Sunday

As we approach Christmas, Emily Buchanan has been to Bethlehem to speak to the Christian community living there. The new Archbishop of York, Rt Rev Stephen Cotterell joins Edward Stourton live to to talk about his plans for his new role.Sue Peart was the Editor of the Mail on Sunday YOU magazine but in 2018 she stepped down from her post and a few months later her mother passed away. Struggling to cope, Sue kept the Samaritans number by her bedside “just in case”. When her life got back on track she decided to volunteer for Samaritans. She talks about the challenges of manning their phones at Christmas.For 37 years, Sir Stephen Cleobury was musical director of one of the world’s most famous choirs - King’s College, Cambridge. He died recently and the Sunday programme pays tribute to his work.Producers: Rajeev Gupta Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor: Amanda Hancox

Director Fernando Meirelles discusses his film The Two Popes.The role that religion played in the election has been described as unprecedented and worrying. Edward Stourton hears why with journalist Sunny Hundal and author Ben Ryan.And how to have a green and sustainable Christmas. Producers: Catherine Earlam Carmel LonerganSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

Megan Phelps-Roper’s grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church. The church is notorious for its preaching against gay people, Jews, Muslims and for picketing the funerals of American soldiers and the American Holocaust museum. Megan has now changed her views and her life. She tells us what made her preach hate and what led to her eventual transformation.A new Netflix documentary charts the rise and fall of one of the worlds foremost Yoga “Gurus’” Bikram Choudhury. The film first traces how Choudhury built his “Bikram” empire of hot yoga studios, training celebrities and amassing devotees. However Bikram has been accused by some followers of sexual assault and his empire appears to be unraveling. Journalist Julia Henderson, a former Bikram devotee herself, uncovered some of the allegations against him and speaks to Edward about what she found.A couple who were rejected by their local adoption service because of their Indian heritage have won their legal discrimination battle. Sandeep and Reena Mander sued The Roy

In the aftermath of the attack on London Bridge Southwark Cathedral will have clergy available to listen and talk. Emily asks the Dean of Southwark Cathedral, Andrew Nunn, what the response has been from the community. The dean will also talk about how they will navigate through the weeks building up to Christmas as its the first Sunday in advent and what the plans are. Ahead of UN climate conference COP25 which starts in Madrid next week, Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy & Communications at Catholic relief agency CAFOD and Chair of The Climate Coalition, talks about hopes and aspirations for the meeting and how the Catholic Church is about to embark on a major push on the environment. Police Constable Marie Reavey, Chair of the Christian Police Association, talks about a new resource to help faith based organisations partner with the police to help tackle social problems such as homelessness, isolation and addiction.Producers Carmel Lonergan Catherine EarlamEditor Amanda HancoxPicture copyright Southwa

This week the Rt Rev Dr Rose Hudson-Wilkin became the first black woman to be consecrated a bishop in the Church of England. The former chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons joins Emily Buchannan. A new report released by the Church of England paints a damning picture of the Church's record on anti-Semitism. The report urges Christians to not only be repentant for the “sins of the past” against Jews, but also to challenge active attitudes and stereotypes. We hear from the Bishop of Coventry, Dr Christopher Cocksworth and Dayan Ivan Binstock, Senior Rabbi at St John's Wood Synagogue. As the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue, theologian Dr Krish Kandiah has been speaking to Joshua Wong, the secretary-general of pro-democracy party Demosisto about his faith and the tactics of the protest movement. A row has broken out after some members of Churches Together England blocked a Quaker who is in a same sex marriage from becoming a president of the organisation. Emily speaks to Quaker Hannah Bro

A London Church is under investigation for alleged fraud and financial irregularities after church goers claimed they were persuaded to take out large loans. The Sunday programme reports on claims and puts the claims to a representative of the church. Sima Kotecha reports on how religious voting "banks" could influence this year’s general election.And we hear from the Bishop of Hertford, Michael Beasley, a former epidemiologist at Imperial College London, who has been to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where the world's second largest Ebola outbreak continues. He's joined by the United Nations Ebola Emergency Response Coordinator, David Gressly, to talk about the key role Churches are playing in the fight against the disease.ProducerCatherine Earlam Carmel Lonergan Series Producer Amanda Hancox

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Paul Mason, the Roman Catholic Bishop for the Armed Forces met his Argentinian counterpart in Rome to return a statue of Our Lady of Lujan. The statue was left behind at the end of the Falklands War and brought back to Britain. In the exchange attended by Pope Francis, the Argentinians presented a replica for the military cathedral in Aldershot. She's been called the 'Trump Whisperer' because of her closeness to the American president. This week the Pentecostal preacher Paula White was named as Advisor to the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. A well known televangelist - Paula White's new role is seen as a sign that President Trump is keen to keep the support of religious conservative voters. So who is Paula White and how has she forged this preacher - president relationship?This week Cardinal Nichols the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales was called to give evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. We report on his appearance and hea

The Archbishop of York has said that a slow "environmental genocide" is taking place in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC as part of a commission investigating oil spills in the Niger Delta, Dr John Sentamu said that oil companies needed to end a culture of double standards in Nigeria. The BBC’s Mayeni Jones travelled with the Archbishop to Nigeria earlier this year, ahead of the publication of the commission’s interim report this week. She spoke to him about what he found there. Women aren't allowed to be ordained as monks in Thailand but some women have instead been ordained abroad, and have returned to the country to live as female monks. It began with Dhammananda, who was the first woman in Thai history to be ordained as a female monk. She is being celebrated as a member of the BBC 100 Women list this year. Aurora Almendral met her and heard her story. The Catholic Church is the focus of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) this week. Donna Birre

From this weekend there’s a ban on climbing ‘Uluru’ in Australia’s Northern Territory. Anthropologist Professor Veronica Strang tells William Crawley why the site is so sacred to the aborigines.In the wake of the deaths of 39 people in a lorry William hears from the Salvation Army’s Kathy Betteridge about their work with victims human trafficking. Dr Carrie Pemberton Ford from the Cambridge Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking tells him about the numbers of people caught up in this trade – and some of the stories behind them. To mark the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of the theory of relativity, Professor Alister McGrath talks about Eistein's religion and his quest for a theory of everything.As the Vatican’s ‘Amazon Synod’ comes to an end we hear about the issues that were discussed and the decisions reached.Childlessness is on the rise in the UK due to infertility but also to choice. What are the implications of this for the practice and theology of the churches? William discuss th

Edward Stourton visits Westminster Abbey with the historian William Whyte to talk about a new book commemorating the 750th anniversary of the consecration of the current Abbey Church building. Bake Off contestant and Sikh Rav Bansal came out as being gay publically earlier this year. Rav received a strongly worded homophobic letter from another Sikh who said he should dissociate himself from the faith. Other Sikhs have voiced their support for Rav and say there is nothing against being gay in their religion. Rav shares his experience with William.And should a statue of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi be erected in front of Manchester Cathedral? The statue is set to be put up in November but now some students at Manchester University say the decision should be reversed because of his "well-documented anti-black racism." Supporters of the statue say criticisms of Gandhi are too limited in view and the statue is an important message of peace for the city. William hears opposing views from Professor Meena Dhanda and

Cardinal John Newman, who converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism, will be the first English person born since the 17th century to be declared a saint by the Catholic church on Sunday.A delegation led by Prince Charles will join thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square for the special Canonisation Mass led by Pope Francis.For Newman to be declared a saint, two miracles must be verified by the church. Melissa Villalobos says she was cured from serious bleeding during her pregnancy after praying to Cardinal Newman. She speaks to the BBC for the first time and tells Sunday how she feels to be in Rome for the ceremony.Rajeev Gupta reports from the Birmingham Oratory where Newman spent much of his later life. They've kept his room exactly as it was when he died and now the Oratory is preparing to become a pilgrimage site for catholics.And what role should saints have in the 21st century? Newman biographer Roderick Strange and Charles Collins from the catholic news website Crux discuss.Producers: David Cook Pe

An interactive map that tracks more than 3,000 Scots, mostly women, who were accused of being witches in the 16th and 17th Century has been published for the first time. Sunday hears from Professor Julian Goodare from the University of Edinburgh whose research into witchcraft in Scotland was used to build the map. Catholic Bishop John Arnold explains why his Salford diocese will be holding a mass for LGBT+ Catholics and their family and friends.On Saturday it will be 2000 days since 270 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. Oby Ezekwesili, co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls tells William that the world has let down the Chibok girls.Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda Hancox

On Good Friday, on the 300th anniversary of its premiere, the Academy of Ancient Music realised a long-held ambition to perform a new version of Handel’s mighty Brockes Passion at the Barbican in London. It will be released on CD next week and Alexander Von Ingen, Chief Executive of the Academy explains why this version is so unique.In a week of divisions and tensions in Parliament with some MPs criticising the ‘toxic language of betrayal and treachery,' religious leaders have been appealing to politicians to moderate their language and learn to disagree respectfully. The leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales Cardinal Vincent Nichols joins us along with Bishop David Urquhart and Rabbi Julia Neuberger who both sit in the House of Lords.The number of schools ‘flouting’ Religious Education laws has risen according to research by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education. Their report found that half of academies without a religious character and 40 percent of community schools do not m

A family from Bristol are bringing up their baby as gender neutral. They say it's to help their baby avoid unconscious gender bias. We hear from the family and discuss the theological implications of such decisions. The deadline for responses to a report on the persecution of Christians, led by the Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, was this week. Some organisations have raised concerns about aspects of the report and its methodology. William talks to Rev Bonnie Evans-Hills, Coordinator for UK Coalition, who is concerned about the report and submitted a response on behalf of a number of faith groups and academics and Andrew Boyd from Release International. Rehman Chisti is the Prime Minister's new Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief. He discusses what will happen to the recommendations in the report and his priorities for his new role.Producers: Carmel Lonergan Amanda Hancox

In November 2017 a gunman walked into a small church in Sutherland Springs, Texas and shot dead 26 parishioners. The pastor of that church, Frank Pomeroy, lost his 14 year old daughter in the attack. He tells William Crawley why he’s now running for political office and why he wears a gun in the pulpit. A crowdfunding page launched by a Muslim group opposed to LGBT relationships lessons has been removed. GoFundMe said the page violated its terms of service by raising money to fight an injunction preventing protesters from gathering outside a Birmingham primary school. John Coventry, Europe Director of GoFundMe and Anne McElvoy, senior editor at the Economist discuss the ethics of crowdfunding. Sheikh Yusuf Motala, one of the most significant figures in British Islam, has died. He was head of the Islamic institution, Darul Uloom in Bury. One of his pupils, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra and the BBC’s Home Affairs Correspondent Dominic Casciani explain his influence. As a new William Blake exhibition opens at Tate B

Should you make a promise you can’t keep? We reflect on the ethical issues thrown up by the week’s events in Parliament. Pope Francis has embarked on a 3 nation African tour. He’s visiting Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. Martin Bashir, the BBC’s Religion Editor, has been travelling with the Pope.The historian Dan Jones has just written a new account of the era through the multiple perspectives of characters whose stories have seldom been heard. Much of the coverage of Robert Mugabe’s death has pondered on how a liberator became a tyrant. The answer is complex, as is the relationship between Christians in Zimbabwe and their former leader.And we have an in-depth investigation into the allegations of sexual and physical abuse against Sogyal Rinpoche.Producer: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Rosie Dawson Editor: Amanda Hancox

Who is protecting the rights of indigenous people in the Amazon? We hear from Kawá, an Amazonian tribesman living in the UK about how his tribe has been affected by the fires and Adriana Ramos from the The Instituto Socioambiental in Brazil.A group of Church of England bishops has issued an open letter on the prospect of a 'no-deal' Brexit and the need for national reconciliation. Rt Rev Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool, tells us why the letter has been written. Quentin Letts, Church going member of the Church of England, and political sketch writer at The Times shares his concerns. Tim Farron, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, talks about his book, A Better Ambition.What’s it like to be a Muslim Policewoman in North Yorkshire? Uzma Amireddy is the Positive Action Co-ordinator for North Yorkshire Police.After the death of Sogyal Rinpoche, author of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, we explore his legacy with author Mary Finnigan, who wrote ‘Sex and Violence in Tibetan Buddhism - The Rise and Fall

In a special Sunday programme, Edward Stourton takes a look at the relationship between religion and music.He begins with Gospel music and talks to historian Viv Broughton, promoter Roy Francis and singer Dawn Thomas Wallace about music that has its roots in the black oral tradition and which has had a massive impact on the popular music scene.The Rev Dr Jonathan Arnold discusses why religious music is still popular despite declining attendances at our traditional churches.Edward also investigates the power of music to induce a sense of spiritual well being with Neurologist Professor Michael Trimble and Music Psychologist Dr Ruth Herbert. And Professor Rupert Till explains why he believes that popular music has become the primary location for young people to find meaning and belief in their lives.Music Therapist Grace Meadows describes how music can give a voice to those who have difficulty in communicating.The programme ends with Cantor Zoe Jacobs - Britain's first Cantor in Reform Judaism - talking about he

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham explains why some MPs want to close a legal loophole so that it is illegal for sports coaches and religious leaders to have sex with anyone in their care under the age of 18. Maji Peterx is a specialist in conflict resolution and has brought together former members and victims of Boko Haram in trauma awareness and peace-building workshops. He talks to Emily about his work and explains what he will be doing in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin this week.Why is one of Scotland’s biggest pilgrimage sites to close? Despite a petition with over 5000 signatures to keep it open, the pilgrimage centre at Carfin Grotto, North Lanarkshire, is likely to close as officials say it’s not making enough money. And Monday 19th August is the United Nations’ ‘World Humanitarian Day’. This year the focus of the UN's World Humanitarian day is on women. We speak to humanitarian aid workers Shivani Rana from Christian Aid and Zoe Corden from CAFOD about how dangerous their work has become.Produced by L

Sister Helen Prejean is known worldwide for campaigning against the death penalty in the US. She is the author of the bestselling ‘Dead Man Walking’ and joins Emily to talk about her latest book – a personal story of faith and spirituality.This week marks the 50th anniversary of the start of The Troubles and although the Good Friday Agreement saw an end to the violence twenty years ago, many in Northern Ireland are feeling unsettled because of Brexit and the prospect of a hard border. The Rt Rev Dr William Henry, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland, and Father Martin Magill, a Catholic priest on the Falls Road, discuss the current situation.Deacon John Lam, from the Catholic Chaplaincy at Hong Kong International Airport, talks about the protests currently underway there.On the 14th August there is a performance of L’enfance du Christ by French composer Hector Berlioz at The Proms. Professor Barbara Kelly talks about this vividly dramatic oratorio (including the well-known Shepherds Farewe