Sunday

For the fist time, Muslims in Blackburn will be able to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr at their local football ground. Blackburn Rovers will be hosting Eid prayers on their Ewood Park pitch. The town has a growing Muslim population and, as he tells our presenter William Crawley, the club's Integration and Development Manager Yasir Sufi hopes this new initiative will inspire a new generation of fans to be a part of the Rovers FC family. With food prices continuing to rise, we hear about the stark realities of providing for those in need, with Helen Carroll, Foodbank Manager for the multi-faith charity 'Spirit of Springburn' in Glasgow and Reverend Dean Roberts who runs the Parish Trust, an independent Christian charity in Caerphilly, South Wales. We also hear from the Bishop of Durham the Rt. Rev Paul Butler, Leader for the Lords Spiritual on Welfare Reform, who's calling for the Government to strengthen the social security system, to keep up with the true cost of living. Religious groups here and in Poland are frustra

Today voters in France go to the polls in the final round of the country's presidential election. The incumbent Emmanuel Macron is being challenged by Marine Le Pen. As in previous elections, immigration and religion have been among the campaign issues. We consider how important public attitudes to Islam have been in the campaign and how the candidates have negotiated the issue. After many weeks of war in Ukraine and people flooding over the borders into neighbouring European countries, Ukrainian refugees are now arriving in the UK. We hear from a trainee Anglican cleric about how her faith inspired her to provide a home to a young man who fled from Ukraine. She has hosted refugees before and finds it really rewarding. For her, opening her home to a stranger is an expression of her Christian faith.It's 18 months since the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its highly critical investigation into the Church of England. It described the church as a place where abusers could

Following last week’s dramatic tale of how some sacred Sikh scriptures were rescued from a gurdwara in Ukraine, Emily Buchanan went to see them in their new home at the National Sikh Museum in Derby.Patriarch Kirill is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church who is backing President Putin and supporting the war in Ukraine. He reportedly has historic KGB links and a liking for expensive watches, but what do we really know about him?There are an estimated 180 Muslim footballers in the Premier League. How are football clubs catering for Muslim players who are fasting during the month of Ramadan?Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Dan Tierney and Julia Paul Editor: Helen Grady.

How should religious leaders respond in times of war? The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill has been severely criticised for endorsing his country's invasion of Ukraine. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, a leading scholar of eastern Christianity, tells us how he feels about Kirill's failure to even call for a ceasefire. Also, it's forty years since the Falkland Islands were occupied by Argentina, sparking a war with Britain in the south Atlantic. We reflect on whether church leaders at the time got the tone right, when they publicly called for prayers for the families of Argentinian as well as British servicemen who died in the conflict.The holy month of Ramadan is just beginning, when Muslims fast during daylight hours. In spite of recent tensions between some members of the Jewish and Muslim communities, a London synagogue is hosting Muslims and sharing in their "iftar" or fast breaking. The idea is to promote friendship between the two faith groups. We hear from

Perhaps not since the Second World War has a conflict been so readily characterised as ‘good vs evil’. Is that helpful? What do we mean by 'evil' and how might we view it in the context of the Ukraine war?Girls’ secondary schools in Afghanistan were due to open last week but the Taliban reversed its decision at the last minute, saying a ruling is still to be made on the uniforms that girls must wear. What is the longer-term significance of this U-turn?Many theatre directors are reluctant to put on Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice because of the prominence of antisemitism in the play. A new version, directed by a Jewish woman, Abigail Graham, seeks to explore how antisemitism manifests itself in society.Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Dan Tierney and Amanda Hancox Editor: Helen Grady.

There is a long history of religious images being used during wartime, to support propaganda. During the current conflict in Ukraine one image, created to help raise money for the country, has gone viral. Mary Magdalene is depicted clutching an anti-tank missile. Her halo and gown are in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. The image, known as "St Javelin" has been widely circulated on social media as a representation of Ukraine's strength and defiance. We examine the power of images like this to stir us, and in this case, encourage us to donate money.Russky Mir or ‘Russian World’ is cited as the ideology behind Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Reporter Harry Farley and producer Orla O’Brien unpack the mixture of theology and nationalism behind this idea and ask why so many Orthodox leaders are rejecting it. They discover the implications both for Ukraine’s churches and also its people.Thousands of people in the UK have already expressed an interest in providing a home for refugees from Ukraine. Ma

The Vatican lead on refugees and migrants, Cardinal Michael Czerny, tells us why Pope Francis sent him to Hungary and Ukraine to meet people fleeing war. Presenter William Crawley asks why why the Pope has not denounced the Russian President Vladimir Putin. And Vatican analyst Christopher Lamb gives an insight into the faith diplomacy going on behind the scenes. While faith leaders around the world have called for prayers of peace in Ukraine, some will wonder - what is the point of prayer in times like these? We finds out how prayer has been used in previous conflicts as William seeks answers with Canon Professor Michael Snape, an Historian of Christianity and Conflict at Durham University and Ecumenical Lay Canon at Durham Cathedral. As the Government lay out its plans to help refugees from Ukraine come to the UK, we hear from some of those responding to a plea from Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romaine MBE, from the Maidenhead Synagogue in Berkshire, to offer a 'Ukraine transport' and open their homes to provide sanctu

There are growing calls for the Russian Orthodox Church, led by the Moscow Patriarch Kirill, to condemn the Russian President Vladimir Putin for his decision to invade Ukraine. Earlier this week, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church called on Patriarch Kirill to urge the leaders of the Russian Federation to ‘immediately cease the hostilities that threaten to turn into a world war’. And Russian Orthodox priests around the world are speaking out against the invasion. We hear from one in Durham and Edward Stourton speaks to Father Stephen Platt, Secretary for Inter-Christian Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain and Ireland. We will also hear from Ukrainian refugees in Poland on their plight and the welcome they've received from Polish churches and the Jesuit Refugee Service. Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine, tell us what aid is needed now. And we find out about the Christian radio station broadcasting defiantly from Kyiv, offering spiritual and practical support as th

As Russia invades Ukraine and the country’s government and citizens weigh up the value of continuing resistance, we’ll ask whether Just War theory can offer them any guidance.We speak to church leaders including the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who joins us to discuss the unfolding crisis as well as Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, who is the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in this country.Ukraine also has a significant Jewish minority and a deep history in Ukraine and Europe. We speak to Volodymyr Vysotsky, from the Jewish Ukrainian Social Initiative who is in Kyiv and providing humanitarian aid to the Jewish community. We also speak to Paul Anticoni, the Chief Executive of World Jewish Relief about the the humanitarian aid that he and other faith organisations are delivering to those in need. Produced by: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham and Jill Collins

A pair of media-savvy nuns in Boston, USA, have attracted over 15 million views to the videos they’ve posted on social media. The Daughters of St Paul have more than 156,000 followers on TikTok. Their posts give an entertaining insight into life in a convent, depicting dance routines, pranks and funny takes on popular culture. They’re an unusual comedy duo, but the sisters tell our presenter Emily Buchanan, that their real objective is simply to bring Jesus into people’s lives.The number of people regularly attending Christian churches in the UK has fallen sharply in recent decades. We hear from one clergyman who arrived at church to find that nobody at all had arrived to hear his service. Why is it that fewer people choose to go to church these days, and what’s the secret behind those churches that are growing? Tens of thousands of German-speaking Jews were placed in camps during the war in Britain, because it was feared that they might be spies. In fact, many had fled Nazi Germany and sought refu

On this weekend’s Sunday programme, our Presenter Edward Stourton explores President Putin’s ambitions towards Ukraine and whether religion plays a significant role, with Marat Shterin, Professor of Religion at King’s College London and Co-Editor of the Routledge Journal ‘Religion, State and Society’. Islanders from the British Overseas Territory of St Helena in the Southern Atlantic Ocean are making plans to give more than 300 liberated slaves a respectful reinterment, after their bodies were exhumed for construction work on the Island. The Rt. Revd Dale Bowers, Bishop of St. Helena and Helena Bennett, Chair of the Liberated African Advisory Committee told Edward about the details. Six months after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan for a second time, Edward asks what life is like now for the people of Afghanistan, with BBC Presenter and International Correspondent, Yalda Hakim and Dr Obaidullah Baheer, Lecturer at the American University of AfghanistanAnd on the eve of St. Valentine’s day, we loo

A new statue has been created honouring a medieval Jewish businesswoman thought to have been a victim of 13th century hate crime. Licoricia of Winchester was a money lender whose wealth contributed to the building of Westminster Abbey and helped bankroll three English kings. She was murdered at a time of widespread anti-Semitism and campaigners hope a new statue in her hometown will serve as a powerful reminder of the history of prejudices that still exist today. Hundreds of churches in the UK are preparing to welcome Christians who are moving to this country from Hong Kong. The Home Office expects as many as 300,000 to make the journey in the next year. They're making the difficult decision to leave Hong Kong after the introduction of a controversial new National Security Law, which critics say is eroding freedoms. Danny Vincent reports from Hong Kong. Michael Gove has called for "Christian forgiveness" to be shown to anyone who shows contrition for attending Downing Street parties during lockdown. Forgivene

As tensions rise in Ukraine we explore the religious context and find out how far the split in the Orthodox church in Ukraine reflects the current political crisis. We hear about a plan to change how the Archbishop of Canterbury is selected and we take you to visit an exhibition of icon artists. How does an artist create a piece of work that's both an image and a prayer?The social media and tech companies have plans for us all to work and socialise in a virtual reality world and it's been given a name, the metaverse. So what is the metaverse and what practical applications does it have for religion?On the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday we bring together two bishops who have played an important role in peacemaking in the city. We reflect on how the event was pivotal for both communities and on the efforts to rebuilt trust. Producer: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Producer: Jill Collins Editor: Helen GradyImage copyright Dr Irina Bradley

What is the purpose of religious images and why have some of them caused controversy over the centuries? These are two of the questions addressed by the classics scholar Professor Mary Beard in a two part BBC2 series called ‘Mary Beard on Forbidden Art’. Mary joins Dr Fozia Bora, Associate Professor of Islamic History at the University of Leeds, to discuss some of the themes and ideas in her new documentary.The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has put his weight behind a campaign to get aid flowing to Afghanistan. Along with Save the Children and a group of faith leaders, he is launching an online petition to persuade the British government to convene an aid conference so that the country’s needs are met. He joins Edward Stourton to discuss the desperate situation in Afghanistan.In 1942, a Jewish woman in Vienna called Kamilla wrote a long letter to her children who had escaped Nazi-occupied Europe and were living in Britain. It was the last letter they got from her. Not long after she wrote it, she was dep

As the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill continues its passage through Parliament, our Presenter Edward Stourton explores why the proposals on Protest are such a contentious issue, with Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain. Chaplains are appointed to work in all kinds of places outside the normal life of the Church, from hospitals to care homes, to schools, we hear from some of them on how they've dealt with the pressures of the past two years. One year on from the Inauguration of the 46th President of the United States, Edward discusses how Joe Biden’s Catholic faith has shaped his Presidency so far, with Professor Anthea Butler, Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Christopher White, Vatican Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. China is set to impose restrictions on the sharing of any religious content online, without a special permit from the Government. Mervyn Thomas, Founder President of the Christian Human Rights Organisation CSW

What kinds of faith-inspired statues, sculptures and murals might we see in the future on Britain’s streets and public spaces? Faith groups are among those that have been encouraged to apply for part of a £1 million ‘untold stories’ grant from the Mayor of London which closes on Wednesday and aims to better represent the capital’s communities. The funding follows heated debate in the last few years over which statues should remain standing in the UK. Our reporter Vishva Samani’s been finding out more. The Church of England is live streaming its 100th online service since the pandemic began on the 9th January. Sunday spoke to worshippers who are part of the online community - and Emily Buchanan talks with Amaris Cole head of digital for the Church of England and asks will we be seeing more online services? We saw it in the images from the attack on the US Capitol a year ago - the co-option of pagan symbols by far right extremists in support of their ideologies. The phenomenon isn't confined to the States - in

Following the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bishop David Walker remembers the life and legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa. Actor and activist Michael Sheen tells William about the transformative encounters that led him to give away a large chunk of his earnings and turn himself into a social enterprise - a not-for-profit actor. Champion baker David Atherton shares his recipe for Florentines and talks candidly about growing up gay in a conservative evangelical Church. He tells William how winning the Great British Bake Off connected him to others struggling to reconcile their sexuality with their strict Christian upbringing. As the Christmas film classic It's A Wonderful Life turns 75, we hear about its religious meaning and how it's taken on the power of a modern-day myth. And we meet the faith groups plugging gaps in local services by providing an army of volunteers - from stewards at vaccination centres to cooks at homeless shelters and shelf-stackers at f

This week Sunday hears from churches how they’re adjusting to the Government’s Plan B in light of rising cases of Omicron. Carol concerts are cancelled, Christmas services face restrictions, and clergy are becoming frazzled and weary. Buddhists at a monastery in Scotland say their silent retreats are being disturbed by gunfire. The Samye Ling Tibetan Centre at Eskdalemuir in Scotland is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in western Europe and they are objecting to a planning application asking for six military grade training grounds to be built on surrounding land. Amina Ahmed talks to us about her husband, Mubarak Bala, President of the Humanist Association in Nigeria and a human rights activist. He was arrested last year in Northern Nigeria and accused of blasphemy but, after 19 months in detention, he is still awaiting trial. A centuries old way of life for Gypsies and Travellers is under threat of being criminalised under proposals in the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently

Steven Spielberg’s remake of the musical West Side Story has hit the big screen and with it there is renewed interest in its origins as a story of two lovers divided by religion. The man behind the screenplay for the new version, award winning writer Tony Kushner tells Edward about the film's Jewish roots. In a candid interview with Edward, the former Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones talks about his latest book ‘Justice for Christ’s Sake’ in which he which draws heavily on the lessons he learnt while chairing the Hillsborough Independent Panel. This week the Government reaffirmed its commitment to banning so-called Conversion Therapy. BBC Religious Affairs Journalist Harry Farley talks us through the government's proposals and two Christians with very different views respond to the plans. Reverend Graham Nicholls is Director of Affinity - a Fellowship of Churches, Evangelical Agencies and Christians. He fears a new law would criminalise the teaching of traditional Christian beliefs on marriage. Elinor Kersha

Pope Francis is in Cyprus this week where he said that "walls of fear" and nationalism were slowing down Europe's progress. As he moves onto Greece, another country on the frontline of the migrant crisis, we'll hear how this visit is being greeted on the ground. In the aftermath of the crisis of 2015, when thousands of asylum seekers arrived in Greece, the government there toughened its stance on migrants. How do Catholics in Greece, itself not long in recovery after a deep economic recession, view the Pope and his plea to open borders and offer safe haven to migrants?We're celebrating St Columba, or St Colmcille as he's known in Ireland, who was born in County Donegal 1500 years ago this week. He is revered for his miracles and missionary zeal but as a Nobleman with considerable power, he also had a reputation as a warrior and a troublemaker. We'll separate the fact from the folklore and hear how this Saint who is loved on both sides of the Irish border as well as in Scotland and the North of England now rep