While our beloved Madiba was the father of our democracy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the spiritual father of our new nation. We think how both of these two icons of our country played different but complementary roles, in forging the nation that we are today. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been our moral compass, but he’s also been our national conscience
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, eulogy at Archbishop Tutu’s funeral, I January
There were three Ps about our Archbishop: he was the prophet, the pastor, and the pray-er. Desmond was quite at ease praying on the telephone with others. Actually, he prayed anywhere and everywhere, not only in churches and chapels
Michael Nuttall, retired bishop, homily at Archbishop Tutu’s funeral
There is a plan to turn ailing post offices into joint banking hubs. Why not use churches? These are precisely the services being evicted from high streets under government planning reforms. Thousands of village shops must be closing. Pubs are now frequently shutting. Perhaps they should merge. Beer was sold in naves in the middle ages
Simon Jenkins, The Guardian, 31 December
Although you say that Patten is well thought of, none of our undergraduates were born yet at the time when he was Governor of Hong Kong . . . so to them he is a dinasour [sic]
Kevin McGerty, tutor at Christ Church, Oxford, in an email thread discussing how the college should reply to an intervention by the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten
To hurt a woman is to insult God, who took on our humanity from a woman
Pope Francis, New Year homily, which mentioned domestic violence, I January
When we plant a seed, we don’t see the fruit immediately. But under the surface, God is working with what we have planted
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, New Year message, 1 January
I agree with the principles that Jesus advocated and there is great wisdom in the teaching of Jesus, and I agree with those teachings. Things like turn the other cheek are very important, as opposed to an eye for an eye. . . [But] As Einstein would say, I believe in the God of Spinoza. But, hey, if Jesus is saving people, I mean, I won’t stand in his way. Sure, I’ll be saved. Why not?
Elon Musk, entrepreneur, Babylon Bee podcast, 4 January
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