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
State funeral; Radical generosity; Folk songs in church
The Queen and Faith
Pope John Paul I; Pakistan floods; Disability at church
Liverpool shooting; Great cathedrals; Russian Jews
William Shatner, Bahá’is in Iran, Class in the Church of England
14/08/2022
Beyoncé and Faith, Gordon Brown and Pastor Mick; Lambeth Conference
31/07/2022
The Pope in Canada, faith groups at the Commonwealth games, the theology of Stranger Things
Faith and Tory Leadership Contest; Krishna Das and his Spiritual Journey; Stories marking 50 years of Uganda Asians in the UK
10/07/2022
Hajj Pilgrimage Bookings Chaos, Racial Justice in the Church of England, Wedding Fees
Hong Kong and faith; Traveller theology; Qawwali for a modern age.
The Church of England and slavery; Ukrainian military chaplains; Should the Lords Spiritual be scrapped?
Rwanda Asylum Scheme; Bible Readings and Prime Ministers; Musician Jim Seals and his Bahai faith.
05/06/2022
The Archbishop of Canterbury on Reconciliation; Religion and social care; US Christians divided over gun law reform.
'Replacement theory' and Christian nationalism in the US; the Sufi Muslim pacifist who turned British resistance agent
The arrest of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen; The history of black nuns; A Russian Quaker
The Bible on Screen; Religious Clashes In India; A Quaker Approach To School Behaviour
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Global News Podcast
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins