Sunday

Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem have begun their Christmas celebrations under strict restrictions following a surge in corona virus cases in the occupied West Bank. As Yolande Knell reports, church leaders say Bethlehem will continue with its festivities to try to send a hopeful message to the world.In 2019 Cardinal George Pell was sentenced to six years in prison for 'historical sexual assault offences'. Earlier this year the Australian High Court voted 7-0 to overturn the original convictions. In a frank interview, the man who was once the third most powerful person in the Catholic Church reflects on his time inside jail, what he feels about his past handling of abuse allegations and the man whose accusations put him behind bars for 404 days.And the full choir of Leicester Cathedral have all been booked in for rapid Covid tests on Sunday morning. The Dean, the Very Rev David Monteith tells Edward why it will be such a momentous moment if the choir can sing together for the first time since March.Producers: David Cook Dan TierneySeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

Millions of farmers across India are striking in a dispute with the government over new agricultural laws. The Government says the new law would free farmers from a current system of middlemen, but the farmers believe prices will fall and small farmers will struggle. Indians of many faiths are involved but the majority are Sikh and Sikh communities around the world have been demonstrating, concerned at what might become of the some 146 million farms in India, with an average size of less than 3 acres. Emily Buchanan talks with the BBC’s Rahul Tandon.The covid pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we work, socialise and even worship. But the uncertainty has - for some - given rise to an opportunity of a spiritual awakening. Ellie Quinn - who is in Istanbul, and Oscar Portar, here in the UK - both found themselves converting to a new religion this year. We hear them in conversation sharing their journey to faith in lock-down. The Christmas tree lights in Durham Cathedral will be switched on this Sunday by a nurse and a doctor from the local hospital to pay tribute to the work carried out by 1000’s of clinicians during the pandemic. Dawn Kempson is a Junior sister at University Hospital of North Durham and Dr Tara Watkiss works in A+E at the same hospital. Emily talks to them about how they have coped this past year.Producers Carmel Lonergan Olive ClancyEditor Amanda Hancox

Police officer Uzma Amireddy has designed a new hijab which allows muslim women to wear the head scarf safely while on duty. We hear why it was important to develop the hijab and how she hopes the new design will be rolled out across the country. As well as church services going on-line this year so has Sunday School. In the Diocese of Hereford, curate Jo Burden invited her group of 8-11year olds to zoom into a virtual world with the popular computer game, 'Minecraft' to learn more about the Bible. And to mark National Grief Awareness Week the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral the Very Reverend Dr David Ison tells Edward the role the cathedral will play and how their online Book of Remembrance can help people remember the sorrows and sacrifices of others who have died during the pandemic. You can add an entry here: www.rememberme2020.ukProducers: David Cook Catherine EarlhamSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

It's the first Sunday in Advent and once lock down is lifted Christmas carols will be allowed to be sung outside in all three tiers. Stuart Barr Conductor and founder of "Out to Perform" talks about the value of live outdoor music during the pandemic and beyond.Front pages around the world reacted to the death of Diego Maradona with the headlines such as “God is Dead” and “heavenly”. To those in his native Argentina, he is a deified persona for the miracles he worked on the football field. Although off the pitch he was no saint. Jimmy Burns, author of “The Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona”, explores this paradox and what makes Maradona such a remarkable figure for so many.The Archbishop of Canterbury has described the decision to cut the UK’s overseas aid budget as “shameful and wrong”. But what is our moral obligation to the poorest people of the world? Director of CAFOD, Christine Allen, and foreign correspondent, Ian Birrell, discuss this with William Crawley.Producers: Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamEditor Amanda Hancox

After the damning report into safeguarding practices in the Catholic Church at the IICSA inquiry, the Church has announced it's next steps. What are they and do they go far enough? William Crawley hears analysis from the BBC's Harry Farley, reaction from a survivor and asks Carol Lawrence, a member of the Safeguarding Review Panel, will these changes make the Catholic church a safe space? A recent investigation by Vice has alleged that apps, including a Muslim faith app, have had their data sold to the US military by a location data firm. William Crawley interviews Joseph Cox the journalist who led the investigation and also talks to Rob Pritchard, a former cyber security researcher at GCHQ. And also on the programme, the award winning diocesan choir which kept the young people of west Yorkshire singing through lockdown. Producer:Catherine Earlam Rosie Dawson Series Producer:Amanda Hancox

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-RowbothamEditor: Amanda HancoxPhoto credit Hayat Nazer

Events to commemorate Remembrance Sunday will be very different this year because of COVID-19. Organisers have cancelled wreath laying ceremonies and a ban on communal worship means many services will not be allowed to take place. The Ven Martyn Gough, Chaplain of the Fleet and Archdeacon for the Royal Navy explains how he will be marking the day and why many in the Navy will be able to gather to remember those who have lost their lives during conflict.The outcome of the Presidential Election in the United States was a nail biter. It will take some time to produce a detailed analysis of voting patterns amongst the faith groups but there have been some clear signs that certain voters delivered surprising results. Pollsters believed Democrat Joe Biden was in with a strong chance of winning the state of Florida and his failure is down to the Hispanic vote. Rev Gabriel Salguero is the President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and he tells William that Trump’s early move to court the evangelical vote in Hispanic areas appears to have paid off.The Church of England’s latest attempt to navigate the complex and divisive issues surrounding human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage will be unveiled tomorrow with the release of a series of videos, podcasts and books. The Living in Love and Faith resources, three years in the making, are designed to help all members of the Anglican Church better understand the range of views and opinions held by its members. But will this initiative actually deliver any change for LGBT people? We hear from some of those who participated in the enterprise and the Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth, who led the project. Producers: David Cook Louise Clarke-RowbothamSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox

Following the sad news that comedian Bobby Ball died this week Emily Buchanan hears the little known story of how a knock on his dressing room door in 1986 led to him becoming a born-again Christian and how his faith transformed his life. After the attack on the Church in Nice Emily Buchanan gets analysis from three journalists on the fraught nature of relations between France and Islam both home and abroad. She is joined by John Laurenson, Nabila Ramdani and Dorian Jones. And the President of the Board of Deputies Marie van der Zyl responds to the EHRC report into antisemitism in the Labour Party and talks to Emily about rebuilding trust with British Jews.Producer Catherine Earlam Rosie Dawson Series ProducerAmanda Hancox

As large parts of the UK enter stricter COVID restrictions this weekend, many businesses and individuals say they face a challenging winter. Seven months ago during the national lockdown, SUNDAY heard from three people who were getting to grips with running their church, mosque and synagogue. Edward catches up with them to hear how they managed and what they have learnt from the experience.FRANCESCO is the latest film from Oscar and Emmy-nominated Director Evgeny Afineevsky, featuring exclusive interviews with Pope Francis. It premiered at the Rome Film Festival this week and immediately made headlines for the statements made by Francis supporting civil union laws for same sex partners. His personal position on this issue isn’t new but some commentators believe Pope Francis may be setting a path for the church to follow. Canon lawyer Ed Condon and academic Candida Moss discuss.A bakery set up in a church kitchen to train refugee women in bread-making skills is now supplying a local food bank with more than 200 loaves a week. Chernise Neo is the founder of Proof Bakery and she explains how working with dough helps support the women.Producers: Amanda Hancox Louise Clarke-Rowbotham

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown makes the moral case for full employment in an exclusive interview for Sunday with the BBC’s Harry Farley. A week after the city of Liverpool moved into the Tier 3 system of Covid restrictions, Edward Stourton talks to the Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes about how people in the city are coping and how to rebuild trust which, he says, has broken down during the pandemic. ‘However awful their end, martyrs matter still,’ writes Catherine Pepinster in her new book "Martyrdom". Edward Stourton asks her why.Producers: Catherine Earlam, Rosie Dawson Series Producer: Amanda Hancox