Archbishops are “colluding” to dismiss an abuse investigation, a victim has claimed.

Dame Sarah Mullally, who is the current Bishop of London, will legally become the Church of England’s top bishop in a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on Jan 28.

However, it was revealed in December that she has been the subject of a complaint over her handling of an abuse allegation in which a victim, known as Survivor N, was allegedly groped and had sexual comments made to him by a priest. 

The complaint was being looked into by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell. On Thursday, he decided to dismiss the complaint against her.

However, The Telegraph understands that the Archbishop of York made the decision while he is also the subject of a complaint made by Survivor N, known as a clergy discipline measure (CDM), regarding his “conflict of interest” in the matter.

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🔴 Remarks made after complaint over Dame Sarah Mullally’s handling of case is dismissed

Find out more ⬇️https://t.co/wl5m5Dg6t3 pic.twitter.com/8Ug8y8iOkW

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 9, 2026

Religion rather than secular society is often blamed for using violence to achieve its aims. Professor Howard in Broken Altars: Secularist violence in modern history, in contrast, demonstrates convincingly how violence has been used more often by secular regimes against religion. He seeks in this book to “bring needed nuance and perspective to a complex, often fraught topic”.

He sets out three definitions of secularism: passive secularism, combative secularism, and eliminationist secularism, and focuses in his book on the latter two, describing as passive secularism what we in the West would consider to be characteristic of a tolerant political regime with liberal principles — church-state separation, freedom of conscience, and freedom of the press — all vital ingredients of a democratic system.

He presents, as examples of combative secularism, three case studies of early 20th-century modernisation: Mexico, Spain, and Turkey. 

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Xenia Dennen reviews a study of #secularism in its aggressive forms 📚 #books #bookreviews https://t.co/o2xDU7RWds

— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) January 11, 2026

10. What statement about friendship can be more sublime, more true, more valuable than this: it has been proved that friendship must begin in Christ, continue with Christ, and be perfected by Christ. Come, now: propose what in your opinion should be the first question about friendship.

IVO. I think we should first discuss what friendship is, lest we appear to be painting on a void, not knowing what should guide and organize our talk.

11. AELRED. Is Cicero’s definition not an adequate beginning for you? “Friendship is agreement in things human and divine, with good will and charity.”

12. IVO. If his definition suffices for you, it’s good enough for me.

–Aelred of Rievaulx Spiritual Friendship I.10-12 (Lawrence C. Braceland, tr., Marsha L. Dutton ed., Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2010), p.57

12th January – St. Aelred of Rievaulx.

A talented author, theologian, preacher and diplomat, Aelred rose to become abbot of Rievaulx between 1147 and his death in 1167. He wrote a book on Spiritual Friendship in which he shared that God was pure reciprocity. pic.twitter.com/0bPfn8hLtK

— Ninefold Kyrie (@Gda1238) January 12, 2026

Almighty God, who didst endow thy abbot Aelred with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: Grant to thy people that same spirit of mutual affection, that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the gift of thy eternal goodness; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O God, who endowed Saint Aelred, Abbot of Rievaulx,
with the gift of fostering Christian friendship
and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness,
grant to your people, we pray,
that same spirit of fraternal affection,
so that in loving one another
we may know the love of… pic.twitter.com/8TTT9c47fW

— Catholic Church (@catholicEW) January 12, 2026

Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit:
grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

✨☀️ A bit of inspiration for the dark days: sunrise at York Minster. pic.twitter.com/3TXVAaGwDR

— Andy Marshall 📸 (@fotofacade) January 12, 2026

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

–Psalm 1:1-3

The Duke of Portland Boathouse that sits on Ullswater, illuminated by the hues of sunrise.

Some mornings surprise you. The colour came out of nowhere, with just enough time for me to screech into a parking spot and dash to the shoreline. A clichéd shot, but for good reason 🫡 pic.twitter.com/vS5ty4t9IP

— Verity Milligan (@VerityMilligan) January 12, 2026