Sunday Folgen

As mourners gather in Iran to pay their respects to the country's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, we hear from Tehran about the significance of the six-day funeral. His body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla mosque and will travel to several religiously significant cities before a burial in his hometown of Mashhad. Authorities expect 15-20 million people to attend the ceremonies across Iran and Iraq which take place more than four months after Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strikes.So called 'conversion therapy' is set to be criminalised under draft legislation put before Parliament. This is the practice where someone tries to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the draft Conversion Practices Bill perpetrators of abusive practices could face up to five years in prison. We dissect the different views around the Bill, from an advocate who argues it will offer essential protection, to those who say it could criminalise preachers simply offering help and support.And with all eyes on Mexico ahead of England's round of 16 tie against the country at the Azteca Stadium, we hear from the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City which has allowed a statue of the Christ child to be dressed in the national team's shirt and put on the altar.Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: James Graham, Rebecca Kelly and Liberty Phelan Studio Managers: Teifi James and Helen Williams Editor: Dan Tierney

With the number of people known to have died following earthquakes in Venezuela rising, rescue teams are racing to find those who are still missing. Operations Manager of the Lutheran World Federation based in Caracas, Maria Caraballo, speaks about the work her organisation has been doing.The United States of American will mark 250 years since its independence this week. The separation of Church and State - religious freedom - came a few years later in the 1st amendment to the constitution and has been debated ever since. We continue that debate with Dr Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons of the Interfaith Alliance and Pastor Mark Burns, a spiritual adviser to President Trump.Pilgrimages are tremendous social occasions, whatever their religious inspiration. The British Pilgrimage Trust says more of us are attracted to them and the Italian government is now promoting five pilgrim routes, known as the Antichi Cammini d'Italia, or Ancient Ways of Italy. People who have completed their journey tell us about their experiences. Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Katy Booth and James Leesley Studio Managers: Kelly Young, Matthew Dempsey and George Willis Editor: Tim Pemberton

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, this week apologised for the Church of England's role in the forced adoption of children in the decades after the Second World War. We hear from former Labour MP Ann Keen, a trustee of the Movement for an Adoption Apology, on her experience and reaction to the apology, and Joanne Grenfell, the Bishop of Suffolk, who chaired the Church of England's working group on historical adoption practices.A new Anish Kapoor exhibition opened this week at the Hayward Gallery in London. Assistant curator Thomas Sutton tells us of the optical illusions, and blood and gore used to depict religious sacrifice. Dr Siobhan Jolley, lecturer in Christian studies at Manchester University, explains the significance of religious sacrifice throughout art history.Following Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool, John Tonge, explores whether the Labour MP’s Catholic upbringing will make a difference to the way he governs if he were to secure the keys to Downing Street.Presenter: Ed Stourton Producers: Alexa Good and James Graham Studio Managers: Phil Booth and Joe Stickler Editor: Chloe Walker