Sunday

As the EU Referendum campaigns get underway, Edward Stourton speaks to two Christians on opposite sides of the argument who are both taking to social media to garner support for their views. Adrian Hilton runs the influential Cranmer blog; Michael Sadgrove is the emeretus dean of Durham.A cross-party group of peers has written to the Prime Minister urging him to put pressure on the UN Security council to declare the assaults on Christians in Syria and the Middle East a Genocide. John Pontifex from "Aid to the Church in Need" tells Edward why the term is appropriate and the positive effects that the designation could have.The Church in Wales has parachuted an American religious leader in to the diocese of St Asaph to help its churches re-connect with their communities. Mark Yaconelli explains his approach to Edward. Paul Chambers, a sociologist of religion, explains why religion in Wales has declined more steeply than in the rest of the UK.Cardinal George Pell will be giving evidence to the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from a video link in a Rome hotel room. A heart condition means he has been advised against travelling home to Australia to give evidence in person. Andrew West from ABC sets the scene for the hearing which begins on Sunday night/Monday.Producers: Rosie Dawson Carmel Lonergan Series Producer: Amanda Hancoxphoto by: Parker Fitzgerald for Uniqlo.

The Sunday programme investigates allegations that the Jehovah's Witness ordered the destruction of documents that could be used during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Was this in contravention of Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 which is punishable by imprisonment? Katy Watson reports from Mexico City as Pope Francis begins his historic trip there.As the BBC launches a series of programmes about mental health, Trevor Barnes goes inside the oldest psychiatric hospital in Britain to meet the mental health chaplains who work there.Rosie Dawson explores the Christian festival of Lent through the mindful reflection of art in six of Manchester's most iconic venues.A new book by Rev Steve Chalke, founder of the youth and community charity Oasis, claims initiatives to 'prevent' young people from being exposed to negative and dangerous radicalisation can only go so far.The Church of England say they have 'won the war' on payday loan companies. William asks Eric Leenders from the British Bankers Association who was on the Archbishop's task group what they achieved and how.Producers: David Cook Carmel LonerganEditor: Amanda Hancox.

The Israeli government has announced plans to build a mixed gender prayer section at the Western wall. Campaigners are celebrating a groundbreaking decision, but Palestinians, the ultra Orthodox and archaeologists are not happy. We hear from Anat Hoffman from "Women of the Western Wall". Journalist Judy Maltz gives us the background.Next Tuesday Hampton court chapel will host what is believed to be the first Catholic service since the Reformation. Trevor Barnes charts the chapel's religious and musical history during the Tudor era, as the country switched back and forth between the Catholic and Protestant faiths.The victim of alleged assault by the former Bishop of Chichester George Bell, who was awarded compensation by the Church of England last year, has broken her silence to speak about her experience. Edward speaks to Joel Adams from the Brighton Argus.The Catholic diocese of Salford is touring shopping centres through Lent on its "Mercy Bus" - Rosie Dawson gets on board.A report released by Cambridge University has compiled the experiences of 50 male converts to Islam. Kevin Boquet speaks to the author of the report and hears from some of the participants.Pope Francis is heading off on his travels again. Next week he lands in Mexico. He's expected to speak about against the drug cartels responsible for the murders of 11 Catholic priests in the last 3 years. Will he also address the challenge of the Zika virus? Edward speaks to the BBC's correspondent in Mexico before hosting a live discussion about whether the Catholic church needs to re-think its position on contraception and abortion in the light of the crisis?Producers: Rosie Dawson Peter EverettSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Edward Stourton asks: is it human nature to believe in God? He is joined by Dominic Johnson and Conor Cunningham to discuss.Bob Walker reports on a BBC English Regions poll that reveals that almost three-quarters of England's Anglican cathedrals say they're 'worried' or 'very worried' that they're not going to be able to fund cathedral costs in two years' time.The suicide of Rohith Chakravarti Vemula at Hyderabad University has reignited caste controversies in India. Rahul Tandon reports from Dehli.On Monday all eyes in America will be on Iowa, it's the 1st leg of the caucuses that will decide on the presidential candidates for the election in November. Alexander Smith talks to Edward about what role religion plays in the presidential race.Catholic clergy are expected to join a demonstration in Rome this weekend to promote traditional family life. Christopher Lamb explains its significance and timing as Italian politicians debate a gay unions bill this week. Meanwhile in the UK, Professor David Voas looks at the findings of a YouGov Poll that says for the first time more Church of England members support same-sex marriage than oppose it..Created in the middle of the fourth century, the Codex Sinaiticus is one of the more important books in the world, containing the oldest complete New Testament. Trevor Barnes went along to the British Library to take a look.Fr Jeffery Whorton, the last priest to celebrate mass at altar in the Saint Elijah monastery in Iraq before it was destroyed by so-called IS, talks to Sunday about the significance of the site.Photo Credit: New lady Chapel Lichfield Cathedral - Paul HortonProducers Carmel Lonergan Amanda Hancox.

For the next three years the US Episcopal Church will not be able to participate fully in the Anglican Communion. That's the decision of the Primates' Meeting held this week in Canterbury.It's a consequence of the Episcopal Church's decision to recognise same sex marriage and homosexuality. The church has also had a number of privileges withdrawn. The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC gives Edward Stourton her reaction.Reporter Trevor Barnes has been following the Primates' meeting. He reports on how the Archbishop of Canterbury's efforts to prevent a split of the global church were received and assesses reaction to the final communique.It's a right that dates back to the Councils of Carthage, that of being able to seek sanctuary from the state in a church. Today, this practice is hardly ever recognised by governments but in Germany it's been revived as a last resort for refugees threatened with deportation. Joe Miller reports from Bavaria.This Sunday, Pope Francis will hold a special Mass for migrants as he marks 'Migrants and Refugee Day.' Cardinal Vincent Nichols reflects on the current migrant situation across Europe.Faith based charities receive the largest share of donations in Britain. There's concern that new proposals to regulate their fundraising will have a serious impact on their work. Jeremy Moodey, the CEO of the charity of Embrace ME and David Ainsworth from Civil Society Media debate.We discover how a 18th century cookbook with one of the first recipes for chicken curry ended up in the library of Downside Abbey in Somerset.Producers: David Cook Carmel LonerganEditor: Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit : Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirchengemeinde Immenstadt.

There's much speculation ahead of the gathering of Anglican leaders at Canterbury next week. Will they all show up? How soon will someone walk out? It is unlikely they will reach a common agreement about the issue of homosexuality which has divided the Communion for more than ten years but might they at least disagree well? Two leading British evangelicals discuss the art of good disagreement.The Pope' has a new book out. Actually, it's a record of a conversation between Pope Francis and Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli and it centres on the subject that the Pope seems to want to see as the hallmark of his Pontificate. "The name of God is mercy" will be launched in 80 languages on Tuesday, but Edward speaks in advance of publication to Andrea Tornielli.The cost of kosher living is on the rise. The 'Kosher Chicken Index'calculates that food costs, synagogue fees and a house in the right area can add £13,000 a year to the bills of an observant Jewish family.The consultation period on government proposals to regulate 'out of school places of education' ends on Monday. "Sunday" has already heard from Christians concerned at the implications of these proposals for their children's and youth activities. Hundreds of Muslim leaders have also expressed their opposition to the idea of Islamic religious schools - madrassas - being regulated and inspected by the Department of Education. We speak to one of them - and to an Imam who supports the Government's approach.Producers: Rosie Dawson Peter EverettSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

We ask: what is the theological meaning behind New Year resolutions and do they make us Happy? William Crawley is joined by Rosie Harper, vicar of Great Missenden, Rabbi Dovid Lewis and life coach Susanna Halonen to discuss.Mark Vernon gives an insight into how ancient Greek philosopher's viewed the future as we embark on 2016.Religious journalist Ruth Gledhill looks ahead to what religious stories will be in the news in 2016.A vicar in Stoke claims foreign worshippers can "save the Church in England", Bob Walker looks at how and meets migrants and refugees using Anglican Churches as their new place of worship.The seventh of January marks the first anniversary of the deadly assault on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The shooting, was a wake-up call for one young French Muslim, Mohamed Chirani. He's now training to be a prison chaplain. Our reporter John Laurenson went along to meet him.William talks to Bill Law, a Middle East analyst, about the religious significance of the execution of the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. He asks him what will the impact be on Iranian and Saudi relations?Producers: Carmel Lonergan David CookSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

A Sunday programme special on the relationship between Religion and Art. For centuries the visual medium was used extensively to tell stories from key religious texts. It was a powerful and effective way of communicating religion to the illiterate masses. Today the masses are literate but biblical illiteracy is at an all-time high. So in this special edition of Sunday we ask what does religious art mean in the 21st Century. How do modern artists interpret religion in their work? Is art used more to challenge religion than to express religious ideas? It's often said that art galleries are the new cathedrals, places where those who are outside the church explore Life's big questions; what challenge does that pose to the churches? How do religions of the Book engage with increasingly visual cultures, and when does one person's freedom of expression cross the line to become offensive or insulting to others?Producers: Rosie Dawson Zaffar IqbalSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Should the Archbishop of Canterbury 'apologise for the Church's mistake in its response to homosexuality around the world'? That's the call by the Very Revd Prof Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford who has written an essay on the topic ahead of the next month's meeting of Primates. He debates with Canon Dr Chris Sugden from Anglican Mainstream.The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said Burundi is on the cusp of a civil war. Dr Phil Clark from SOAS looks at the tensions in the country and Tearfund's Country Director Emmanuel Murangira explains how they are responding. This week police in Rome seized 3,500 fake "Apostolic Blessings." Catholic writer Michael Walsh explains what they are and why they are so coveted.Bob Walker reports from the National Civil War Centre where they are marking Yuletide by, 'sitting on the fence'. Christmas was a big point of division amongst the sides fighting the British Civil War in the 17th century; mince pies were banned and churches raided to ensure they were not holding services.On the day of the Spanish General Election we ask if there is a religious vote in this campaign? Alistair Dawber, The Independent's correspondent in Madrid talks to Edward. Jane Little reports from Charleston, South Carolina where she meets some of the families who publicly forgave the man who shot their loved ones as at a bible study class in June. Has enough been done in the city to tackle racism since the killings?What was it like to experience Christmas in 1945? 70 years after the end of the Second World War, Henry Muchamore tells us his story of spending Christmas Day with three German Prisoners of War when he was 7 years old.Producers: David Cook Carmel Lonergan Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

In the last two weeks over three thousand people in Iceland have joined a spiritual organization that follows Zuism, the religion of the ancient Sumerian people. It's become so popular there are now more Zuists than Muslims in the country. So is a crisis of faith pushing people towards this ancient form or worship or are there other motives? Holger Páll Sæmundsson, a recent convert and one of the leading 'elders' talks to Edward.The number of Muslims attacked each week in London has more than tripled since the terrorist attacks on Paris attacks last month. Trevor Barnes has been talking to the Metropolitan police about the rise in incidents, and to Muslims who have experienced them.Pope Francis has launched the Year of Mercy by opening the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the first time it has been opened since the turn of the century.Cardinal Vincent Nichols tells Sunday what the Year of Mercy might mean - for individual Catholics, the wider Church and the World.There's a new trend in Advent calendars this year - no chocolate and cardboard, but large art installations in public places. Sunday reports from Brighton and Hove where it has been doing this for years with the ritual opening every night of one of its beach huts.Producers: Rosie Dawson Zaffar IqbalSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.