Elon Musk — a multi-billionaire with an expansionist right-wing agenda, and no legitimate interest in our country — should be condemned in the strongest possible terms, by both State and Church, for his consistent attempts to destabilise our democracy

Lynne Cullens, Bishop of Barking, X, 5 January

It’s changing, without doubt. But we must not think that because we now have some black bishops, it’s all fixed. Racism still exists. You have to ask, why doesn’t this institution reflect the people that I’ve just travelled on the bus with?

Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, interview in The Observer, 29 December

Calling for resignations doesn’t resolve the issues [around safeguarding]. . . We need to stop a lynch-mob environment. It’s in the media, on social media and in parts of the church where flames are being fanned

ibid.

If it is to survive, the Church needs the disinfectant of sunlight. It could start by submitting itself to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, opening its files to scrutiny

Sean O’Neill, The Times, 30 December

The real leadership is “on the ground” in the parishes. Who the occupant of Lambeth Palace is has had no effect on my 50 years of ministry, and the same will be true for most parish priests. Much thought and prayer need to go into appointing a new archbishop; a rushed appointment with no obvious contenders would be a disaster

Michael Higgins, former Dean of Ely, letter, The Times, 28 December

Sometimes in my life I have met nuns with a vinegar face and that’s not friendly. That’s not something that helps to attract people. Vinegar is nasty and nuns with a vinegar face, let’s not even talk about it

Pope Francis, remarks made to a meeting of Dominican sisters, 4 January

While The Traitors is, at one level, about betrayal and deception, I think it is really about how difficult it is to discern the truth. In the show, as in real life, those who have the appearance of goodness may not be good; those who appear shifty may be entirely honest

Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Bolton and Salford, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 3 January. TV, page 25

News arrives that Watts & Co of Westminster, clerical outfitters since 1874, has not only taken over its neighbour and competitor Wippell’s, but the budget Newcastle competitor J&M Sewing. This is like Wall Street in the 80s

Richard Coles, priest and writer, X, 29 December

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