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'Time Magazine named him alongside Nelson Mandela and Bill Gates in its "most influential people" list of 2005. He was once described by Billy Graham as the "most respected clergyman in the world today". And his leadership of the evangelical movement helped move it from a rather narrow-minded fundamentalism after the Second World War, to the fastest growing section of global Christianity it is today. John Stott, the former Rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, and one of the most significant Christian leaders of the 20th century, died on 27th July 2011 aged 90.'

to John Stott from the (John Stott Ministries). On Sunday, we'll look back on the life and legacy of the man described bt Christianity Today as the 'architect of twentieth-century evangelicalism'.

Other tributes have been published on the website of including the thoughts and memories of his successors at All Souls: Michael Baughen, Richard Bewes and Hugh Palmer.

A video obituary has been published on

Obituary: The .

Obituary: The .

Obituary: The .

The word 'unprecedented' was widely used to describe Taoiseach Enda Kenny's Dail assault on the Vatican last week. Here's another use for the word. The Vatican has just announced that they have "" the papal nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza (pictured), their ambassador to Ireland. According to Vatican Radio, the papal nuncio has been summoned back to Rome for consultations over the Cloyne Report, which was published earlier this month. According to some informal reports, Cardinal Sean Brady has already been advising the Vatican on its reponse to the report. So how should we read this 'recall'?

One way to read this development is that this is diplomatic language: the Vatican is signalling to Ireland that it takes the Cloyne Report seriously -- that it finally gets it. Another way to read the move is that the Vatican has offered a diplomatic snub to the Irish state as an expression of its displeasure following the Taoiseach's fiery attack. We are expecting the hear more from the Vatican at lunchtime, when a statement is likely to be published on the church's official website.

Update: The Vatican Press Office statement reads: "Following the publication on 13 July, of the Irish government's Commission of Inquiry Report into allegations of abuse of minors by clergy of the diocese of Cloyne, otherwise known as the 'Cloyne Report' and, in particular, the reactions that have followed, the Secretary of State has recalled the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, HE Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza for consultations".

Update: from Brian Hutton, Press Association:

The Vatican has branded as "excessive" some reactions to a damning clerical child abuse inquiry after recalling the Pope's ambassador to Ireland. Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, Papal Nuncio in Dublin, has already returned to Rome in a rare move ordered by the Holy See. The recall comes just days after an unprecedented attack by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Catholic church hierarchy.

Vice-director of the Vatican press office Father Ciro Benedettini said it should be seen as a measure of the gravity of the fall-out over Ireland's response to the Cloyne report into the mishandling of paedophile priest allegations.

"The recall of the Nuncio, being a measure verily adopted by the Holy See, denotes the seriousness of the situation and the Holy See's desire to face it objectively and determinately," he said. "Nor does it exclude some degree of surprise and disappointment at certain excessive reactions."

Fr Benedettini added: "The recall of the Nuncio should be interpreted as an expression of the desire of the Holy See for serious and effective collaboration with the (Irish) government."

Two weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore ordered Archbishop Leanza
to get answers from the Vatican on claims it allowed priests to ignore mandatory reporting guidelines on suspected child abusers within the church.

The Pope's envoy was told to take a message to the Holy See that the Irish government believes its conduct has been disgraceful and unacceptable. In a statement today, Mr Gilmore said the decision to recall Archbishop Leanza was a matter for the Holy See.

"The government is awaiting the response of the Holy See to the recent report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne and it is to be expected that the Vatican would wish to consult in depth with the Nuncio on its response," he added.

The Vatican became embroiled in the latest Irish church scandal after revelations about a 1997 letter, from the then Papal Nuncio to Irish bishops, a year after reporting guidelines were enforced to enhance child protection. The correspondence stated that the bishops policy was "merely a discussion document" and that the Vatican had serious moral and canon reservations about mandatory reporting of clerical abuse.

In language never before used by an Irish premier, Mr Kenny last week accused the Catholic hierarchy of putting the Church ahead of child rape victims. Mr Kenny said the latest revelations had exposed a dysfunctional, elite hierarchy determined to frustrate investigations, and he warned the Holy See that religion does not rule Ireland.

"For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago," he said.

Update: Patsy McGarry

Update: The Vatican has announced that the papal nuncio is to be moved to a new appointment in Prague. Archbishop Leanza's tenure in Ireland was due to end this summer in any case -- and the Czech authorities say they received a request for the transfer in early June -- so we should not perhaps read too much into this development. We wait to find out details of the Vatican diplomat who will be sent to Ireland.

'The evidence is compelling. David and Jonathan spoke about each other as if they were spouses, and aspects of their relationship only make sense if you see them as a couple. The whole context of their relationship - they even had a formal covenant between them because of their love - suggest that they were more than just friends.'

That's the argument Andrew McFarland will be making tomorrow night at the in All Souls' Church, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast, at 7.00pm. A second talk on the same eventing, by Paula Rita Tabakin, will explore homosexuality from a Jewish reform perspective using texts and traditions. On tomorrow's Sunday Sequence, we'll have a report on Andrew McFarland's claim and hear from those who read the Bible differently.

I don't often post an open thread, but some of you tell me it's a good idea because it lets you get stuff off your chest without throwing the direction of other threads. It also permits you to make suggestions about subjects we might give some more substantial space to on Will & Testament. Let's see. Expatiate at will (sorry about the pun). Keep it legal. The house rules still apply.