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Religion & Ethics

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

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Sunday: The ethics of surrogacy

The ethics of surrogacy

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday, The ethics of surrogacy

Edward Stourton examines some of the ethical and religious issues of the week

Edward Stourton examines the ethical case for and against surrogacy. Who are the Houthis in Yemen, and what do they believe? The decline of the Catholic clergy in Ireland.

Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogacy, saying it is the commercialisation of pregnancy and a threat to human dignity.  Edward Stourton hears the experiences of a couple and their surrogate and explores the ethics of surrogacy with Christian ethicist Dr Helen Watt and fertility lawyer Natalie Gamble. 

The Houthis in Yemen have been carrying out a campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, prompting US and UK air strikes this week. But who are the Houthis?  What do they believe?  International relations professor Simon Mabon explains the theology and ideology behind this Shia Islamist group.

In recent decades, Ireland has seen the most extraordinary decline in Catholicism, with far fewer people regularly attending Mass.  There's also a crisis within the clergy as the supply of vocations has dwindled.  The average age of Catholic priests in Ireland is 70, for nuns it's over 80.  Two new documentaries from the Irish broadcaster, RTE examine the possibility that both professions could be in terminal decline. 

This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Austrian composer, Anton Bruckner.   He became a prominent figure in 19th century music, famous for his sacred works and his symphonies.   The writer and composer, Stephen Johnson reflects on how Bruckner's Christian faith inspired his work and how writing music to the glory of God helped Bruckner to manage his mental health problems. 

Presenter:  Edward Stourton
Producer:  Jonathan Hallewell and Alexa Good
Editor:   Tim Pemberton

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