Some friends who shall remain nameless are atheists. But the only decent nursery school in their vicinity is Catholic. Why is it decent? Because of peer group. Middle-class parents try desperately to get their kids in, so as to avoid the chavvy, sink-school alternatives. So my friends, both atheists, are pretending to Catholic – going to Church, etc. And pretending to be married (in fact the chap is still married to someone else).

Incidentally, their little four year old girl yesterday said to me daughter, in great seriousness, “Did you know, Jesus is walking with you?” So it seems she’s been getting some fairly heavy – and, in the short term at least – effective Catholic teaching.