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
Elton John's Rocketman for Lent; Young Worshipers and Climate Change; Nigeria's Oscars bid
Every Day Sounds That Make Us Happy; Dissappeared Christian and Black Church Domestic Abuse.
The Skipping Sikh; David Baddiel; Gospel Music
Archbishop of York; Nazir Afzal; Islamic Relief Worldwide
Faith and Kamala Harris; China's Uighar Minority; How to be a Refugee
Lichfield Cathedral Becomes Vaccination Hub; Martin Luther King Day and Sikh Devotional Music
President Trump, white supremacy and Christianity; Children of Catholic Priests; Christmas lights stay on
Religious News Review; Hospital Chaplain; Religion and Vaccine Scepticism
Hope, Devotional music, Cold water swimming
Bethlehem's quiet Christmas, Cardinal Pell's prison journal, Choir's Covid test
Indian farmers' strike; Lock-down Conversions; Christmas Lights at Durham Cathedral
The PC and the hijab; Minecraft Sunday School; National Grief Awareness Week at St Paul's Cathedral
Christmas Carols; Maradona; the Morality of Foreign Aid
Catholic IICSA Response; MuslimPro App; Zoom Choirs
Beirut Statue; Catholic Abuse Report; Who should get the vaccine first?
Remembrance in a pandemic; US Election; Living in Love and Faith
Bobby Ball's Faith; France and Islam; Labour Anti-semitism Report
COVID reflections; Pope Francis and civil partnerships; Bakery for refugees
Gordon Brown; Bishop of Liverpool; Martyrs Book
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi; IICSA reports on the Anglican Church; Jewish weddings
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