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Quotes of the week

by
06 October 2023

istock

In our relationships with people, we must not lose the pastoral charity, which should permeate all our decisions and attitudes. The defence of objective truth is not the only expression of this charity; it also includes kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness, and encouragement. Therefore, we cannot be judges who only deny, reject, and exclude

Pope Francis, response to the dubia of five conservative cardinals, published 2 October

 

It is true that the Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but it is also true that both the texts of the scripture and the testimonies of tradition require interpretation in order to distinguish their perennial substance from cultural conditioning

ibid.

 

The Church must constantly discern between what is essential for salvation and what is secondary or less directly connected with this goal. In this regard, I would like to recall what St Thomas Aquinas affirmed: “The more one descends to matters of detail, the more frequently we encounter defects”

ibid.

 

Finally, a single formulation of a truth can never be adequately understood if it is presented in isolation, detached from the rich and harmonious context of the entire Revelation

Ibid.

 

I’ve spoken with many people today who are profoundly upset at the loss of this tree in what will always be known as Sycamore Gap. It bore a pastoral load in its strength and beauty

Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle, Twitter, 28 September

 

Stop interfering in politics. Perhaps we could ask the Church of England to return to their day job and marry people for free

Miriam Coates MP, speaking at fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference, 3 October

 

Technology drives progress, but races ahead of ethics — the time we need to think seriously about what we should do, rather than what we can do. Just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should or must do it

Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 27 September

 

A church with assets of £10.6bn that is willing to spend £200m on historic reparation could surely find £5m to repair the lives of the most acute victims still living with the consequences of its abuses and cover-ups

Martin Sewell, General Synod member, Twitter, 27 September

 

I had one season of Sunday league (With Hillyfielders in south-east London) and I’d go to church at 10:30, finish at 11:30-11:45 and the kick-off would be at 12:15. I’d come in my little shirt and trousers and change on the touchline! The manager would be so angry but I’d do it every week, even when he would tell me, “Please, we’ve got a big game”

Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal striker, quoted in The Athletic, 1 October

 

There’s a lot of pressure in football and in life. Sometimes you might feel like you are the only person going through something or all the weight is on you, but leaving it with the Lord in prayer and talking to other people who want to help makes it easier

Wes Harding, Milwall defender, ibid.

 

Congratulations to Ian Bishop who was consecrated as Bishop of Thetford yesterday, becoming the third Bishop Bishop after William Bishop in 1623 and Jim Bishop in 1962 (see also Judge Judge, former Lord Chief Justice). To add to the nominative neatness I was told this by a reader called Ken Christian

Patrick Kidd, The Times Diary, 30 September

 

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