As time goes by in my career, I always fear echoes of the warnings that Quintin Hailsham used to give us all about the risks of moving towards an elected dictatorship in this country. The sovereignty of Parliament has its limits, which are the limits of the rule of law, the separation of powers, and what ought to be the constitutional limits on any branch of government in a liberal democratic society such as ours

Lord Clarke of Nottingham, speaking in debate on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, House of Lords, 29 January

To be trusted, you have to be trustworthy, and we have lacked that level of trustworthiness in the last efforts in this area. We have to regain that by being trustworthy, which means to engage victims and survivors, and to set up a board, whatever it is, through Alexis Jay’s work, that is truly independent

Dr Jamie Harrison, Archbishops’ Council member, Sunday, Radio 4, 28 January

The global denial of FoRB [freedom of religion and belief], either through failing government or repressive regimes, is now even worse than in the Cold War — a terrible barometer of our times. So I’m glad to be going to Washington DC [at the International Religious Freedom Summit] to make common with global friends on this issue

Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, X/Twitter, 30 January

When sports coaches and managers step down, it’s usually at the point where their team is failing. But [Jürgen] Klopp’s announcement [that he will stand down as manager of Liverpool FC] comes with his side leading the Premier League table. I applaud his decision. There’s a lot to be said for going when you’re at the top of your game — far better than to wait till the fans bay for your blood

David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 27 January

Millions watched the spectacle. A 30-metre priapic incense stick made of 1,500kg of cow dung was lit for the occasion. Babies were prematurely induced so that they would be born on this holiest of days. Yet, for all the pomp, the pilgrims will doubtless be returning home disappointed. For the Ram Temple, which is supposed to be the third-largest in the world, isn’t even close to completion

Pratinav Anil on the temple at Ayodha, UnHerd, 23 January

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