DJ Chaplain; Vatican's Covid-19 Commission; Prayers in the parking lot

Sunday

The night-time economy in the UK has been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown. Bars, restaurants and music venues have been forced to close. Luke Rollins is a DJ Chaplain and tells Edward Stourton how he is supporting colleagues whose work and lifestyle has changed because of the pandemic.

The Rev Dr Augusto Zampini Davies has been appointed by Pope Francis to a Vatican Commission that is investigating how the Holy See can respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and what role it can play to help manage the social and economic changes that will follow. He tells Edward about the massive task ahead and how they propose to help the church and society recover.

This week Northern Ireland approved drive-in churches as it begins to ease some restrictions brought in to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Worshipping in 4 wheels was popular in 1950’s America and Father Stephen M Koeth tells Edward about their history and the current enthusiasm for drive-in churches in the US.

Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients account for more than a third of those in critical care with Covid-19. Someone who is seeing this on the front line is the Rev Dr Alfred Banya, Head of Chaplaincy at King’s College Hospital in London. Edward speaks to him along with Robert Beckford, Professor of Theology at the Queens Ecumenical Foundation in Birmingham, as they explore the reasons why this is happening and what more can be done to help protect the BAME community.

Producers: Amanda Hancox David Cook