If this is, as he hopes, the last time he goes on television, perhaps we should all breathe a sigh of relief, and pray that he does indeed pursue total obscurity. Maybe Welby should take note of the actions of the late John Profumo after his infamous downfall — and start by reconciling and forgiving himself for what has transpired — before turning his thoughts to any sort of wider reconciliation ministry
Rebecca Chapman, The Spectator website, 31 March
Why is it so hard for churches to hang on to their young members? The fundamental answer is that Christianity is strange and hard. It asks people to believe propositions which seem highly implausible, to accept a whole sphere of existence beyond the normal human senses
Niall Gooch, UnHerd, 30 March
Unlike the American billionaires reportedly pouring money into research they hope might enable the super-wealthy to live forever, being confronted by my illness has gradually helped me to feel ready to go when my earthly life reaches its natural conclusion, be that through cancer or otherwise. But, until then, I’ll seek to continue to live in that love of God, which inspires and energises me to seek to be a force for good in a world where the malignant cancers I need to fight are those of gross inequality, hatred, and injustice
David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, Thought for the Day, Radio 4, 31 March
My theory is that community and togetherness are sacrosanct in their own right, and that churches are places where people gather and, for a short time, sing from the same hymn sheet. It’s a place of welcome reprieve from the constant dissent that characterises our polarised world. Even those of us who don’t believe in God recognise that this small spring of peace needs to be protected
Kiran Sidhu, Prospect website, 2 April
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