The Church of England has at last agreed to ordain women as bishops. I say ‘at last’, because this move is long overdue. If women can be deacons, then they can be bishops, and they have been deacons for over two decades. The Church of England has at last caught up with itself. I am, of course, opposed to the ordination of women. If I were in favour I would be morally obliged, I think, to become an Anglican. But I welcome this latest step as it restores some sanity to the world. There was no earthly reason why that ‘stained glass ceiling’ was in place; except there was. If the Church of England believes in apostolic succession, then the ordination of future priests is compromised if the ordaining prelate is female. However, though this argument has been aired many a time, it was not allowed to carry the day. In fact, the real delay to the legislation has been over the safeguards to be put in place to protect those who will refuse the ministry of women bishops. The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have published a brief statement, which I reproduce in full: