How many more reports are necessary to correct this wrong?
Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon, Twitter, on a Human Rights Watch report on the Windrush scandal, 17 April
Before 29 I hadn’t even heard of a Saturn Return as a concept. Let’s just say that now I am well acquainted. . . . Thank you to the witches in my coven who were so pivotal in helping me arrive at where and who I am now
Emma Watson, actor, Instagram self-reflection, after her 33rd birthday the previous day, 16 April
It’s like walking into a cathedral, a big religious space
Libby Jackson, Radio 3’s Private Passions, on entering European Mission Control for the International Space Station, 16 April
We were once told the Bible is very clear, the earth is flat, slavery is legitimate, leadership is male, divorce equals exclusion, the earth is only 6000 yrs old etc. Now those immature readings of scripture have been dumped. So why do some still use it to exclude LGBT+ people?
Steve Chalke, Twitter, 14 April
What many people are struggling with is that some bishops appear to be arguing against the doctrine of the church that they themselves took public oaths to uphold
Ian Paul, letter to The Guardian, on blessing of same-sex couples, 17 April
In the past, Fry has described herself as “very working class”. Her father made hydraulic lifts for lorries, while her mother pushed her interest in numbers. “She wasn’t pushing me to make me something. She was pushing me because she’s Catholic, and life is pain”
Rebecca Nicholson, interview with Hannah Fry, maths professor, The Guardian, 17 April
The idea that local authorities should be empowered to take over churches for community use has a fatal flaw. Like the C of E’s parishioners, councils have no money to look after listed buildings that are expensive to maintain, impossible to heat and difficult to subdivide, while maintaining the heritage interest
Steve Parish, letter to The Guardian, on Simon Jenkins’s article suggesting that local authorities should step in to fund churches, 14 April
Quite clearly, the universal credit level in recent years has not been sufficient to meet the cost of essentials. I would be grateful if the Minister could clarify what the Government now include as “essentials” to make sure that people can survive adequately on universal credit, without accessing foodbanks or starving.
Baroness Meacher, House of Lords, 18 April
From the days when people did principled things, even if under pressure. I’m reminded of more genuinely honourable decisions, like Lord Carrington’s resignation over the Falklands. Why did it become foolish to do the right thing?
Paul Bayes, a former Bishop of Liverpool, Twitter, responding to a post by Michael Beschloss “Justice Abe Fortas forced to quit Supreme Court, 1969, over his secret financial relationship with rich friend”, 14 April
Those who huff and puff about a buccaneering nation and who shout about our sovereignty are remembering these “glory days” when we had weight to throw around, and threw it. And now we’re a small nation of the second rank that needs to listen & build partnerships. Thank goodness
Paul Bayes, responding to Europe Maps & Facts post, “Only 22 countries have never been invaded by Britain”, 15 April
Because Britain’s monarch is not only titular head of state, but also supreme governor of the Church of England, which comes from that business of being Defender of the Faith. If the nation’s Christian faith is simply one among many (and none, as it were), then what are we doing exactly by crowning him as such? As King, you can’t have your multi-faith coronation cake and eat it
George Pitcher, author and priest, blog article, 13 April
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