Michael Day, The Independent, 3rd September 2012

One of Italy’s most revered cardinals has stunned the Catholic Church by issuing a damning indictment of the institution from the grave, calling for its ‘transformation’.

Hours after Milan’s former Archbishop, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, died on Friday at the age of 85, the leading daily paper Corriere della Sera printed his final interview, in which he attacks the Church – and by implication its current leadership – for being ‘200 years out of date’.

Dr Williams today admitted that the bishops' attempts to find a compromise had clearly failed
Jerome Taylor, The Independent, 10th July 2012

Supporters and opponents of women bishops are gearing up for months of frantic lobbying as a potentially historic vote which might have approved legislation today was temporarily stayed following an impassioned debate on the crucial issue.

The Church is working out its way of life within horizons not of this world
Richard Coles, The Independent, 5th July 2012

There was an ancient tradition that when someone was consecrated bishop they said, ‘Nolo episcopari’, meaning, ‘I don't want to be a bishop’. It is impossible to say how many episcopal careers thus began with a lie, and the tradition was wisely abandoned. The words might be heard again this week when the General Synod of the Church of England meets; they will be spoken, however, by women seeking to change the Church's rules that at which moment restrict episcopacy to men; and they will be spoken through gritted teeth because these women have been fighting for this change for decades.