Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogacy, saying it is the commercialisation of pregnancy and a threat to human dignity. Edward Stourton hears the experiences of a couple and their surrogate and explores the ethics of surrogacy with Christian ethicist Dr Helen Watt and fertility lawyer Natalie Gamble.
The Houthis in Yemen have been carrying out a campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, prompting US and UK air strikes this week. But who are the Houthis? What do they believe? International relations professor Simon Mabon explains the theology and ideology behind this Shia Islamist group.
In recent decades, Ireland has seen the most extraordinary decline in Catholicism, with far fewer people regularly attending Mass. There's also a crisis within the clergy as the supply of vocations has dwindled. The average age of Catholic priests in Ireland is 70, for nuns it's over 80. Two new documentaries from the Irish broadcaster, RTE examine the possibility that both professions could be in terminal decline.
This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Austrian composer, Anton Bruckner. He became a prominent figure in 19th century music, famous for his sacred works and his symphonies. The writer and composer, Stephen Johnson reflects on how Bruckner's Christian faith inspired his work and how writing music to the glory of God helped Bruckner to manage his mental health problems.
Presenter: Edward Stourton Producer: Jonathan Hallewell and Alexa Good Editor: Tim Pemberton
The history of 'defrocking' and the story behind a 400-year-old missal
Islamophobia in Ireland; Executed Carmelite nuns; Church closures
Church of England safeguarding; Catholic synod; Vicar's pay
Hexham and Newcastle safeguarding review; conversion therapy; Franco and the Benedictines
Hajj bookings, Ukraine army chaplains, Jewish divorce
Chinese Muslims; Aid for Uganda, Northern Ireland schools
Child abuse, Ron DeSantis, Celebration Day
Church yard allotments, Myanmar cyclone, New caritas boss
Turkey election; Established church; St Francis of Assisi
Coronation Order of Service, Sudan Archbishop, God & Government report
Sri Lanka Easter Bombings; University Term Names; Windermere Children
16/04/2023
Muslim Hikers; Good Friday Agreement; Music in Church
Ramadan Recipes; Christian Nudists; Paul O'Grady and The Salvation Army
A decade of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury, Ramadan rules, Jewish housing
19/03/2023
Live from Rome on a decade of Pope Francis
Windsor Deal; Slave Trade and the Church of England; Oscar Contender
Attacks on refugees; Orthodoxy in Ukraine; school singing project
Ukraine's Religious Freedom Watchdog; Black Jesus; Champing
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