Quotables

“It is, and I hate to say it, an invitation to schism.”

ULRICH L. LEHNER, a professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, on Pope Francis’ decision, announced Dec. 18, to allow Roman Catholic priests to offer nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples.

“He just got into more trouble today.”

Rep. JAMES COMER, R-Ky., the House Oversight Committee chairman, on Hunter Biden’s decision to ignore a Republican subpoena and not sit for a deposition with lawmakers on Dec. 13. Biden instead gave a press speech saying he was the target of “the unrelenting Trump attack machine.”

“I was basically declared as a villain of the world.”

Serbian tennis star NOVAK DJOKOVIC in a 60 Minutes interview on his refusal to take a COVID-19 vaccine and penalties he suffered as a result—including deportation from Australia during a 2022 tennis tournament.

“I had a sense that it might be a $1,000 or $2,000 piece. But I had no clue how good it actually was until I did a little bit more research.”

JESSICA VINCENT, who bought a red- and green-striped vase at a Hanover County, Va., Goodwill store for $3.99, thinking it might be valuable. The Italian-designed vase sold for $107,100 on Dec. 13, according to The New York Times.