Sunday - 12/09/2010

The Sunday programme previews Pope Benedict's forthcoming visit to the UK. To coincide with the trip, the BBC has commissioned a special survey probing the attitudes of British Catholics. Issues covered include celibacy, child sex abuse, and the role of women in the Church. The BBC's Religious Affairs Correspondent Robert Pigott will explain the findings (of the survey) in more detail. Catholic writers Paul Vallely (The Independent) and Anna Arco (Catholic Herald) give their reaction, as does Peter Smith, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark After a pastor in Florida decides to abandon his plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11, we'll be looking at the position of American Muslims. Is it becoming increasingly more difficult for them to live and function in the land of the free? Presenter Edward Stourton interviews Ed Kessler - Director of the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths. Is it possible for Pope Benedict to improve relations with Muslims and Jews? Or do previous comments make this unlikely. Kevin Bocquet reports from London, on the coalition of groups protesting against the Pope's visit to Britain. When does a healthy protest go too far? And is the Pope an easy target for demonstrators, in a way that other world leaders are not? And Edward interviews the classical composer James MacMillan about the music he has penned as part of Pope Benedict's visit. E-mail: [email protected] Series producer: Amanda Hancox.