The Anglican Church plans to consider the idea of a gender-neutral God. What can we say? God forgive them, they know not what they do. Millions of people in the West understand they are being led to a real spiritual catastrophe

Vladimir Putin, speech in Moscow, 21 February

As we have repeatedly said, there are absolutely no plans to consider a gender-neutral God

C of E spokesman, 21 February

I think for me, Angela Merkel is the example I would follow. I would have voted, as a matter of conscience, along the lines of mainstream teaching in most major religions that marriage is between a man and a woman. But I would have respected and defended the democratic choice that was made

Kate Forbes, SNP leadership candidate, interview in The Scotsman, 20 February

She [Forbes] could have been the flagging SNP’s candidate for change, giving it a reset after 15 years in power. But if she can’t step back from the pulpit, she’s in danger of becoming as polarising as Sturgeon

Alice Thomson, The Times, 22 February

This legislation is not anti-Christian, and, in respect of people who privately pray, my understanding is that prayer works very effectively outside of a 150-metre radius of an abortion clinic

Lord Paddick, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Public Order Bill Third Reading, House of Lords, 21 February

What one thing would you change about Yorkshire if you had to?

Nothing. Yorkshire terriers and Yorkshire puddings, countless cricket legends — Terry’s chocolate orange, The Brontë sisters, Yorkshire tea and the most stunning National Park — what’s not to love! I think God did a pretty good job and I’m more than happy to leave everything just as it is

Lynton Parmer Hemsley (portraitist), interviewed in The Yorkshire Post, 18 February

My desire for it [faith] doesn’t mean I’ll ever get there. To say “I want to find faith” feels as efficacious as saying “I want to fall in love”. Most of us would like the latter. It doesn’t guarantee it will happen. But still, I want to go out and see, as Gerard Manley Hopkins did, the world “charged with the grandeur of God”. Just once, I’d like to see that

Lamorna Ash, New Statesman, 20 February

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