Main content

Ukrainian refugee visa delays; Eid prayers at Blackburn Rovers; On the frontline of the cost of living crisis.

William Crawley explores the week's religious and ethical news - including why Blackburn Rovers FC is hosting Eid prayers and the Bishop of Durham on the cost of living crisis.

For the fist time, Muslims in Blackburn will be able to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr at their local football ground. Blackburn Rovers will be hosting Eid prayers on their Ewood Park pitch. The town has a growing Muslim population and, as he tells our presenter William Crawley, the club's Integration and Development Manager Yasir Sufi hopes this new initiative will inspire a new generation of fans to be a part of the Rovers FC family.

With food prices continuing to rise, we hear about the stark realities of providing for those in need, with Helen Carroll, Foodbank Manager for the multi-faith charity 'Spirit of Springburn' in Glasgow and Reverend Dean Roberts who runs the Parish Trust, an independent Christian charity in Caerphilly, South Wales. We also hear from the Bishop of Durham the Rt. Rev Paul Butler, Leader for the Lords Spiritual on Welfare Reform, who's calling for the Government to strengthen the social security system, to keep up with the true cost of living.

Religious groups here and in Poland are frustrated by visa delays for Ukrainian refugees. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg is one of many British Jews who's sponsored Ukrainian refugees only to find they've been stranded by bureaucracy.

As Ripon Cathedral celebrates its 1350 year anniversary, reporter Andrew Fletcher explores the life of its founder, St Wilfrid, and discovers why he remains so relevant today.

And we ask - are Science and Religion incompatible ? More than five thousand adults think so, according to a recent survey. So why does this perception persist ? William looks for answers with Dr Stephen Jones, Lecturer in Sociology of Science and Religion at the University of Birmingham.

Producers: Jill Collins and Dan Tierney
Editor: Helen Grady

Available now

44 minutes

Broadcast

  • Sun 1 May 2022 07:10

All the colours of the rainbow

All the colours of the rainbow

The Covid-19 rainbows painted by children today are part of a rich and ancient symbolism.

Podcast