Sunday

The Vatican “Secret” archives will be opened on Monday – what new findings might emerge about Pope Pius X11 war time dealings? Historian David Kertzer and Lisa Billig,the American Jewish Committee's representative to the Holy See, talk about what they expect to discover.

L'Arche communities around the world support people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them. Last week a community report concluded that it's founder Jean Vanier abused six adult women. Emily Buchanan talks to Professor Irene Tuffrey Wijne, a member of the Community, and Rev Hilary Ison on how churches and communities can be helped to come to terms with trauma.

The religious violence which has been happening in Delhi since last weekend has shaken the capital. Rahul Tandon explains the background to the latest violence.

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One of England's largest 'doom' paintings has been restored in St Thomas's Church, Salisbury. These medieval paintings depict the moment when Christ judges souls to send them to either Heaven or Hell. Over the years many were painted over or damaged. William Crawley talks to Rev Kelvin Inglis about what the restoration of the Salisbury 'doom' painting has revealed.

As the government announces more measures to crackdown on illegal schools, many of which have a religious character, we hear from Ruth Wareham from Humanists UK about the work they have been doing to uncover the scale of the issue and what more needs to be done.

And the BBC’s White House reporter Tara McKelvey reports on Michael Bloomberg and asks if he can count on a block vote from the Jewish community as he strives to secure the Democrat nomination in the race for the Presidency.

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Christian rap and grime artist Guvna B travels to the US to explore the fusion of gospel music and hip-hop

The Church of England may have to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds to compensate survivors of sexual abuse following a unanimous vote at this week's General Synod. The Church's incoming Lead Bishop for Safeguarding, Rt Rev Jonathan Gibbs, put forward an amendment calling for serious money to be committed for redress and for a safeguarding policy reshaped by survivors. So is this really a new chapter for safeguarding in the Church of England? William speaks to Donna Birrell who was following the debate.

This week Westminster Council turned down a planning application for a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens close to the Houses of Parliament. The Council said it contravenes rules on size, design and location. But aside from the planning issue there is a divide within the Jewish community as to whether the memorial should be built at all. We hear from Baroness Ruth Deech and Journalist Justin Cohen.

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Photo Credit: Hillsong Church London

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was scheduled to come to the UK for an 8 city tour beginning in May. As all the venues say they have cancelled his bookings Edward asks him why people appear to be uncomfortable with his visit and how he plans to respond.

A clandestine operation carried out by one of the world’s most secretive intelligence agencies used a fake diving resort on the coast of Sudan to evacuate the ‘lost tribe’ of black Jews in Ethiopia. The true story of a remarkable rescue mission is told in a new book, Red Sea Spies by BBC Middle East journalist Raffi Berg.

The Academy Awards will be held in Hollywood on Sunday night and The Two Popes is up for two awards with Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins both nominated. Stephen Brown, film critic on the Church Times, explains why there appears to be a mini boom in religious themed films.

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The Church of England’s has its first official football team, founded by an ex-professional from Iran who is now a priest in Sunderland. Emily talks to Rev. Pauya Hedari, captain and founder of the newly-formed Archbishop of Canterbury FC, about this team that will be made up exclusively of priests.

Ten years ago the case of a young Christian woman in Pakistan made headlines when she was sentenced to death for blasphemy. Her case was so controversial that two Pakistani politicians were later killed for publicly supporting her and criticising the country’s blasphemy laws. The lawyer Saif ul Malook represented Asia Bibi from 2014 until she was freed from death row. He tells Emily Buchanan about the threats he continues to face.

How can St Benedict’s sixth-century Rule, work for the present day and the challenges we face? In his book “The Way of St Benedict” Rowan Williams explores the importance and influence of Benedict's Rule for modern times.

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Photo Credit: Keith Blundy

To mark 75 years of liberation from the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp Frank Bright and Ziggy Shipper both survivors of the camp talk about their experiences.

A loaf of bread based on an ancient recipe in the Old Testament has become the latest nutritional in thing. Victoria Beckham posted a picture of her breakfast of smashed avocado on a slice of toasted Ezekiel bread and others have been following suit. Sunday’s David Cook bakes some Ezekiel bread and Vanessa Kimble tells William Crawley about its prophesised nutritional value.

The Eye As Witness is a new virtual reality exhibition exploring the political and moral motives for witnessing and recording the Holocaust. Reporter Vishva Samani went along to give it a try.

Should the teaching of religion and Sex Education be compulsory in school? William Crawley discusses the reaction to the Welsh Government's decision to make the teaching of both mandatory in all schools.

Producers: Rajeev Gupta and David Cook

Photo Credit ; Adam Soller

The true story of a Catholic, Austrian peasant farmer, who refused to pledge allegiance to Hitler but was let down by the Church is the subject of the film, A Hidden Life, out in cinemas this week. Bishop John Sherrington joins Sunday to discuss whether the film sheds new light on the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Nazis.

This week came news that researchers in the US have created the first living machines by assembling cells from African clawed frogs into tiny robots that move around under their own steam. To discuss the possible ethical implications of this William Crawley is joined by Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs for the Church of England, and Dr Yaqub Chaudhary, Research fellow in Experimental Science at The Cambridge Muslim College.

And Sunday's David Cook reports on allegations of bullying at a flagship London synagogue.

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As the Australian wildfires intensify, Rev Dr Stephen Robinson, coordinator of the New South Wales Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network updates Edward on the situation they are facing as they assist people hit by the disaster.

In China, it's estimated that there are a million Muslims held in detention camps across the country. Human Rights Watch claim Uighurs and other ethnic Muslims have been locked up and subjected to hours of brainwashing designed to rid them of them their faith although the Chinese government refute these allegations. Reporter Rustam Qobil travelled to the border between Kazakhstan and China to meet some of those who have escaped the camps.

St Aelred of Rievaulx was an English Cistercian monk and abbot of Rievaulx Abbey in York from 1147 until his death on 12 January 1167. To mark St Aelred’s Day, the Abbey's café will be serving Monk’s Pottage - a type of stew made from onions, leeks, garlic, parsnips, carrots, lentils and carlin peas. Historian, Dr Michael Carter says St Aelred was arguably one of the most inspirational and important religious figures of the 12th century and suggests the monk’s largely vegetarian diet may have caused him health problems in later life.

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Farah Jarral looks at the spirituality of the Bee. Long before we understood the ecological importance of the bee, it was already a precious symbol for many faiths and communities for centuries.

Against a back drop of horrendous fires and floods engulfing the parts of the world, Celebration Earth is being launched. It’s an invitation to community groups, faith groups and large organisations to come together to celebrate the earth and help combat Climate change. Emily Buchanan discusses this new initiative with the conservationist Martin Palmer; Dr Chetna Kang, psychiatrist and Hindu priest and Munadiah Aftab, climate change campaigner for Islamic Relief UK.

Also legal expert Joshua Rozenberg looks at the implications of a landmark employment tribunal case which this week has ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief and ethical vegans should be entitled to similar legal protections in the workplace as those who hold religious beliefs.

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In the autumn of 1620, 102 passengers set sail from England aboard the Mayflower. Many of those sailing were Puritans, looking for the freedom to practice their religious ideas. Others wanted a fresh start in the New World. The treacherous journey took 66 days and as the Pilgrims established their new colony they battled harsh winters, disease and internal dissent.

As the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s journey is about to be commemorated, Emily Buchanan explores the Pilgrim’s journey, their relationship with Native Americans and discovers how their political and religious beliefs helped shape modern America.

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