Beirut Statue; Catholic Abuse Report; Who should get the vaccine first?

It's over a 100 days since the blast shook the Lebanese capital, Beirut. In the weeks following hundreds of volunteers gathered to clear the city’s streets and repair the damage caused. Among them was artist, Hayat Nazer - who saw an opportunity to create a statue from the debris that would inspire hope for the people of Lebanon.

The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has been heavily criticised for putting the reputation of the Church ahead of its duty to survivors of child abuse. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse also said that Cardinal Vincent Nichols had not shown, "compassion towards victims in the recent cases". We hear from one abuse survivor who presented her evidence to the inquiry along with a campaigner who disclosed the extent of abuse that took place at Ealing Abbey & St Benedict's School. Edward asks Baroness Sheila Hollins and the Catholic journalist Catherine Pepinster about the damage this report has done to the Church.

News this week of a milestone Covid vaccine offering 90% protection prompted some to suggest life could be back to normal by spring. Edward Stourton discusses the moral and ethical questions surrounding this vaccine with the Reverend Dr Brendan McCarthy, National Adviser on Medical Ethics for The Church of England, and Dr Matti Kohonen – Principal Advisor on the Private Sector for Christian Aid.

Producers: Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-Rowbotham

Editor: Amanda Hancox

Photo credit Hayat Nazer