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PODCAST

Religion Media Centre Podcast

Religion Media Centre

The only podcast to sit firmly in the space where religion and the media collide. We ease that relationship, strengthen links that already exist, and be part of building new ones through chat, reflection, and comment, with a panel of regular contributors of journalists, broadcasters, writers, comedians, and experts.

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All Episodes

00:50:31

RMC Briefing: The state of the Church of England at...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/07/16

The Church of England General Synod has concluded its annual residential meeting in York, after a wide-ranging agenda on internal affairs, as well as issues affecting the country.They heard from a Brigadier about the dangerous world and the need for the church to prepare for war and support the chaplains. The Archbishop of Jerusalem addressed the synod on the plight of people in Gaza and won two standing ovations. A synod debate on assisted dying showed an overwhelming number against, and another on

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00:55:35

RMC Briefing: The Impact of Covid on Religion

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/06/17

A global project to examine the changing role of religion in society during the Covid pandemic has reviewed what happened in five societies - Canada, Germany, Poland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.Academics looked at the place of religion in the health services with, for example, disagreements over the ethics of using certain vaccines; the changing relations with governments over closure of places of worship and helping vulnerable, isolated people; and digital innovation as groups communicated with

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00:57:55

RMC Briefing: The new Pope Leo XIV

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/05/09

Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost, the man chosen to be the next Pope? Made a cardinal only in 2023, born in Chicago, a citizen of Peru where he spent much of his ministry, an Augustinian, a linguist, a tennis player, a calm and quietly spoken man, but his views on major issues facing the church today are largely unknown.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, the panel tried to piece the jigsaw together from clues about his past public comments and even his choice of name as Pope Leo XIV. They sensed

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00:55:13

RMC Briefing: The conclave and election of the next Pope

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/04/30

Catholic cardinals are in Rome, preparing for the conclave when the next Pope is chosen. The process is familiar to millions through the film "Conclave" which tells the story of the rituals, ambition and politics involved as candidates emerge for consideration.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, journalists and commentators joined Catholics from England and Wales to give a view on the likely candidates, the key issues they will be required to address, and the character they are looking for to

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00:54:57

RMC Briefing: The life and legacy of Pope Francis

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/04/23

Pope Francis’ death at 88 has been mourned across the world, with tributes to his compassion, defence of the marginalised, advocacy for the poor, consistent appeals for world peace, and brave moves to open up decision making in the church. Among the tributes, he was described as ‘the very human, holy man of God’.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, a panel of Catholic commentators remember his 12 years in office, a time of immense global change. Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the panel included:

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00:53:42

RMC Briefing: "The Quiet Revival" of church...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/04/09

"The Quiet Revival" , a report by The Bible Society, indicates a revival of Christianity in England and Wales, with congregations up in the last four years from 8 to 12 per cent, a growth largely fuelled by Gen Z – young people aged 18-24.The conclusion is based on a survey of 13,000 people by YouGov, commissioned by The Bible Society. It found 16 per cent of Gen Z attended church once a month, compared to 4 per cent four years ago. The most dramatic increase in churchgoing, according to the

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00:57:38

RMC Briefing: The Hybrid Church

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/03/27

It's five years since the Church of England began producing a National Online Service. Since its inception during the first COVID lockdown, it has become a fixture, especially for people who are ill, housebound or living remotely. More than a third of parish churches and those of other denominations have maintained their online Sunday service since the pandemic.In this briefing, our panel reviews the way churches have adapted worship and other activities to the online space, the benefits of online

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00:42:51

RMC Briefing: British Muslim Network launched to...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/02/26

The British Muslim Network is a new organisation which will talk to the government about issues affecting Muslim communities such as health, education, immigration, equalities and the economy.The network will include public figures from politics, media, business, entertainment and sport, as well as imams, lawyers, doctors and academics. Events will be held for Muslim communities to speak to each other and common concerns will be shared with the government to bring change.Successive governments have

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00:32:21

RMC Briefing: How the Church of England's parliament...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/02/18

The Church of England's General Synod has met for the first time since the Archbishop of Canterbury resigned and the Bishop of Liverpool retired, events related to safeguarding which have shocked the church.In this discussion, journalists who reported on the meeting reflect on how synod dealt with the crisis on its hands, fudging a vote on making safeguarding independent; tightening rules on clergy conduct which allow clerics to be sacked; refusing to back a suite of ideas to reform the way bishops

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00:56:00

RMC Briefing: Bishop of Liverpool's departure and...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/02/04

The sudden and shocking departure of the Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalah, following allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment against two women, one of whom was a bishop, has stunned the Church of England.In this Religion Media Centre briefing, our panel discussed the impact of his retirement on the city of Liverpool, the wider Church of England and its standing in the nation, where it is the established church. There were stories of a crisis of trust in the church, with clergy in

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00:47:26

RMC Briefing: The 80th anniversary of the liberation...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/01/20

The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp, will be commemorated across the world on 27 January. 1.1 million people were killed there, mostly Jews, but also Polish people, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, gays, and criminals. Auschwitz is a symbol of the Holocaust and 27 January is remembered as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.The images and stories of survivors are well documented, but less well known is that Auschwitz was home to at least six

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00:51:12

RMC Briefing: The stories likely to bring religion...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2025/01/15

What stories about religion can journalists expect to make the headlines in 2025? That was the question for our first briefing of the year, when a panel of journalists and commentators gingerly made predictions for the year ahead.At home, the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the volatile state of the Church of England will be centre stage. The new UK Labour government, which faced riots only weeks after taking office, faces high hopes from people wanting to see more engagement with

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00:54:41

RMC Briefing: Review of religion news 2024

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/12/10

2024 turned out to be quite a year for news about religion and in our last briefing of the year, we looked back at some of the headlines, the arguments, the characters, and the public events that brought religion to the fore.Headlines include the historic resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury; the way religion met public policy with a vote to allow assisted dying in England and Wales; the global synod of Catholics in Rome with disappointment for women's campaigners; summer riots and attacks on

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00:56:43

RMC Briefing: Where next for the Assisted Dying Bill?

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/12/03

The Assisted Dying bill was passed in the House of Commons by 55 votes and now moves on for further consideration. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, a panel of religious leaders, academics and hospice chaplains consider the repercussions of the bill after a hotly contested debate that was highly emotional.Among their issues of concern were what happens to medical staff within the small teams dealing with terminally ill patients, who refuse to have anything to do with it, some on the grounds of

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00:57:15

RMC Briefing: 'Seismic shock' as Archbishop of...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/11/13

The resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury has left the Church of England reeling. There is consensus that he had no option after the publication of the Makin report which exposed the horrific abuse of young men and boys by the barrister, John Smyth, and a decades-long cover-up by the Church of England.Smyth led Christian summer camps run by the Iwerne Trust which Justin Welby attended as a young man. From the mid-1970s, Smyth groomed boys and then took them back to his garden shed

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00:42:08

London summit considers how Christian organisations...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/11/11

Ninety financial sector leaders and church leaders from sixteen countries, all of whom oversee significant investment portfolios, are taking part in a meeting in London this week to turbocharge the market for investments that fit Christian beliefs.The Mensuram Bonam summit, on 11 and 12 November, is the second of its kind and seeks to engage the whole “eco-system” of Christian faith-aligned capital. It is organised by Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, President of the Vatican Bank, along with five

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00:50:29

RMC Briefing: The place of religion in the US...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/10/29

As the US presidential election campaign draws to a close, we use this opportunity to speak to faith leaders and election watchers to assess the importance of religion in the election campaign.Traditionally, white evangelicals have supported Donald Trump and this briefing made clear that they appear to have largely remained loyal. The majority of Catholics also support the Republican party. But Kamala Harris is courting the Black Christian vote and makes no secret of her commitment to the Christian

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00:55:06

RMC Briefing: How faith groups including churches are...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/10/16

The National Churches Trust has produced a report pointing out that churches provide health care which would otherwise cost the NHS £8.4 billion to deliver. "The House of Good Health" lists services such as youth groups, food banks, support for drug and alcohol addiction, and a listening ear for mental health counselling.But the report warns that this provision of care is in jeopardy because of the number of churches at risk of closure. It is published as many faith groups develop a wide variety of

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00:57:48

RMC Briefing: The place of religion in the assisted...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/10/10

A bill to allow assisted dying in England and Wales will be put before the Commons on 16 October, the first time in nine years that MPs will have had the chance to vote on the issue. The Lords have debated it many times, but in all cases, the measures have been defeated. This time, with a new intake of Labour MPs, and support from the Prime Minister for a free vote, there is hope among supporters that it will progress.But this Religion Media Centre briefing shows there remains entrenched opposition,

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00:55:18

RMC Briefing: Impact of 7 October attack and...

Religion Media Centre Podcast ·

2024/10/02

One year on from Hamas' attack on Israel, we brought together British Muslim and Jewish community leaders to find out how the war had impacted life in this country.Their discussion illustrates how each group "mirrored each other". Both communities have faced spikes in hate crime, leading to feelings across the board that Britain is not a safe place anymore. Social media was "absolutely bitter" and physical violence culminated in riots targeting mosques across England. In particular, speakers gave

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114 results

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