麻豆约拍

Edward Stourton with the religious and ethical news of the week. Moral arguments and perspectives on stories familiar and unfamiliar.

We hear from Lord Falconer, Chairman of the Commission on Assisted Dying, which was set up last year to look at whether there needs to be a change of approach to the issue of assisted dying and to make recommendations as to what if any changes should be implemented.

Australia's Welsh-born prime minister Julia Gillard is under increasing pressure to legalise gay marriage after a motion demanding equal rights for "all adult couples" was passed by the Queensland branch of the governing Labour party. But it faces strong opposition from religious groups in Australia. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

We talk to the Bishop of Oxford on his new guidelines for admissions to Church of England schools.

Delegates at the Unison conference in Manchester met this week to discuss how they could engage with community and faith groups to oppose government cuts. Kevin Bocquet speaks to them about what they hope to gain .

Has the Church of England cleared the way for the appointment of homosexual bishops? We delve behind the headlines to find out what the legal advice actually means.

Is it time for negotiations with the Taliban? Hazir Teimourian, Member of the Limehouse Group of Analysts says that you need to negotiate with the warlord elements of the Taliban in order to weaken the more ideologically hard-line.

A Prayer in Preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games has been published by the Church of England. Will it spur on athletes, churches and anyone who is getting ready for the Olympics?