Slavery was legal. Marginalization of women was legal. Colonial exploitation was legal. That something has become law does not make it good or right. A dark day for our nation as our hostility to the refugees becomes legal

John Perumbalath, Bishop of Liverpool, Twitter, 18 July

It is now clear that thousands of girls are being harmed, sexually assaulted, raped or controlled in a way and on a scale that is not being recognised. Sadly, girls’ experiences are often hidden — out of sight and out of mind with most of the services and support to tackle serious violence, county lines and exploitation focusing on boys

Anne Longfield, chair of the Commission on Young Lives, Sky News, 19 July

Ours is once again an age of moral crusades, rallies and mob persecutions. The 20th century saw the growth of individualism and the decline of participation in churches and other social organisations. Thanks to the internet, mass movements are back. Thousands can gather remotely to persecute or praise. For some, Twitter provides the ecstatic thrill of a revivalist meeting

James Marriott, The Times, 13 July

We used to believe that God was our judge. A God who knew all the secrets of our hearts. A God who loved us nonetheless. We don’t believe in this God anymore. We believe in Rupert Murdoch. And it’s not been a happy swap

Giles Fraser, priest and writer, UnHerd, 13 July

How do we expect to grow without priests in place? And why should we bother expecting people to turn up to church if where we put our money suggests they’re not worth it? We are the living body of Christ, not an asset-holding company and if the current statistics don’t constitute “a rainy day” then I’m not sure what does

Fergus Butler-Gallie, priest and writer, the Telegraph, 13 July

It is worth remembering that there are two Churches of England — the one of Synod motions, institutional bullying and managed decline; and then there is the one that is the people of God, loving and serving in the places to which they have been called

ibid.

I’m glad to be part of a church that is torn, angered, conflicted, humiliated over doing the right thing and caring for the hurting. Better that than the endless “such a joy” forced smiling. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. God is present in the truth

Paul Bayes, former Bishop of Liverpool, Twitter, 11 July

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