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Religion & Ethics

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

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Sunday: 10/02/2013

10/02/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday, 10/02/2013

A report from the world's biggest religious festival, Kumbh Mela, in India.

A report from the world's biggest religious festival, Kumbh Mela, which is taking place in India, where millions of pilgrims will wash away their sins in the River Ganges.

The world's biggest religious festival Kumbh Mela is taking place in India where millions of pilgrims will wash away their sins in the River Ganges. We hear more on what will be the busiest day of the festival so far.

Midwives could soon be asked to raise the question of female genital mutilation with expectant mothers. William speaks to Dr Comfort Momoh, a specialist midwife in London who is the UK's leading expert in this field.

David Willey reports from Rome as the Knights of Malta celebrate 900 years. The order traces its history to the 11th century with the establishment of an infirmary in Jerusalem that cared for people of all faiths making pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

In light of the changes to Michael Gove's ebacc, Trevor Barnes examines the future of religious education with John Keast from the Religious Education Council, Stephen Lloyd MP and a former government advisor on education.

This week saw the publication of the long awaited report on the Magdalene Laundries. We hear how this experience affected the faith of one of the survivors of the Laundries and delve into the mind of the nuns who ran the Laundries.

In light of the recent decision to allow gay marriage in England but to exempt the Church of England from doing so, we turn to Denmark to learn how our Scandinavian neighbours have handled the issue.

This week Giles Fraser former Dean of St Pauls penned his last column in The Church Times stating: "Partly, this decision has to do with the arrival of a new Archbishop. Justin Welby is a good man, and will, I expect, make a fine leader of the Church. But his moral opposition to homosexuality remains a massive problem for me." We speak to him to find out more.

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