the importance of religion is inadequate. He discusses this with Francis Davis former faith advisor to cabinet ministers. Trevor Barnes hears the quarter peal of bells at Westminster Abbey dedicated to Julie McDonnell, she has terminal cancer and has raised over 7 million pounds for Cancer research ringing bells. Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor Amanda Hancox.

Following Bishop Philip North's decision to turn down a promotion after clergy in his new diocese objected to his stance against ordaining women priests, William Crawley speaks to the Very Rev Martyn Percy and Bishop of Wakefield Tony Robinson about what this means for the Church of England's aim to "disagree well".The General Pharmaceutical Council is proposing new guidance aimed at ensuring person-centred care is not compromised because of the personal values and beliefs of pharmacists. We hear the arguments for and against their implementation.The longest-running religious programme on BBC television, Songs of Praise, will no longer be produced by the corporation. Broadcaster and trustee of the Sandford St Martin Trust, Roger Bolton gives his reaction to the news.Research by Save the Children this week claims to have found widespread evidence of 'toxic stress' and mental health issues among children in Syria. Trevor Barnes reports on how religious groups and communities in the UK are addressing the psychological trauma of children from conflict zones.Commonwealth Young Person of the Year Achaleke Christian Leke reveals how he went from being in a violent street gang in Cameroon to working as a counter-extremism activist. Nike has become the first major sports clothing brand to launch a sport hijab. World Thai kickboxing champion Ruqsana Begum explores what this could mean for Muslim women's participation in sport. Producers: Dan Tierney Louise Clarke-RowbothamSeries producer: Amanda Hancox.