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
Power of religion at Cop28; Shane McGowan's Catholicism; Near-death experiences
Same sex church blessings; Religion in Dr Who; Antonio Banderas on playing King Herod
Same Sex Blessings in the Church of England
Interfaith relations and Israel-Hamas war; The Bard and the Bible; Hindu ante-natal rituals
Use of scripture in war rhetoric & Church of England same-sex blessings
29/10/2023
The Israel-Hamas conflict and its repercussions in the UK
15/10/2023
Violence in the Middle East
Politics and the Lords Spiritual; The Venerable Bede; Spirituality of Sycamore Gap
Pope in Marseille; Khalistan; Definition of Islamophobia
Libya floods, pilgrimage to the city of Uman, racial injustice in the church
British Imams "whitewashing" the actions of the Taliban
Reconciling sex work with faith
The Catholic seal of confession
Hawaii Fires; Jehovah's Witnesses; the Vicar of Moscow
06/08/2023
30/07/2023
Oppenheimer, Manipur, The Sixth Commandment
Soul Survivor; 'Our Problematic Father'; White Privilege
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