Rwanda Asylum Scheme; Bible Readings and Prime Ministers; Musician Jim Seals and his Bahai faith.

Sunday

Musician Jim Seals was the man behind 1970’s classics like Diamond Girl and Summer Breeze. Jim who passed away this week at the age of 80, was also an adherent of the Baha’i faith. Fellow Bahaist, Jack Lenz, the Canadian composer and friend, pays his own tribute.

National celebrations or commemorations often include a keynote Bible reading from the Prime Minister of the day, but perhaps inadvertently they can also invite commentary on political leadership. It’s something Prime Minister Boris Johnson fell prey to at the recent Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, when he read a passage from the New Testament, focussing on the theme of integrity. Edward discusses the pitfalls with the Reverends George Pitcher and Fergus Butler Gallie.

Nigeria’s government is facing increasing criticism for failing to tackle widespread insecurity in the country. Now for the first time, the authorities are blaming a militant Islamic State group for the recent attack on Christian worshippers in the town of Owo, in the South West of the country, in which more than forty people were killed and dozens more injured. The BBC’s Samuel Murunga explains the complex picture of religious tensions in the country.

Throughout Pride month we are listening in on conversations between LGBTQ people of faith. This week we hear Jude Rose and Joel Rosen navigate their lives around Orthodox Judaism.

And as the row escalates over the Government’s scheme to send would-be asylum seekers to Rwanda, Edward explores both sides of the argument with Ann Widdecombe, former Home Office Minister and Shadow Home Secretary and Dr Edie Friedman, Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality.

Producers: Jill Collins and Rosie Dawson

Editor: Tim Pemberton