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Sunday: The Pope and the family, God and the Gulag, Justin Welby's parentage

10/04/2016

The Pope and the family, God and the Gulag, Justin Welby's parentage

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday, The Pope and the family, God and the Gulag, Justin Welby's parentage

Edward Stourton looks at the Pope's Exhortation on the Family.

Edward Stourton looks at the Pope's Exhortation on the Family, the relationship between God and the church behind the Iron Curtain, and he talks to Zari, the first Afghan Muppet.

As the Panama Papers continue to shine a light on the off shore world, Edward Stourton talks to Robert Paterson, Bishop of Soder and Man, about whether tax avoidance is ever morally acceptable.

Geoff Bird reports on the little known story of Francis Asbury, the English-born former blacksmith's apprentice who is credited with putting American Methodism on the denominational map.

Pope Francis' much anticipated Exhortation on the Family was published Friday. Does it fall short of marking any real change or amount to a call for the transformation in the attitude rather than doctrine of the Church? Edward is joined by Madelaine Teahan, Associate Editor of the Catholic Herald, Bishop Peter Doyle and the Guardian's Joanna Moorhead.

There is no change on the ban on divorced and remarried Catholics taking Communion in the Exhortation. But the document does urge couples and the Church to take marriage preparation seriously. Bob Walker reports on what it means and whether it works.

In the on-going anti-Semitism row in the Labour party, one issue being raised is about how the term Zionism is used and whether there is confusion about the term. Jonathan Freedland writes for the Guardian and the Jewish Chronicle - he gives his analysis.

Edward Stourton interviews Jonathan Luxmoore about his books 'God in the Gulag' which shines fascinating new light on the relationship between the Catholic Church and Communist authorities behind the Iron Curtain.

In light of Archbishop Justin Welby's discovery of the identity of his biological father, we ask whether religious faith makes it easier to cope with the kind of shock that could shake your understanding of who you are.

Producer:
Catherine Earlam
Rosemary Dawson

Series Producer Amanda Hancox.

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