As someone educated in the 1970s, when ‘creativity’ and self-expression were allowed to trump disciplined and structured learning, I noticed as a young journalist in the 1980s that older colleagues had been considerably better educated than I was.

“The international community must document human rights abuses being committed in northern Iraq so that future prosecutions can take place. It is important and necessary for the international community to challenge the culture of impunity which has allowed these atrocities to take place.

A survey conducted by Christian Research for Christian Today found that 0.6 per cent of churchgoers are in a civil partnership, slightly more than the number cohabiting.

Although statistically small, given the size of the survey, the number is high considering the widespread hostility to homosexual relationships among the leadership of many Christian churches. The Church of England and Catholic churches believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

“Pastorally, you meet people, sit across the room with them, talk to them… and your heart goes out to them.”

When asked whether he believes the church’s current position is unstable, he repeated: “We’re in the middle of a prolonged period of disagreement and conversation, and therefore by definition it is unstable.”