B2 or not B2, that is the question

A bishop breaks cover to attack the C of E's tortured implementation of gay blessings, but will anyone listen?

Hello! First up, I have to acknowledge that what is unquestionably the biggest church news story of the week year is unfortunately not getting mentioned in this newsletter. The cardinals of the Catholic Church, in a flagrant lack of respect for The Critical Friend’s publication schedule, decided to elect a new pope after I’d written today’s newsletter but before it hit your inboxes. I didn’t have time to junk it all and start from scratch, so I’m afraid you’ll have to pretend you’ve never heard of Pope Leo XIV until next time.

Instead, we’re returning to our favourite topic - gay blessings in the Church of England. Just as the church announced there would be no final vote on the remaining package of reforms until February next year, a leading evangelical bishop has come out with a lengthy and sustained attack on the process his fellow bishops are using to try and introduce the Prayers of Love and Faith. Will this change anything or is it all too late?

Then we do dip into the ongoing co…