Let’s say that the parish church is a sailing ship. If the bishops are in the crow’s nest staring at the horizon, then the clergy are in the hull baling out the water. We’re all trying to give the impression that we know what we’re doing and where we’re going. Only, in reality, the hull has a hole in it and we are not on a sailing ship but a sinking ship. There is stuff we need to do but it’s not to reassure everyone that everything is fine. We need to launch the lifeboats and get the passengers to safety. It would be good if we could also salvage some of the cargo.
Get Instant Access
Register for free to read this article in full
Subscribe for unlimited access
From just £37.50 quarterly
Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login
