The Christian story speaks of forgiveness for failure; but, it also speaks of repentance and change. Not for reasons of pragmatic convenience, but because ethics matter for both individuals and society together. We live in challenging times on many fronts. The question to be faced is: what sort of a society do we wish to be?

Nick Baines, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 1 February

10 Downing Street is not “an usual combination of workplace and private home”. Every vicarage in the country is in a similar position. In fact, during the lockdowns every person working from home were similar. Our house was home, work, and school. We managed not to have parties

Andrew Dunlop, Tutor for Pioneering, Ridley Hall, Twitter, 1 February

Victims of Savile I represented and have spoken with today are all disgusted by Boris Johnson’s comments. They’ve told me they want him to withdraw them and apologise. I urge Johnson to do that right away. Weaponising their suffering to get out of a political hole is disgraceful

Richard Scorer, lawyer for abuse victims, Twitter, 1 February

As we emerge into life post-pandemic, it’s my belief that the church will be much more of a buffet of many different styles, timings and possibilities than the previous set menu format

Gavin Calver, The Times, 29 January

It’ll be of no surprise to those that knew and worked with him that he was telling an Archbishop of Canterbury joke to a nurse not long before he died

Statement from Barry Cryer’s family on his death, 27 January

A man and his wife are out walking one day when they spot a lone fellow on the other side of the road.

“That looks like the Archbishop of Canterbury over there,” says the woman. “Go and see if it is.”

The husband crosses the road and asks the man if he is indeed the Archbishop of Canterbury.

“F— off,” says the man.

The husband crosses back to his wife, who asks, “What did he say? Is he the Archbishop of Canterbury?”

“He told me to f— off,” says the husband.

“Oh no,” replies the wife. “Now we’ll never know.”

Barry Cryer, as told to Ben Preston, quoted in The Daily Telegraph, 27 January

I thought it was dead funny. . . I relayed the joke to another bishop, but just got a blank look
Nick Baines, The Sunday Times, 30 January

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