Sunday Folgen

Sister Norma Pimentel is one of the most important advocates for immigrants in the United States. For over three decades, she has been working to support migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. along Texas border with Mexico and as Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, she directs efforts to provide shelter, food, sanctuary and comfort to people often treated as less than human. Last year she made Time magazine's list of the100 most influential people and her work has earned her the moniker of “the Pope’s favourite nun.”It is estimated that 71% of victims of modern day slavery are women and girls. For the past six years, former police officer Karen Anstiss has been running Caritas Bakhita House - a place of safety for women escaping human trafficking which is supported by the Catholic Church. Karen talks about her work and how we can help the victims of modern day slavery.On 3rd January this year, Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben became the first female chaplain to the US House of Representatives. Three days later, an angry mob stormed the Capitol building and the 60 year old Presbyterian Minister found herself on the frontline. It's a place she's been before as she's seen active service in Afghanistan so, as she explains to Emily, she went into "a sort of spiritual cover" in a way that she would in a war zone.And, 17 year old award winning poet Aminah Rahman performs her poem 'Changing the Future' - written especially to celebrate International Women's Day. Producers: Helen Lee Olive Clancy

Sixty of the country’s black majority churches have joined forces to support the Covid vaccination programme. Pastor Agu Irukwu, head of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is operating a pop-up vaccination centre, talks to Ed Stourton about what they are doing to tackle vaccine hesitancy. Pope Francis is due to visit Iraq this Friday. It will be the pontiff's first international trip since the start of the pandemic, but the Pope is said to be intent on going. Dr Elizabeth Monier, University of Cambridge, explains why the trip is so significant to Iraq's small Christian population. Should it be allowed for graves to be decorated and personalised to remember those we have lost? Ed Stourton hears the story of Lynsey Dent who was asked by her local diocese to remove toys and other mementoes from the grave of her two children because they were in violation of Church of England churchyard regulations. And Brendan Day, secretary and executive officer for the Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities, explains why cemeteries have regulations about the decorating of graves.Producers:Catherine Earlam Louise Clarke-Rowbotham

Can Elton John really help us think differently about Lent? Canon Rachel Mann believes he can and she tells William how the rock star known for his flamboyance inspired her guide to the Christian season of self-examination and fasting which began this week.This week the Catholic Church in England announced new action on climate change, to be led by the diocese of Salford. The Church of England too has pledged zero carbon emissions by 2030. And the Islamic Relief charity is helping Muslims aim for an "eco-Ramadan" this year. But are young worshippers impressed with these measures? Recent research suggested young Christians at least are not. What will it take for religion to achieve anything meaningful in the battle against global warming?And we talk to the director of The Milkmaid, Nigeria's first ever entry for the Oscars. The film tells the story of a pair of young women abducted by Islamist fighters in the North of Nigeria. We hear how the production was halted when local police suspected them of being terrorists. And how the film is now being viewed around the world but not in Nigeria as the censors want it cut to avoid offending religious sensibilities.Producers: Olive Clancy David CookEditor: Tim Pemberton