The Church of England should arrange a meeting with Muslim leaders to say sorry for the Iraq war, a group of senior bishops suggests today.

Why?

If you oppose the war then do your best to describe why you oppose it. Reason your way through the pros and cons and reach a sensible, sincerely held position.

But don’t belittle your audience - and yourselves - with crocodile tears. The bishops’ apologies, however well-intentioned, cannot possibly be sincere since you can’t apologise for something you didn’t do. And what do you say to the millions of Iraqis who actually want to thank the coalition for the war? I guess their views are considered unworthy….

I try to be even-handed with the religious because not sharing their faith isn’t reason enough to be rude to them. And many religious people lead far better lives than their critics. But this kind of ‘reaching-out’ PC nonsense just invites derision.