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14/12/2025

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week with William Crawley.

Should the confirmation of Bishop Sarah Mullaly as Archbishop of Canterbury be postponed whilst a complaint against her for the alleged mishandling of a sex abuse case is investigated? We talk to Donna Birrell, who broke the story and to Rev Robert Thompson, a priest in the London diocese.

The mystery of the star of Bethlehem - has it been finally solved? NASA Planetary scientist Mark Matney discusses his theory that it could have been a comet recorded by Chinese astronomers in 5BC.

If it wasn鈥檛 for Jane Austen鈥檚 brother her novels would never have been published. So claims Christopher Herbert, former Bishop of St Alban鈥檚, whose new book 鈥淛ane Austen鈥檚 Favourite Brother: Henry鈥 tells the story of their close relationship.

鈥淧ut the Christ back in Christmas鈥 was the title of the carol concert organised by Tommy Robinson鈥檚 Unite the Kingdom in central London yesterday. We hear from one of the organisers, Pastor Rikki Doolan, and from Nick Spencer, senior fellow at the Christian think tank Theos, who is studying the rise of Christian Nationalism in the UK.

Presenter: William Crawley
Producers: Amanda Hancox and Rosie Dawson
Technical Producers: Sharon Hughes, Isabelle Whitehead & Amy Brennan
Editor: Tim Pemberton

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44 minutes

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  • Sun 14 Dec 2025 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.

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