Sunday

BBC Radio 4

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

  1. 2d ago

    C of E Adoption Apology; Anish Kapoor; Burnham’s Catholicism

    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, this week apologised for the Church of England's role in the forced adoption of children in the decades after the Second World War. We hear from former Labour MP Ann Keen, a trustee of the Movement for an Adoption Apology, on her experience and reaction to the apology, and Joanne Grenfell, the Bishop of Suffolk, who chaired the Church of England's working group on historical adoption practices. A new Anish Kapoor exhibition opened this week at the Hayward Gallery in London. Assistant curator Thomas Sutton tells us of the optical illusions, and blood and gore used to depict religious sacrifice. Dr Siobhan Jolley, lecturer in Christian studies at Manchester University, explains the significance of religious sacrifice throughout art history. Following Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool, John Tonge, explores whether the Labour MP’s Catholic upbringing will make a difference to the way he governs if he were to secure the keys to Downing Street. Presenter: Ed Stourton Producers: Alexa Good and James Graham Studio Managers: Phil Booth and Joe Stickler Editor: Chloe Walker

    44 min
  2. Belfast reaction; Coming Home; Faith and Football

    Jun 14

    Belfast reaction; Coming Home; Faith and Football

    Thousands of people gathered at an anti-racism protest in Belfast on Saturday, after violence across the city this past week saw people's homes, businesses and vehicles targeted. The disorder was sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night was shared widely on social media, which left the victim with serious injuries. Religious leaders have joined calls for calm and Emily Buchanan hears from people in the Muslim and Methodist communities in the city. It’s been five years since the Church of England set out an ambitious plan to provide affordable housing. Its 'Coming Home' report examined how the church could use its significant land assets to help solve England’s housing crisis. So have they made much progress? Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani of Chelmsford, is also the Bishop for Housing and gives an update. Three quarters of English club players identify with Christianity, according to a report from the charity Christians in Sport. The research also mentions that 40% of clubs regularly host Christian activities such as Bible studies and prayer meetings. As the men's World Cup gets underway, we'll explore the connection between football and religion from a player and supporter perspective. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Katy Booth and Rosie Dawson Studio Managers: Catherine Everatt, Joe Stickler and Helen Williams Editor: Dan Tierney

    44 min

  3. Jun 7

    Archbishop AI; Sikh Kirpan; World Cup

    On Friday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, told a House of Lords debate that current AI regulation is “wholly inadequate”, saying the technology raises fundamental questions about what it means to be human, what we’re here for, and how we discern truth. William speaks to the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, who also spoke in that Lords debate. Also on the programme, the murder of Henry Nowak has brought renewed attention to the Sikh kirpan, a small ceremonial dagger worn by initiated Sikhs as an article of faith, despite it not being used in this attack. Some politicians are now questioning the legal exemption that allows it to be carried. As Sikh organisations prepare new education initiatives and community leaders reflect on what one academic has called a "watershed moment"- what will the debate mean for Britain's Sikhs and for the future of religious freedom. William speaks to the CEO of Sikh Women, Sahdaish Pall. A new song from a Catholic composer has been released to coincide with the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in Mexico on Thursday. Three Lions Rising was composed by Andrew Dineen, whose early encounters with music include hearing his father play the church organ. William speaks to Andrew, and to Lisa Grand who was the lead singer alongside the choirs of St Edward's School and Ashley Manor Prep School in Cheltenham. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & James Graham Studio Managers: Olivia Miceli & Catherine Everatt Editor: Chloe Walker

    44 min

  4. May 31

    Papal Encyclical; Biblical Diets; Human Composting

    This week Pope Leo XIV launched the first encyclical of his pontificate. He broke with tradition and presented it himself and addressed the following challenges: how humanity should respond to the AI revolution, the church's historic complicity in slavery, and whether the church's teaching on Just War Theory is still fit for purpose in an age of drone strikes and AI targeting. William Crawley talks to Anna Rowlands, Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University. A diet inspired by the Bible has found new audiences online in America. We hear from an influencer who gives nutritional advice which she claims is rooted in Biblical wisdom and Christian principles, and from Nathan MacDonald, Professor of the Interpretation of the Old Testament at Cambridge University. And, most of us in the UK face a choice between two options for what happens to our bodies after death: burial or cremation. But there is a growing campaign to make another option available in England and Wales: human composting. William speaks to Kristoffer Hughes, Chief of the Anglesey Druid Order, who is campaigning for change. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Alexa Good and Katy Booth Studio Managers: Isabelle Whitehead, Phillip Halliwell and Andrew Dick Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min

  5. May 24

    DRC Ebola; Jain Manuscripts; Heritage funding

    As the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues, the World Health Organisation has classified the regional risk as “very high”, while maintaining that the global risk remains low. Aid agencies say faith leaders are playing an important role in helping communities respond to the virus and challenge misinformation. William Crawley speaks to Poppy Anguandia, Country Director in the DRC for Tearfund, about the work being carried out with churches and mosques in affected areas. Two thousand ancient Jain manuscripts have been transferred to new custodians in the UK, in a move welcomed by members of the Jain community and scholars alike. The collection is expected to support preservation efforts and improve public and academic access to important religious texts. And a £48 million funding boost for heritage projects across the UK prompts fresh debate about how the nation preserves its religious and cultural history for future generations. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & James Leesley Editor: Rajeev Gupta

    43 min
  6. Faith and politics; Holocaust memorial lecture; street preachers

    May 17

    Faith and politics; Holocaust memorial lecture; street preachers

    The build up to the by-election in Makerfield is likely to be the only political story in town in the coming weeks. Reform UK is pledging to throw everything at the race to stop Andy Burnham's ambitions to be Prime Minister. Another potential contender in any contest, Wes Streeting, has spoken openly about his Anglican Christian faith. Angela Rayner has described herself as not being religious. We explore how faith can play a role in politics. An evangelical church in Essex has launched an appeal against an order preventing “intimidating behaviour” by its members preaching on the street. The Bread of Life Community Church in Colchester, allegedly told passers-by they were going to hell. Colchester City Council has applied to police to issue a community protection notice. The Church maintains it's preaching a message of God's love. The case raises a lot of questions - not least about the lines preachers may or may not cross legally. What is public opinion on street preachers and has that changed? Who helped and who didn’t echoes still as one of history's most searing questions in the wake of the Holocaust. As well as the countries who fought against Nazis in the war - the light has often been shone on heroic individuals who risked their own lives to save persecuted Jewish people. Are there lessons to be learned in understanding which local communities, and specifically religious groups, refused to look the other way and which ones did? This is the subject of the annual Alfred Wiener Holocaust Memorial Lecture tomorrow by Professor Mary Fulbrook, who was brought up as a Quaker. Presenter: Julie Etchingham Producers: Katy Booth and Alexa Good Studio managers: Becky Marcus and Catherine Everatt Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min

  7. May 12

    Sir David Attenborough; Music is Black; UK Antisemitism

    As Sir David Attenborough turns 100, we ask what his lifelong work revealing the natural world has meant not just scientifically, but spiritually. Emily Buchanan speaks to the Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham Usher, an ecologist and Church of England lead bishop on the environment. Also on the programme, we explore religious and spiritual connections in 125 years of Black music-making in Britain. The first paid exhibition at the new V&A East museum is on until the 3rd of January 2027. The Sunday programme hears from lead curator, Jacqueline Springer. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said "every part of society" has a responsibility to tackle antisemitism in the UK, and announced an extra £1.5 million of funding to strengthen community cohesion, as a new YouGov survey claims 63% of Britons see antisemitism as a major problem. The survey also claims that 57% of the public say there is a problem with Islamophobia in British society. Emily Buchanan hears from two members of the Jewish and Muslim community working on interfaith dialogue and initiatives. Laura Janner-Klausner, Rabbi of Bromley Reform Synagogue, and Julie Siddiqi- Co-chair of the British Muslim Network. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Rebecca Kelly Studio Managers: Kelly Young & Ethan Connolly-Forster Editor: Chloe Walker

    43 min

  8. May 3

    Sunday special:One year of Pope Leo XIV

    A special edition of Sunday marking a year since the election of Pope Leo XIV

    44 min
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About

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    530
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Sunday

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