Sunday

The people of Syria have been celebrating again this weekend, with many protestors outside the largest mosque in Damascus deriding the former president, Bashar al-Assad, as a "Zombie". With a sense of relief that Assad is now gone, there is anxiety too about what might follow. William Crawley explores how the new regime will affect the religious make up of the country with Makram Rabah, Assistant Professor of History at the American University in Beirut.This week, the justice secretary has said that even under the government's plans to open 14,000 more prison places, they could still run out of space over the next few years. Oasis Restore school opened in the summer and aims to transform the justice system for young people by focusing on education and therapy, rather than punishment and retribution. The Founder, Baptist Minister Steve Chalke, says ‘The philosophy behind everything we do here is not, ‘What have you done wrong?’ but, ‘What’s happened to you?’ For generations, a story has been told in Liverpool's Catholic community about a local man, wounded in the first world war, who went to Lourdes and returned with a miracle. Now, a hundred years after that previously paralyzed man, Jack Traynor, shocked everyone by carrying his own bags off the train at Lime Street Station, the Archbishop of Liverpool has officially recognised his healing as a miracle. Sunday hears from Alex Taylor Jack's great-great grandson, as well as Dr Kieran Moriarty, a British physician who reviewed the original case files and gave evidence to a canonical commission.Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Catherine Murray Studio Managers: Nat Stokes & Sam Mills Editor: Tim Pemberton

Notre-Dame is reopening to the public after 5 years of renovation, following a devastating fire in 2019. But the cathedral is much more than a building - and many secular minded people in France would say that it's much more than a cathedral too. We hear from our Paris Correspondent, Hugh Schofield and commentator Agnes Poirier, author of "Notre Dame - the Soul of France".The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for causing distress after Church of England abuse survivors criticised his House of Lords farewell speech. Jane Chevous, the co-founder of Survivors Voices joins the programme. The position of women in Afghanistan took another turn for the worse this week as women and girls have told the BBC they've been banned from nursing and midwifery courses. PRESENTER: Edward Stourton PRODUCERS: Katy Davis and Bara’atu Ibrahim STUDIO MANAGERS: Carwyn Griffith and Simon Highfield EDITOR: Chloe Walker

The Bishop of Newcastle who called for the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury talks to us about the price she's paid for rocking the boat.Friday's vote by MPs in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill was certainly historic. But did it also feel like a rejection of traditional religious values? We'll explore that claim on today's Sunday with broadcaster Mark Mardell and Director of Theos Chine McDonald We'll celebrate the start of Advent with Radio 3 as they fill their schedule with Christmas choirs, live from across the UK. PRESENTER: WILLIAM CRAWLEY PRODUCERS: CATHERINE MURRAY & PETER EVERETT STUDIO MANAGERS: SIMON HIGHFIELD & HELEN WILLIAMS EDITOR: TIM PEMBERTON

After a tumultuous week in the Church of England, Emily Buchanan looks at the legacy that Justin Welby will leave behind, how the church can stamp out abuse in future, and what's needed from the next Archbishop of Canterbury.Plus, an interview with Robert Harris, author of Conclave, on the Oscar-tipped movie of the same name.

In this week’s US election, Donald Trump secured the backing of 80% of white evangelical Christian voters. We hear insights from Rev. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., a senior fellow at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, and Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals.John Smyth ran Christian summer camps in Dorset during the 1970s and 1980s. His “horrific” and violent abuse of over 100 boys and young men was concealed by the Church of England for decades, according to a new report. Edward Stourton speaks with Andrew Graystone, author of Bleedings For Jesus: John Smyth and the Cult of the Iwerne Camps, and Dr Joanne Grenfell, Area Bishop of Stepney and safeguarding lead bishop for the Church of England.Guildford, Surrey, has had a Jewish community for centuries, though it has lacked a rabbi since the expulsion of Jews from England 750 years ago. Now, change is afoot as Alex Goldberg has recently been appointed the town’s new rabbi.Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Katy Davis & Amanda Hancox Studio Managers: Amy Brennan & Helen Williams Editor: Rajeev Gupta

Edward Stourton presents a special US edition of 'Sunday' from Atlanta, in which he reports on the religious vote from the Bible Belt battleground state of Georgia. With unique access to a broad spectrum of faith communities, he gets analysis on the role of religion in the election.Producers: Dan Tierney (in Atlanta) Catherine Murray Peter Everett Saba ZamanStudio managers: Amy Brennon John Cole Jack MorrisEditor: Tim Pemberton

This week, a further 1,100 prisoners were released early to ease the prison overcrowding crisis. We explore how faith groups are supporting ex-prisoners trying to move on with their lives. We join the ‘Nuns on the Bus’ - a group of Catholic sisters and interfaith partners who recently toured the US ahead of the election, encouraging people to be ‘multi-issue voters.’With the first vote on the Assisted Dying Bill a matter of weeks away, we hear diverse views within faith communities, as people grapple with the complexities of the debate.Presenter: Julie Etchingham Producers: Dan Tierney & Katy Davis Studio Managers: Nat Stokes & Simon Highfield Editor: Tim Pemberton

Suspected victims of modern slavery are waiting years before their cases are dealt with, whilst waiting for a Home Office decision. On Friday, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Philips announced that the Home Office will hire 200 staff to clear a backlog of UK modern slavery cases. Sunday hears from Major Kathy Betteridge the Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery for The Salvation Army. Adventurer, writer and TV presenter Alison Morrison speaks about the discovery of a secret tomb underneath the Treasury Monument at the World Heritage site of Petra in Jordan, where more than a million people visit annually. The tomb contained 12 ancient skeletons and various artefacts dating back to the Nabataean people around two thousand years ago. A team including researchers from the University of St Andrews made the discovery using remote sensing equipment, while on a separate study looking at how to control flood waters at the site. Alison speaks about the significance of the discovery.The Archbishop of Toulouse- Monsignor Guy de Kerimel- called a mass to clean the city and protect it from dark forces within. He’s taken a public stand against a street art parade planned through the city at the end of month. Three massive metal minotaur's, guided remotely by dozens of technicians, will amble through the city over a three day period. It’s the presence of one Lilith that has infuriated some of the Catholic community. Half woman half scorpion in mythology she was Adam’s first wife and associated with evil and luring the weak into obscurity.Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Peter Everett Studio Mangers: Chris Hardman & Helen Williams Editor: Tim Pemberton

Edward Stourton is in the chair with a debate on what to do with empty churches, as the Church of England blocks plans to allow one in Stoke-on-Trent to become a mosque. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom - an organ of the Federal government based in Washington - has published a report on the Chinese government's efforts to control the country's religions including reports of crosses and images of Jesus and Mary being taken down in churches and replaced with pictures of the Chinese President Xi Jinping.Bond Director Lee Tamahori famous for 'Die Another Day' tells us about his latest blockbuster starring Guy Pearce. 'The Convert' is a film about a missionary and his misgivings about converting Maori tribes to Christianity in 1800's New Zealand.Fr Timothy Radcliffe talks about his surprise at being appointed a Cardinal, his journey to becoming an esteemed preacher and his thoughts on the regalia that comes with being a 'red hat'. Sunday hears from George Antone, one of the last Christians of Gaza who has been in touch with the programme for the past year as he and hundreds of Catholics seek refuge in the Holy Family Church in Northern Gaza. As military action intensifies in the region, George tells us about his fears for the future.

As Hezbollah confirms the death of its leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut, hear about the religion and politics behind Hezbollah from Fawaz Gerges - Professor of International Relations and Contemporary Middle Eastern Studies at the LSE. And William talks to Myriam Shwayri from the Al-Khafat Foundation about efforts to evacuate disabled adults and children from areas affected by explosions in the city.Abortion clinic 'buffer zones' have come into force in Scotland with similar areas on the way for England and Wales by the end of October. William talks to two women on either side of the debate.'He was ebullient, generous-hearted, kind to many, and an inspirational figure. But alongside that, hiding in plain sight, was someone who manipulated and controlled others, bullied and sought to abuse his power.' That is how Mike Pilavachi, the disgraced Anglican priest and former leader of the Soul Survivor church and festivals, is described in the latest report into the scandal. We hear from Richard Scorer, head of abuse law at Slater and Gordon solicitors, about the ‘Independent Review into Soul Survivor’ led by Fiona Scolding KC.Sikh sacred music, also known as Kirtan, has officially become part of the musical examination system in the UK. This has all been pioneered by Harjinder Singh, a music teacher from Birmingham who set up an academy to teach young people how to play traditional stringed Indian instruments. PRESENTER: WILLIAM CRAWLEY PRODUCERS: CATHERINE MURRAY & KATY DAVIS STUDIO MANAGERS: KELLY YOUNG & SIMON HIGHFIELD EDITOR: CHLOE WALKER