Comment and debate on faith issues in Scotland August/September 2019 www.openhousescotland.co.uk Issue No 283 £2.50 Editorial The next steps

What next for the conversation on new directions for the ecclesial structures and suggested the need for a new focus Catholic Church in Scotland which began at the Open on process and dialogue. Many people want a regular House conference in June? Reflections from participants on gathering to become part of the ongoing conversation, the lessons they learned (see Letters Special pp 14-17) offer echoing Pope Francis’ call for a synodal church at all levels. some pointers. Participants were inspired by local initiatives (‘nothing at The first is context. We are living at time of transition from all will change unless we individuals make it happen’) and a dying model of church. There are no easy answers to by the way in which people adapted tools to meet local changing an institution with deeply embedded structures of needs. These experiences have already prompted further power. This was reflected by those who felt that the conversations. conversation about new directions has been going on for a Then there is the suggestion that we need to develop a way long time, that clergy are still able to block progress at local of turning the thoughts and ideas generated by the level, and that opposition to Pope Francis’ reforms is deeply conference into practical possibilities for change. The damaging. The importance of leadership was raised by conference organisers and facilitators plan to meet soon to several people. Bishop Leahy was commended for his discuss how this part of the process might be taken forward. leadership skills as well as his all-embracing vision of We’ll keep you posted. church. Thank you to all those who responded to the invitation to People found that gathering together and listening with share their thoughts on the conference. We can all take respect to one another was a powerful experience of church heart from Pope Francis’ encouragement to continue along (‘an inspiring gathering unimaginable until recent times’). It the path of synodality which began at Vatican II. The world demonstrated the potential for transformation when in which we live and which we are called to serve, he says, everyone’s gifts and insights are acknowledged and demands that the church strengthen co-operation in all honoured. The facilitator’s skill in setting the context for areas of its mission (Address commemorating the 50th effective conversation exposed the failure of existing anniversary of the institution of the synod of bishops). Life on earth

It was not a small step for man but neither was it a giant would have fed everyone on planet earth. But that was leap for mankind. It may have been a gigantic never on the agenda. achievement by the Americans to put a man on the moon It now appears that the moon might be a useful base for in 1969. But humankind was then concerned about many taking off to explore earth’s sister planet Mars. Within the other things. The Vietnam War for a start. More people next generation it may be possible to set up living quarters went to Woodstock the following month for a music on the moon. What is driving this is the question of the festival than to the Kennedy Space Centre for the source of life. Was there life on Mars billions of years ago? launching of the moon rocket. Despite the current media There are people rich enough to pay for a trip to find out. hype few remember where they then were when That is the mystery confronting science today – the Armstrong stepped on to the lunar surface. It was all over source of life. More people now have faith in science than in a few years. Since 1972 nobody has been back. in religion. In 1969 Buzz Aldrin took communion before The moon was in fact just another target in the military stepping on to the moon. Mission Control wished the race between the United States and the Soviet Union. It astronauts ‘Godspeed’. Now the only time the Deity or was won by America and bankrupted Russia. That having the Christ is mentioned it is as an expletive. Science and been decided upon, interest in peopling the moon religion shouldn’t be so separate. diminished. It was possible to return to earth and get on Meanwhile there is an abundance of life on earth. Some of with proxy wars against other enemies. it isn’t very pleasant. Millions live on the edge of starvation. George MacLeod of the Iona Community was one of the Food is produced on an industrial scale to offer variation to first to ask why if it was possible to bring rocks from the those who already have enough. Efforts to do this are moon then why was it so difficult to take food to places driving climate change which may make parts of the world on earth where there was famine. The cost of the moon uninhabitable. Two billionaires are competing in the new race was literally astronomical. A fraction of the expense space race. Is their money being well spent?

2 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 Contents Interview

LYNN JOLLY

Page 3 Mary McAleese interview Lynn Jolly Mary McAleese in Pages 5 The Kirk’s Radical Action Plan Glasgow Jennifer Stark Page 7 Faith in fiction The former President of Ireland and advocate Mary Cullen for human rights explains her current research Page 9 Thomas Merton revisited into the implication of children’s rights for the Catholic Church’s teaching and practice. Michael L O’Neill Page 10 An education pioneer Stephen J. McKinney My meeting with Mary McAleese, Glasgow since Page 12 Notebook lawyer, academic and former President October 2018. of Ireland, takes place in a very old I begin by Page 14 Letters special: your haunt, a room with which I was asking how she Mary McAleese. response to the Open House once very familiar. She currently is enjoying her conference holds a professorship in the theology Glasgow sojourn. Without hesitation department of Glasgow University and she affirms some familiar Glaswegian Page 18 Reviews: books, film we meet in a small room on the first tropes: we are friendly; we are open and music floor where I used to look out of the and mildly gregarious compared to window during systematic theology some of the dourer corners of the Page 22 Bishop Devine: an seminars. I remark on this as we shake country; we are, in fact, very familiar; appreciation hands. a bit like the Irish. Quite Irish actually. A native Catholic of north Belfast she Many of her childhood holidays were Page 24 Moments in Time grew up familiar with the sharp end of spent in Scotland and there is, she sectarianism and the discriminations says, an ease here that is making this that came with it. From school she period in her life and work feel like a ascended to Queen’s University, return to a known place. Belfast then Trinity College, Dublin, Her response, which is immediately graduating in law and becoming a eloquent and delivered without pause, member of the Irish Bar in 1974. takes a more serious turn when she Her academic career began at Trinity highlights some less appealing shared where she taught Criminal Law, laying characteristics. Sectarianism is still Thank you to all those who contributed the groundwork for a professional around she thinks, but this isn’t to this edition of Open House. life marked by association with, something to be necessarily surprised Open House, which was founded in and promotion of, the values of or overly troubled about. It’s part of Dundee in 1990, is an independent human rights, inclusivity and anti- our history, culture and psyche and the journal of comment and debate on faith discrimination. healthy flip side of it is an openness to issues in Scotland. It is rooted in the She was elected to the Irish discussing religion and politics. None reforms of the Second Vatican Council presidency in 1997 and served until of that embarassed reticence that may (1962-65) and committed to the 2004 when she was re-elected for a exist elsewhere on the island of Great dialogue which began at the Council - second term, finally stepping down in Britain. Not for us. within the Catholic Church, in other 2011. Since then she has continued There’s an immediacy about this churches, and with all those committed to advocate for the rights of those early exchange that somehow reflects the very commonalities she’s to issues of justice and peace. vulnerable to the harsh consequences of unjust discrimination, particularly describing. I remember that although www.openhousescotland.co.uk women, the LGBT community, and we sit in a university faculty building children. It is the latter group which and she is an accomplished academic, Cover by Dominic Cullen. form the basis of her current doctoral she is also a lawyer and a politician studies as Professor of Children, Law of standing and experience. It is and Religion which she has held at the impactful communication skills

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 3 associated with those professions that campaign to it, again resonant of the regard myself an internationalist, I had are initially striking. No reflective politician and advocate that she is. This voted for a nationalist party because wall gazing to gather thoughts; no is clearly not a disinterested academic it offered the clearest policy position professorial ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’. project. It is a work of passion, of the on staying in the EU. She laughed Rather an instant, coherent summation heart as well as the mind, and it seeks appreciatively and in a way that implied of points, rapidly declared. to right what she perceives as an age a profound understanding of the I turn to the compelling matter of her old wrong: the failure of the church to shifting sands of modern politics and current studies. These, she explains, attend appropriately to the well-being, the rising tides of ‘identity’. What were safety and development of its children, extend from her lifelong interest in the her own guiding lights, I wondered in other words, to protect, defend and rights of children and in particular the aloud, in these changing times? way in which the Catholic Church has, promote their natural human rights. She responded with a more muted or in many ways has not, supported How has it failed? By its sluggishness reflectiveness. She felt and hoped she their development. The church is the in ensuring full compliance with the UN had always been motivated by a desire world’s biggest provider of care and Convention on the Rights of the Child, to build bridges and to tap into the education for children with many which it has ratified, thus avoiding the millions of its members being people Holy See’s responsibility as a ‘state latent goodwill that she believes lies in under the age of 16. This explicit party’, a benefiting and participating people. Her gospel mantra of choice statistic is striking and I recall and member; by its equivocating approach is ‘love one another’ and she sees her share with her the statement made by to reviewing the relevant aspects of the legal and political career as providing Hilary Clinton, that ‘women’s rights Code of Canon law; and, (perhaps most opportunities to enact that simple yet are human rights’. The parallel is clear. personally disappointing) by its lack of confoundingly difficult call. Today’s With a nod of acknowledgement this support and enthusiasm for the work of politics present huge challenges, she sets off a discourse that for the next half one of its most faithful pastors. asserts, in a little slip into cliché, but hour requires every bit of my attention As a champion herself she is quick then inspires again with the insight that and is at times beyond my note-taking to give credit to others and when I all the debate about Brexit seems to be abilities. ask who her own influences have about ill-informed economics when, been in this field one name spills for many, the real value of the unity Key question forth immediately: Canon Joseph of Europe lies in shared values, peace, Moerman. As Secretary General of the cultural understanding, and the very The question at the heart of her current International Catholic Child Bureau human rights we must cherish. academic pursuit asks how a true he is largely credited with bringing This energetic and highly focussed recognition of the rights of the child about the International Year of the would change both the Code of Canon Child in 1979 and diligently pursuing hour (for me at least) ends with a return Law and the shape of Catholic Social the creation of its logical outcome, the to an earlier question. Who were the Teaching. It provides a forensic analysis Convention of the Rights of the Child. big influences? Who started her down of what she describes as an historic It is beyond irony to Mary McAleese this road of raising voice on behalf of neglect on the part of the church to do that this visionary priest did so much to those who are shouted down? She’s what I am now doing with concentrated bring about something his own church, talked about Moerman. A family pastor interest: paying attention. The church, at times, has been less than eager to is mentioned from her early years in she proffers, has failed to pay due embrace. A failure, she has no doubt, Ardoyne. One who did what most try attention to the human rights of its that has contributed to, amongst other to do: showed a child what a good youngest members while imposing upon things, the church’s commensurate friend could be. In this more intimate them extraordinary religious and moral neglect in properly acknowledging and context she speaks finally of her granny, expectations. These, she contends, addressing the scale of the sexual abuse an Irish woman from the south called are conferred with the sacrament of of children in its care. The concept Brigid, who had the wisdom to invite baptism but what is missing from the that Moerman persisted in espousing, the children to church rather than teaching that accompanies the theology that of the child as a holder of rights, force them, and who was kind and of baptism is a proper recognition and throws light on the human and legal fair. Having listened attentively to the understanding of how the sacrament implications of such failure, and it’s a former President of Ireland, Professor also brings into the light, and makes powerful moment in our conversation and Advocate expound eloquently explicit, the inherent human rights of when we recognise his legacy. the child baptised. She is careful to To turn from this compelling subject from her reservoir of knowledge emphasise that it is not baptism that to any other is a challenge at this point and experience on matters of law, confers such rights. These are God- in our meeting but, mindful of time ecclesiology, and human rights, there given to every child and form an aspect and the current political climate, I is a final note of simplicity. She would of natural justice that is the birth right squeeze in a question about Irishness, not perhaps demur from the idea that of every human being. Baptism makes Scottishness, Europeaness, sovereignty, it all comes down to a lovingly imbibed them explicit. Or it ought to. nationalism, and the B word. I offer sense of kindness and fairness. Mary McAleese’s enthusiasm for this the observation that I had voted in the chosen area of study converts it to European elections and was struck Lynn Jolly works in the third sector and something more. It has an element of by the irony that, as one who would is a member of the parole board.

4 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 General Assembly 2019

Jennifer Stark The Kirk’s Radical Action Plan

A lay parish worker in the Church of Scotland reports on a radical plan for the future of the Kirk which was agreed at this year’s General Assembly.

Travelling through to Glasgow for the Number of Scottish presbyteries to be Improved training and support for all Open House New Directions conference reduced from 43 to about 12, focused ministry and leadership roles. in June, the General Assembly’s debates on supporting local congregations in General Assembly to be made smaller and decisions were fresh in my mind. their ministry and mission. and its workings to be reviewed This year’s Assembly approved three major reports, including a Radical Networks, hubs and other new local Encouragement of a season of ‘prayer Action Plan which will shape the future church structures to be developed. and preparation’ across the Church of the Church of Scotland for years Kirk Sessions to be reduced in size and from September to December 2019. to come. For me, the Open House focused on ‘leadership and strategic In addition, from June this year, there conference provided a fascinating and decision-making’. often moving chance to hear echoes and will be a body of 12 Trustees, ‘with similarities as well as differences in the Decision-making and resources responsibility for overseeing the work way our churches are facing challenges to be devolved from the central of the central charity and its finances, and opportunities: sharp falls in church administration to regional and local and ensuring that all parts of the membership and income, closing of levels. organisation are working in accordance churches, an acute shortage of clergy, with the strategic priorities of the No congregation to pay more to and an awareness that current models Church’. The 12 were appointed during of governance and organisations aren’t the centre after next year until new the Assembly. Concern was expressed working. arrangements are agreed. however that the balance of gender and In the background were other themes Land and buildings plan to focus on age was far from satisfactory – eight that struck me and I believe that three ‘well equipped spaces in the right men, four women, and few under 40, areas – leadership, youth involvement places’. Money from sale of redundant when it is the younger generation that and gender – may come into focus in the buildings to be shared between will have to live with the decisions future for the Church of Scotland. congregations. being made. At the Open House conference, So where were the sticking points, the one presentation stated with passion: passion, the tensions and the prophetic ‘Do not change because of declining Kirk Sessions: the governing body speeches in the debate? numbers and ageing population or of a congregation, composed of because of the decline in numbers being Elders, who are (non-clerical) Devolving to regional level ordained…’ The Radical Action Plan church members, ordained into the A big thrust of the Plan is for was honest in stating ‘this is where we eldership for life. are’. There is no denying that decline in devolution of funds and decision- membership and ordinations, and their Presbyteries (currently 43 in making to Presbytery, ie. regional, level, financial consequences, are two of the Scotland) govern the church at but with reformed Presbyteries and a major drivers for change. There was regional level. determination to do things better and striking agreement about what needed differently. Presbytery reform has been The General Assembly, the to be done, to shape the future of the discussed for years but never happened. supreme governing body (c. 730 church. Some Presbyteries are already working members) meets once a year and together and sharing resources – funds, Up to £25m to be spent on projects includes representatives of ordained people, facilities. By 2025 – many aimed at church growth, with ministers, deacons and elders, wanted it to be sooner – the plan is for particular emphasis on church planting. all with equal voting power. Its around 12 Presbyteries, replacing the 100 new worshipping communities to composition changes every year. current 43. Encouragement for this be established. The Church of Scotland Youth change came from remoter areas such Assembly for 18 to 25 year olds. Ten as Shetland and Argyll; the former Focus on engaging with people under 40. of them attend the General Assembly has moved to having only one united Cost of central administration to be (non-voting) where the Youth parish, and is joining with Aberdeen cut by up to 30%: four councils to be Moderator gives a report. Presbytery. The message was clear – if merged into two. it can be done with the geographical

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 5 challenges there, it can be done community needs and wellbeing, in that elders will be able to serve limited elsewhere. addition to their contribution for the terms (though still ordained for life). Local teamwork and ‘hub’ ministries, central fund. She said, ‘from being I saw this year a greater confidence rather than the ‘one church, one parish’ fishers of men, we have become tax and outspokenness in younger model, are planned, partly driven by collectors.’ The fact that her motion ministers and members in the the shortage of ministers, but also to freeze congregational contributions Assembly, and many spoke of the because many church buildings are no was overwhelmingly approved spoke urgent need to involve young people, longer fit for purpose. Next year will volumes. and resource work with them, as part see a report, ‘Well-equipped Spaces in There is in fact little that is ‘new’ in of the Action Plan. One minister, a the Right Places’, which will bite the the Plan. Many of the proposals have former youth worker, was blunt in his bullet on this. been discussed repeatedly for the last assessment: banks, politics, Churches, There were some passionate 20 years or longer. Why then has it institutions, have lost the trust of statements, both from Assembly taken till now for the Church to make young people – ‘yet they’re pleading for commissioners and delegates from these decisions? the Church to be something they can other churches, that the future of believe in’. In this respect, it is a great Christianity in Scotland has to be the Questions of leadership pity that the National Youth Assembly work of the whole Church. ‘Don’t One reason – and the Church has is likely to be wound up from next reinvent the wheel’ was a recurring still to address this – may be that year; this is exactly the wrong moment phrase, and pleas were made that when Presbyterianism offers little scope for such a move. It provides a forum planning at local or regional level, for developing inspiring, sustained for young people to meet, debate, ecumenical partners should be involved leadership at national or regional level. develop as potential leaders for the from the beginning. The example of Because Presbytery and national Church in future, and act as a body ecumenical work in the diocese of Moderators serve only one year, there – and its representatives should have Cumbria was described and warmly is a vacuum in the kind of named, votes at the General Assembly. Time commended by several speakers: authoritative (not authoritarian) and at will tell; with radical action now ‘the ‘people respond and come forward its best, collaborative, leadership that norm’, perhaps this decision will be when they see how we work together’. a bishop, or similar, might provide. revisited. A significant part of the pain may be Almost at the end of the debate, a A fuller account of the Radical Action borne at the Church’s central offices special commission was set up to Plan and the General Assembly can be in 121 George Street, where the staff examine ‘the Presbyterian form of found at serving the church’s councils and other church government’, which may find https://www.lifeandwork.org/ organisations are likely to face cuts. itself addressing exactly this issue. That downloads/life-and-work-ga2019- The ‘outward-facing’ work of the could turn out to be a far-reaching supplement.pdf Church, in World Mission and Church decision – if the Church can move and Society, is likely to be merged quickly enough to act on it. Jennifer Stark is Church and into one council; similarly, Mission At local level, there can also be an Community worker in Richmond and Discipleship and Ministries will inherent ‘ageing’ in decision making. Craigmillar, a Priority Area church in probably become one ‘inward-facing’ Because eldership is for life, Kirk Edinburgh, and is a member of the council, focusing on congregational Sessions are dominated by older people Open House executive committee. life and ministry in its several forms and may be too large for flexible, – though of course their work is also strategic thinking. Potential elders See letters pages from page 14 outward facing. In my work as a lay nowadays are often put off by the for comment on the Open House parish worker and outreach leader, ‘lifelong’ commitment. It’s likely now conference. I have felt for a long time that this merger is advisable, particularly in education and training. One message that came over clearly, and sometimes very bluntly, was a sense of remoteness from decision- making, not least in how their congregations’ contributions to the central Mission and Ministries fund is assessed and spent. The principle of all contributing, so that poorer churches can still do the work of the Gospel, was not in question. But the longest debate resulted from a motion expressed with passion and anger from a minister who listed half a dozen ways in which her church raises money for Representatives of the Church of Scotland National Youth Assembly at their annual conference.

6 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 Theology and literature

MARY CULLEN Faith in fiction

The publication of a murder mystery novel by the professor of Catholic Studies at Roehampton University was the background to a discussion on Catholic writing at the University of Glasgow in June. The editor of Open House went along.

The Good Priest What is a good priest? Is he the one A life of contradiction because, he is Professor Tina who recognises his shortcomings and said, he was tired of Catholic misery Beattie’s first book is wise enough to be a good human memoirs and wanted to be upbeat of fiction. Its being despite it all? In asking questions about his life as a gay man. Falling central character, like these, literature can challenge the in love with another schoolboy as a Father John, is ecclesiology of our rule bound and teenager was his first experience of a parish priest highly imperfect church, which is sacred love. The church’s language haunted by his ‘terrified of sex’. Following the Scottish about homosexuality is in total past who falls in Episcopal Church’s decision to permit contradiction to his experience. He told love with a man same sex marriage, he said, it is not his story, he said, out of love for the and struggles with allowed to ‘talk theology’ to other church. celibacy. Anglican traditions. In his book he places Cardinal A stranger appears in his confessional. He recalled Milan Kundera’s Ratzinger’s 1986 statement ‘On the Is he a ghost, or is he the cardinal description of the art of the novel as an Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons’ who abused John many years before? echo of God’s laughter: ‘man thinks, alongside his own experience of living What is his connection with a series God laughs’. Losing the certainty of with a long term partner. of horrific murders? And why do the truth means we become human. There ‘Homosexualitatis Problema, to give police think a member of the clergy is no absolute sin and there is always it its full Latin name, informed me that might be involved? Father John finds forgiveness: all may be visited by God I was “intrinsically disordered” on himself at the centre of a drama which and redeemed. account of my same sex attraction and unfolds over Lent, as he wrestles with Tina Beattie acknowledged that that my living with Michael amounted questions of faith and doubt, good and theology could be boring but she to grave sin. It was a teaching so utterly evil, and the possibility of redemption wanted to ask the ‘God’ questions – the at odds with the grace and gift of this for the most horrendous of crimes. huge fundamental questions which man’s life to me that I took all of ten David Jasper, Professor Emeritus of theology addresses. She had written seconds to dwell on it and place it to Literature and Theology at Glasgow stories since her teenage years and is one side’. University, and now Canon Theologian an avid reader of detective novels. So He detects a huge hunger for grace at the city’s St Mary’s Cathedral, she decided to ask the God questions in the popularity of film and television opened the conversation with a through the medium of fiction. dramas which feature priests, from reflection on why the novel is a good Intellect alone, she said, is not Jimmy McGovern’s Priest, to the vehicle for exploring issues of faith. enough to address the big questions. television series Broken and Fleabag. Theology is not flexible enough, he Christianity is incarnational; it tells Why do the priests have to choose argued, to embrace the contradictions us how the story of God plays out in between their vocation and intimacy of fallen traditions. It is a boring, ordinary lives. Her fictional characters with another human being? The same second order language. The literary have their origins in real people, but question faces Father John in The form is better able to address the they take on a life of their own and Good Priest and it is his ordinariness complexities of life, including those of develop their own stories, which in turn and his loneliness which Mark finds the religious life. Novels stretch our illuminate issues many people face. The compelling. imagination and engage our emotions, loneliness of the priest; the corruption Mark challenged the belief that and we care about their characters. of the church; the mystery of grace and celibate priests are in some way better Like parables, they give us an redemption. than married priests. Celibacy has value opportunity to look at ourselves, and Award winning broadcaster Mark in our sex obsessed culture, he said, open up the mysteries that lie behind Dowd studied to be a Dominican but it is a charism, a gift of the Spirit, the stories they tell. at Oxford before choosing a not something we can legislate about. Literature is full of contradictions career in journalism. He wrote his He observed that to fail in chastity is which we don’t admit to in church. autobiography Queer and Catholic: treated as a scandal in a way that to fail

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 7 in poverty or obedience is not. are questions we can explore through continues to say it silently at the end Confession is a central theme of the fiction, at one remove from life, of Mass, despite its removal from the novel, unmasking the inner world of which do not invalidate the need liturgy. Fr Herrera much prefers the its characters. For Julie Clague of the for a theology of grace. But the gospel of Matthew, which Monsignor University’s Theology and Religious moment theology makes claims that Quixote regards as the gospel of fear Studies Department, who moderated are non-negotiable, it is in danger of with its ‘fifteen references to hell’. Fr the discussion, it brought a sacramental invalidation. Stories of redemption, dimension to the book. The church crafted by fiction, help us recognise Herrera’s theology is cut and dried, of sinners and everyday heroes is also moments of redemption in our full of certainties and orthodoxies; it the sacrament of Christ, a conduit for uncrafted, messy lives. In the end, the has no room for the hiddenness and healing. story counts and theology is carried ambiguity that are revealed in the story The discussion took up questions along with it. of Monsignor Quixote’s life. from the audience. Is The Good As I left the university’s Memorial The Good Priest, by Tina Beattie, is Priest about the workings of grace? Chapel, where the discussion took published by Matador (2019). Mark observed that the loneliness of place, I thought of Graham Green’s Queer and Catholic: A life of father John brought moments of grace novel Monsignor Quixote, in which the contradiction, by Mark Dowd, is and led him to make room for the polarity between different theologies published by Darton, Longman and homeless. Are there people in the world is reflected in the power of the word. so evil that grace cannot break in? Tina The dogmatic Fr Herrera regards the Todd (2017). said that this makes the question of opening of St John’s Gospel (‘In the The Language of Liturgy: A ritual redemptive endings interesting. beginning was the Word…’) with poetics, by David Jasper, is published David Jasper observed that these suspicion, while Monsignor Quixote by SCM Press (2018).

8 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 Spirituality

MICHAEL L O’NEILL Thomas Merton revisited

I can’t remember when I began to read the U.S. and England. He completed and action go together, and he could see Merton, but it was long before my first high school at Oakham Public School a way of combining the two. He said visit to his monastery, Gethsemani, in England’s smallest county Rutland, that this is Gandhi’s lesson and legacy to in Nelson County, Kentucky, in July, before going to Clare College, the world’. 1968. By the time I read Lawrence S. Cambridge in 1933, and was sent down The seed of this evolution may have Cunningham’s Thomas Merton: Spiritual after his first, ‘dissolute’ year (where been planted in Oakham, where Merton Master/ The Essential Writings, edited fathering the child comes in). His mother first read Gandhi, and, in 1940, he first with an introduction (Paulist Press, had died in 1921, his father in 1931. met a person who publicly lived the 1992), I didn’t need to be convinced His life steadied after he entered spiritual life. He writes in Seven Storey that Merton was a ‘spiritual master’. As Columbia University in New York Mountain: time goes on, I have forgotten most of City at the beginning of 1935. He the details, hence the need to renew my completed a BA in February 1938, and ‘One night there came to those acquaintance. was baptised in Corpus Christi Church nuns and to those clerics and to St. I decided to read, in conjunction, in Manhattan on 16th November. He Bonaventure in general and myself in Merton’s original best seller, A Seven completed his MA in English literature particular, someone sent from God for Storey Mountain (1948), and Jim in February 1939 with a thesis on the special purpose of waking us up, Forest’s Living With Wisdom (Orbis ‘Nature and Art in William Blake’. and turning our eyes in that direction Books, 2008). After entering the monastery of which we all tended so easily to forget, Then I added Merton, by Those Who Gethsemani in December 1941, he in the safety and isolation of our country Knew Him Best, edited by Paul Wilkes settled down to the then traditional life stronghold, lost in the upstate hills’. (1984), and Merton’s history of the of a Cistercian of the Strict Observance, Merton recounts this first encounter Cistercians and the Trappists, The which he eulogises in The Waters of with ‘the Baroness’, Catherine de Hueck, Waters of Siloe (1949). I think the best Siloe. Even there it becomes clear that founder of Friendship House in Harlem, course for anyone who has read little western Christianity’s monastic history’s and friend of Dorothy Day of the of Merton is to start with Jim Forest’s most significant tradition has been Catholic Worker, who would become biography, then to read Seven Storey evolution and change. part of Merton’s wide circle of Catholic Mountain. Merton entered Gethsemani to get and other social activist friends. For most of his monastic life, Merton’s away from the world. When he died in When Pope Francis visited the U.S. in writings were edited and censored December 1968, he was the best known September 2015 he singled out Dorothy under the authority of his ecclesiastical monk in the world. In the U.S. he had superiors. Evelyn Waugh edited the become chaplain to the Catholic peace Day and Thomas Merton, Abraham version of Seven Storey Mountain movement and joined Martin Luther Lincoln and Martin Luther King as published in England, under the title King and Bobby Kennedy, Senator historical exemplars of the best in the Eternal Silence, and edited out a third of Eugene McCarthy and the Berrigan American tradition. Millions of people the original! brothers, and other Christian and Jewish all over the world have been reading As far as I know, his greatest ‘offense’ religious leaders like Rabbi Joshua Merton since 1948 and finding he speaks was fathering a child out of wedlock and Heschel, in opposition to the Vietnam to them with wisdom and inspiration. abandoning mother and child before his War. Other writers on spirituality who ‘conversion’, in the manner of Sr. Mary Luke Tobin, general superior follow in his footsteps, like the St. Augustine of Hippo. of the Sisters of Loretto, the American Franciscan Richard Rohr, do Merton Later in life Merton was dismayed at president of the Leadership Council of proud by developing and expanding how narrow and judgmental he had Women Religious and the only woman his inspiration. His fellow American been and claimed that the author of The who was an official auditor at Vatican II, Trappists, like the late Thomas Seven Storey Mountain was dead and explained: Keating and Basil Pennington, have buried. Yet the book’s strengths easily ‘Unlike other religious leaders of the in effect taken the monastic tradition outweigh its weaknesses. The same is age, Merton was always against the split, of contemplative prayer out of the true, I believe, of his monastic historical the dichotomy between spiritual and monastery and into parishes and other work, The Waters of Siloe. material, the political and the religious. The trajectory of Merton’s life One of the greatest things in Merton’s places people gather, to the benefit of exemplifies Cardinal Newman’s bon later life was that he was able to tell everyone who has heard them in person mot that to live is to change, and to be people that we should overcome the or recordings. All forms of prayer, perfect is to have changed often. split. He saw reality as a whole, and he including the liturgical, would, I believe, Born in 1915 in the Basque area of felt that it should not be divided up into benefit by incorporating the silence of France to an American mother and New compartments’. the contemplative. Zealand father, who met as art students Merton’s closest friend, the poet Robert in Paris in 1911, he moved constantly Lax said: Michael O’Neill is a retired defense in his first twenty years between France, ‘I think he realised that contemplation attorney who lives in Florida.

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 9 Education

STEPHEN J MCKINNEY An education pioneer

A Glasgow academic tells the story of David Stow, who helped shape teacher training in Britain and gave his name to Stow College in Glasgow.

David Stow was born in Paisley on provide an effective and practical of children in the playground while 17th May 1793. He was a pupil at example of infant schooling to be supervising and participating in the Paisley Grammar and entered into imitated in other parts of the city games. Stow argued that without business with his brother-in-law in a playground and the observations 1811, aged 18. Six years later he of the teacher there could be no was a partner in Wilson, Stow and moral training. The behaviour Company, a silk firm. demonstrated in the playground, He lived and worked in Glasgow such as selfishness or kindness, and became very concerned about would be used for discussion with the impact of poverty on the lives the children in the gallery. Stow and moral character of children in talked about the ‘sympathy of the densely populated city. He was numbers’, using the peer group in a motivated by his Christian faith and positive way. influenced by Dr Thomas Chalmers He understood the words ‘training’ (1780-1847) who was appointed and ‘teaching’ in a certain way. He Church of Scotland minister to the associated teaching with instructing Tron Church in 1815. Dr Chalmers or lecturing and understood training moved to St. John’s in 1819 where to be focussed on ensuring that Stow became an elder. He opened lessons were learned by the children. a Sabbath School in the Saltmarket Stow was very committed to co- in 1816. Sabbath schools provided education of boys and girls and basic education in literacy, numeracy, opposed teaching them separately hygiene and religious and moral except for activities such as sewing. values for children who worked Separate teaching and being taught during the week. together created a risk to their The Sabbath school was successful, character. The risk was removed but Stow became acutely aware when they were morally trained of the limitations of this form of together. Stow did not approve of schooling and the need for full and Scotland. By 1831, five infant monitors who only taught facts and time education. A visit to Samuel schools were established in Glasgow. were a poor substitute for a master. Wilderspin’s Infant School in Stow’s methods, which were The Infant School movement was Spitalfields convinced him that adopted for the school, were ultimately quite short lived – it began education should begin early and unusual for the period. He rejected to fail by 1839 but influenced later developments. that day schools were the most punishment and strict rules: the rod effective way to deliver it. He helped was not used in the model schools of Training teachers establish the Glasgow Infant School the Glasgow Educational Society. In Society in 1827, and an infant school religious instruction, he eschewed the Stow became concerned about the for children aged two to six was quality of teachers and turned his rote learning of the shorter catechism opened on 23rd April 1828 in the attention to their training. In 1832, and focussed on scripture, and Drygate. The school had a gallery of he was involved in the creation of the tiered seats for a hundred children encouraged constant contact with the Glasgow Educational Association, and there was a large playground children. later the Glasgow Educational outside. The idea of constant contact Society. In 1837 new premises were The school was conceived as a extended to playground activity. The acquired in Dundas Vale to house the ‘model school’, a school that would teacher could observe the behaviour growing population of the Drygate

10 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 school. These premises, under the Normal Seminary. Those who and methods, and vain about guidance of the Glasgow Educational seceded to the Free Church were no his achievements. Nevertheless, Society, provided four model longer allowed to be members of Normal Seminaries were created schools for different age groups staff. This included Stow himself and in India and the West Indies and and a Normal Seminary for teacher the vast majority of the staff. teachers from the Glasgow Normal training, the first in Britain. David Stow left the Seminary on Seminary were employed in England, Stow believed that the Normal 8th May 1845 and led the directors, Canada, Australia and Jamaica. Seminary was the ideal institution students, pupils and teachers (bar for training teachers. It had sixteen one) to Cowcaddens, to found the Stow promoted education for young classrooms, a gallery, playgrounds, Free Church of Scotland Normal children, especially in the towns and a library, a museum and a capacity Seminary in Glasgow. The new cities, and encouraged a relationship for 1,000 children and 100 students. building was completed in 1845 and between master and pupil based Admission to become a trainer debt free by 1848. The Disruption on mutual respect. He strongly would require a sufficient amount resulted in a dual system of Normal advocated music, physical education of elementary knowledge and a schools in Glasgow and Edinburgh. and play - children should enjoy certificate of character from the local The Glasgow Normal Seminary school. His Normal Seminaries were minister. The student body was co- in Dundas Vale became known as the foundation for contemporary educational and non-residential; the the Church of Scotland Normal teacher education in Scotland. students were lodged with trusted School and the new Normal school persons of good religious character in Cowcaddens as the Free Church References. who would report any unbecoming Normal School. The Church of conduct. Scotland had a Normal School in Cruickshank, M. (1966) David Stow, In 1841, the working week for Edinburgh and the Free Church Scottish Pioneer of teacher training in students was forty hours and they established a Normal School at Britain. British Journal of Educational spent sixteen and a half hours Moray House in 1848. These four Studies. 14:2, 205-215. of their time on study, receiving Colleges continued until the early Stow, D. (1839) National education: instruction on music, geography, twentieth century. supplement to ‘Moral training’ and natural history, physics, arithmetic David Stow was invited to be ‘The training system’, with plans and algebra, sacred history, drawing, the honorary secretary of the Free for erecting and fitting up training elocution and gymnastics. The Church Normal School in Glasgow schools. London: W.R. McPhun. remaining time was spent on training and continued to oversee the work White, G. (1996) David Stow. In in teaching and education. The tutors of the school and attend the majority Harrison, M.M. and Marker, W.B. would ‘model’ lessons and there were of its meetings until 1861. He died in Teaching the Teachers. The history criticism of lessons. Four students 1864. of Jordanhill College of Education would each deliver a lesson for Stow was not recognised as an 1828-1993. Edinburgh: John Donald fifteen minutes in succession. Each important educational thinker Publishers. Ltd. began with physical activity and in his time. He faced opposition ended with the singing of a psalm. from university educated teachers Wood, Henry, P., Sir (1987) David Initially the training lasted for six in parochial schools, and clergy Stow and the Glasgow Normal months, later extended to eight or who were antipathetic to his aims Seminary. Glasgow: Jordanhill College nine months and then a year. and methods. He himself had not of Education Persistent financial difficulties for attended university. The inspection A full list of references is available on the Normal Seminary were partially of the Glasgow Normal Seminary alleviated by government grants, and by J. Gibson in 1841 was critical request. the administration was transferred of the methods employed and the to the Church of Scotland. The levels of knowledge of some of the Stephen McKinney is Professor Disruption of 1843 had a serious students. Stow could be over critical of Education in the School of effect on Stow and the Glasgow of others, inflexible in his opinions Education, University of Glasgow.

Open House on the web The Open House website www.openhousescotland.co.uk. has a full report and photos of the 2019 conference as well as back copies of previous editions.

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 11 NOTEBOOK

History notes Mother’s day Light of the North, the Aberdeen Diocesan magazine, St Enoch was remembered on her feast day, 18th July, at has published a series of articles the tomb of her son Mungo in Glasgow Cathedral. by Alasdair Roberts illustrated There is a renewed interest in the story of Enoch, by Ann Dean under the title thanks in part to the mural painted on a gable end at the Northern Catholic History corner of High St and George St by the Australian street Notes. Profits from the sale of artist Sam Bates. It is much admired by visitors to the the book go to the magazine. cathedral and nearby Necropolis. The 21 essays cover a very Inside the cathedral, stained glass panels tell Enoch’s wide range from the Arctic story in a more traditional style. Known also as Thenue, Mission in the north to Fort she was a sixth century princess who converted to Augustus Abbey at the western Christianity and refused to marry a pagan suitor. It is end of the Great Glen. Most of said that he raped her, and when her father, the king of the essays focus on the North Lothian, heard of her pregnancy, he sentenced her to East corner of Scotland where death by throwing her over a cliff. She survived and was Catholicism survived thanks to a cast out to sea. She was washed up at Culross where scattering of gentry houses around the Enzie of Banff. there was a Christian settlement, and there she gave birth At the Reformation Aberdeen had no less than 150 clergy including Carmelites and Trinitarians besides Dominicans and Franciscans. The revival of Catholicism in Scotland owes a great deal to clergy from that part of the country and it is significant that the training of priests was centred there, first of all in Scalan near Glenlivet and then in Blairs College outside Aberdeen. Priest Gordon (1772-1855) has a public statue in Aberdeen. A Chain of Error in Scottish History by Major Malcom Hay, Laird of Seaton near Old Aberdeen, was the first corrective to Presbyterian assumptions about Catholicism in Scotland. Light of the North is a fine example of diocesan magazines and it is to be hoped that sales of this book will help its funds. Peter Boylan, Jean Lawson and others have produced a booklet to commemorate 250 years since Father Uisdean (Austin) MacDonald arrived to set up the first permanent churches in Moidart since the Reformation. The peninsula was the land of the Catholic MacDonalds. Bonnie Prince Charlie unfurled his standard in 1745 at Glenfinnan, the head of Loch Shiel, the eastern boundary of Moidart. The booklet lists all the places of worship accessible from the sea before there were any roads. One was the seminary at Samalaman near Glenuig 1783-1803. The area is now served by a beautiful church, Our Lady of the Angels, in Mingarry which was built in 1862 by the convert James Hope Scott, and the smaller church of St Agnes at Glenuig.

12 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 to a son, Kentigern. St Serf, the Abbot at Culross, called finding a new channel of creative expression for their him Mungo (‘dear friend’). Mungo went on to found love and concern. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ a religious community on the banks of the Molendinar Mary_2.0) Is there anything here for Scottish women to burn in Glasgow, where his cathedral now stands. learn? The service at Mungo’s tomb was led by Rev Elaine Two months later, the Catholic Women’s Association McRae, the minister of St Enoch’s Church, Hogganfield, of Germany, with some 180,000 members, began in the north east of the city. It was built when the city further action on Sunday 21 July, ‘Mary, don’t be silent’. centre church of St Enoch, near Enoch’s burial place, was One aim is to encourage discussion and call for ‘equality closed in 1926. It is now the site of St Enoch’s shopping in responsibility in the world and the Church, including centre. The church at Hogganfield incorporates some of spiritual responsibility’. the stones from the original building. Elaine recalled the legend of St Enoch and her role A first for Galloway in the development of the city’s Christian community. Eleven parishioners of St Mary’s Deanery in North Glasgow, she said, is usually translated as ‘dear green Ayrshire received Certificate in Parish Mission & place’; but it also means ‘the dear family’. (From the Ministry (CPMM) in June – the first to do so in Cumbric language, which preceded Gaelic). Enoch’s Galloway Diocese. The certificates were presented by faith and courage laid the foundation of a new Christian Bishop William Nolan. family in Glasgow. The course, run by The Maryvale Institute, was arranged with the Diocese of Galloway following an Women in Germany initiative of the deanery’s Embracing Change group. Its Eileen Opiaka, from Ayr, who was a catechist and active interim chair, Brian Holliman, said that the course was member of a lively German parish for many years, for people interested in the formation of collaborative writes: ministry in parishes. Between 11th and 18th May, over 10,000 Catholic F.E. Director at Maryvale, Dr Marie Cooke added: ‘It is women, and not a few men, went ‘on strike’ in 100 inspiring to see what a visionary Bishop, an empowering locations all over Germany. Church services were and supportive clergy and a highly committed and boycotted and all voluntary work suspended. Not talented laity can achieve together. The church is that they stopped praying. On the steps and squares certainly alive and well in Galloway Diocese’. outside their churches they celebrated as women can, with prayers, readings, music and dance; with food, symbols and their banners of Mary, her mouth sealed by sticking-plaster. They were drawn out, not driven, even though their demands – for greater female participation in the life of the church and admission to the ordained ministry – and the tragedy of clerical abuse have long been driving women out of the church in many countries. What draws them, as one woman put it, is ‘love and concern for the Church’. Their dissent was supported by the two major Catholic women’s organisations which are now placing their hopes in the synodal process beginning in Germany. The protests have also found an echo in Switzerland and Austria, and plans are being made for further Angels action. Initiators hailed the widespread media attention Peter Stanford, former editor of the Catholic Herald and that the demonstrations attracted (including an article author of Angels, will give a talk in Edinburgh during in The Economist of May 13th). They have certainly the Festival. His topic is ‘Angels – a visible and invisible proved controversial. While the expected conservative history’ and the venue is St Patrick’s Church, Cowgate. backlash was provoked, some bishops have sympathised The talk will begin at 7pm on Thursday 15th August, the openly with the women’s pent-up frustration and anger. Feast of the Assumption, and there will be Mass in the Loyal Catholics in Germany and beyond are now church at 6pm.

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 13 LETTERS SPECIAL The Editor of Open House email : [email protected] All correspondence, including email, must give full postal address and telephone number.

Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation for the recent Open House conference on new directions for the ... to convoke a Catholic Church in Scotland. Here participants share synod today is about their reflections on the significance of process and dialogue. the day.

Dan Cronin, Edinburgh: The conference showed what a task lies before all who are eager for change, growth and development in the Catholic Church in Scotland today. What I learned from the conference was that nothing at all will change unless we individuals make it happen. We may hope and pray and for a new generation of bishops who share our views, and for more and more priests who will inspire and challenge us with the Gospel. We may, with time, perhaps be blessed with some such bishops and priests. But the people who must now work for the changes we hope for are ourselves. One of the prayers of the soon-to-be- Saint John Henry Newman runs: ‘Give us, good Lord, the grace to work for the things we pray for’. I say Amen to that.

Molly McGavigan, Bridge of Weir: national Church. The conference gave me great hope, therefore, as it was so good to be reminded that there Perhaps one of the most important messages of the day are many who are looking forward, do understand that was summed up by Bishop Leahy when he spoke of there are different ways of being church and see signs of transforming our ways of being church so that we are a hope and joy. There was emphasis on listening to the Church ready to evangelise in today’s world rather than Spirit and prayer in the journey. working towards self preservation. Bishop Leahy stated that ‘to convoke a synod today is My weekly parish experience is such that there is a about process and dialogue’. Perhaps these last three strong feeling that somehow we need to go back to the words need to be at the entrance to every Church or way things were in what are seen as the ‘good old days’. even on every weekly bulletin. For me, the importance of It seems to me there is a denial of the reality of the a synodal church cannot be overemphasised and it is present and future life of our parish, diocesan and what we need if we are to have a new direction.

14 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 The cafe style contributed much to the Pauline Volk, Liverpool: success of the day but also proved that the As an interloper from ‘south of the border’, I was comforted by process of involving all in dialogue is not so the thought that I am very lucky to be in an archdiocese with a difficult but it does need good facilitation. very forward thinking archbishop who has called a synod for The facilitation by the Kinharvie Institute 2020. I am the parish rep for my parish of St Mary’s Woolton was helpful and encouraging and I would and as such was interested to hear all about the synod in wish for more training of those many Limerick. I agree with Bishop Leahy that communication is key. parishioners able to become involved in We have just completed the ‘listening process’ and the data parish life. This does not happen overnight gathered will now be ‘sorted’. We then gather in autumn to and needs encouragement, guidance, begin to discern the key topics for next year. investment in time and training. The idea of The topics coming across in Glasgow were, not surprisingly, using the wisdom of all is not new but has the same topics being shared in our listening sessions. There is a not been the norm in the life of the Catholic real sense of concern for the future of the church with an aging clergy and declining numbers. A key issue for us is to offer Church. sufficient adult faith formation to allow more active Perhaps what is different is that a new participation of the laity, as described in the Galloway model direction is needed where the many not the that was shared at the conference. We already have lay funeral few contribute including those who in the ministers and we have a pilot project of five lay pastoral past have not seen a role within Church associates, whose role is still being defined. These are paid roles other than being ‘in the pews’. Facilitation and are aimed to support clergy working across multiple from an outside or impartial person or parishes. group helps to welcome and encourage Another point of interest was the mention of a parish ‘book those new to the process and dialogue. group’. This inspired me to suggest that a group of interested The idea of our journey as church people come together to read/ study . It is an excellent guideline resonates strongly and if the way forward is for renewal of parishes to ‘Become the Church we are called to to walk together then we may have a be.’ (Our synod logo). I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and felt that there was stronger, more vibrant church life. The lots of positive energy in the room, creating a great sense of images used by Bishop Leahy are well hope and optimism for the Church in Scotland. I hope the worth reflecting on in any future parish Scottish bishops wake up to this opportunity to engage and development: people on this journey motivate all these wonderful people and help unlock all the retaining their own personality, skills and potential for positive change. traits but working together towards the I look forward to reading about all the new initiatives which common good; all members, with their come from it. many and varied gifts, not above or below each but rather in service to each other. So what for us here in Scotland? The three models presented from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Galloway dioceses showed very different but worthwhile and interesting experiences. I think any moves towards new directions can and should visit these models and benefit from their experience but that does not mean that these models will suit all parishes nor are they the only ways forward. The great lesson is that all of them are very much laity led and/or involved and strongly encouraged and trusted by the clergy. For me the loudest voice/s were those that told us not to change for the wrong reasons, ie dwindling attendances and lack of clergy, but because we are being led by the Spirit to a new way of being church. This does not deny the great strengths we have but allows us to grow without being afraid.

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 15 Mégan Buhrmann, Edinburgh: Anne Buhrmann (Scottish Laity Having grown up in a tumultuous time for the Church, as a young Network) Edinburgh: Catholic I’ve seen the good the Church does but also the damage it can do, The conference was an inspiring gathering particularly when idols are made of ideologies. I’ve been blessed to have unimaginable until recent times. How been part of an active church community always and to live that out in heartening to be reminded, and by a bishop youth ministry, with two World Youth Day pilgrimages playing key roles in of the Church, that the power of the Holy my faith development. I learned that we are all missionaries of Christ and Spirit was given to all disciples and that our that no matter your age you have something worthwhile to contribute. existing ecclesial structures are ‘often not Faith in action found me working with disabled children in Bangalore and working as He intended’. visiting a refugee camp in Calais. My faith has allowed me to engage with Describing an ‘Us not I’ model of church, people from all walks of life and given me a deep appreciation of how Bishop Leahy offered this thought: ‘It’s how tirelessly our Church works to bring God’s love to the world. He works. Free, moving and organic, with At home I was growing increasingly frustrated watching my peers leaving everyone contributing their unique gifts.’ that Church in droves and those remaining often happy simply to maintain Listening to Bishop Leahy I found myself the status quo. We are treading water. wishing that many of our overworked Attending the Open House New Directions conference brought fresh hope. priests, rightfully concerned about the ‘daily I walked into a room bustling with energy and positivity. The day focused on implications’ of sharing power, had been conversations about how we lay people can support our priests and work able to hear him too. I wish they had been towards thriving church communities based on collaboration and service. there to see the New Directions gathering We prayed together and shared the wonderful work happening in dioceses for what it was; an act of solidarity with across Scotland. There was only a handful of people my age in a group of about 200 attendees, but I’d like to believe they left with the same feeling I each other and with our clergy. An offering did, a strong kinship with the older generation there that day who affirmed of our energy, our experience and our us in our gifts and spoke courage to us, that ‘each one of us has received a creativity to the Church we love. Not their special gift in proportion to what Christ has given’ (Eph 4: 7-8). power. Not our power. His power. Please advertise the next Open House conference widely on social media There are very few possibilities open to so that even more young people can get involved. those caught up in a system that is no longer ‘working as it should’. Dissent through John Eagers, Renfrew: absence – retreat into the despair which makes us irrelevant within that system; I left the conference with a renewed sense of hope, inspired in part by the becoming servants of the system and its number of people who came, and sadly, those who were turned away due self-interest, in order to preserve the faux to lack of room. safety of the status quo; allowing ourselves It was good to hear from people within Scotland who are looking for to be absorbed by the system, even its ways for Church to be relevant to the time in which we live. Conversations around the table were inspiring, provocative and challenging, especially dysfunction; and, finally, speaking truth to for me as a priest. I enjoyed listening to the people from Galloway who power, becoming prophets who dare to say are grappling with the lack of clergy in a practical and positive manner. what needs to change, praying our Bishop Leahy, in his presentations based around his experience of shepherds will have ‘ears to hear’. The latter organising and hosting a Diocesan Synod, was inspiring. He was inspiring is the stance Jesus asked of his disciples. The because of his all-embracing vision which meant that he consulted not stance he modelled for us in Matthew 23. only widely throughout his diocese of Limerick but also among the local Any system that puts lay people offering civic and artistic communities and among other Christian denominations loyal criticism and Spirit filled ideas outside and religions. the pale cannot be healthy. ‘The structure of He was inspiring because of the way which implicitly and explicitly he a human community is only correct if it related that the Church and its mission is the responsibility of all people, admits not just the presence of a justified not the few. We are all co-responsible. opposition but also the practical Finally I found his presentations to be reassuring because he was not effectiveness of opposition required by the afraid to accept that he may have made mistakes along the way and with common good and the right of hindsight may have done somethings differently. It gave hope that he was participation.’ These are the words of Pope willing to acknowledge that there are no easy solutions and that this time of transition in the history of the Church is a difficult one. However, if we John Paul II ( ). are open to the presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit it is The ‘New Directions’ Conference allowed one that will bear fruit and the Church will become the missionary us the right of participation. We learned Church that Pope Francis exhorts that we become. from each other and from the Spirit. I hope that this conference is the beginning of a process of If you’re invited to the next one, I’d urge conversations that will help us as a Church in Scotland to become you, ‘Be not Afraid.’ Bishops cordially the missionary Church which Pope Francis exhorts us to be. invited.

16 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 Helen Dunese Stewart, Chair the discussion and interactions were keep ‘circling the horses’ and cope with of Sacred Heart PPC; John first class. I’ve bought the book on a decaying church in the hope/ Divine Renovation, still to read it, but expectation that nothing really needs Mc Kenna, Chair of Saint I’ll bring it up at our parish council as to change and we’ll all be ok in the Lucy’s PPC; Kenny the opportunity arises. end. A sense of ‘just hang on’….it’ll get McGeachie, Deacon, Sacred Hope you make the conference an back to normal eventually. annual event? Heart and Saint Lucy’s; John We don’t need Divine Renovation. We need Divine Reformation. G. Campbell, Parish Priest, Mary Boyle, Glasgow: Renovation is just another example of how to preserve the status quo (with Sacred Heart and Saint Lucy’s: It was so uplifting to be among many only minor peripheral change) rather As chairpersons of our joint parish like-minded people. I liked the than overhaul it. We need Reformation councils of Sacred Heart and Saint positivity of the day rather than it Lucy’s Cumbernauld, we gave a report being a, ‘moaning shop’ despite there that is inclusive, responsive, person- of the day to our joint Parish Pastoral being much to moan about! centred (rather than centred on this or Council. I found all the presentations inspiring. that priest’s theological perspective), We felt the content of the day was Initially I was most inspired by the flexible, honed on mercy, and full of excellent and well planned, the café parishes engaged in the framework hope. Pope Francis is leading the guard theme worked well as did the moving around the book ‘Divine Renovation’. here and we all need to stop fighting around to a different table to engage Off I went and bought the book, about whether or not he is right. with other people and share ideas. We sharing it with a prayer group I am in. I don’t believe the old sense of applaud the speakers who were both Perhaps we have misunderstood it, ‘normal’ will or should return. insightful and enthusiastic. however I am, sad to say, deeply However, with Father John and sceptical about it. Fundamentally, I Marie Chambers fmm, Deacon Kenny we felt this find it narrow in its outlook. conversation has been going on a long In respect of what would be helpful London: time. It seems that clergy still either for the future, I would love the As regards follow up to the conference, facilitate or block the progress of the opportunity to discuss these concerns the most important is to develop a church at parish level. Lay people still with those who have been so inspired methodology which will allow a have no real decision making power in by it. continuity of thinking among the our community unless ‘Father allows Something which stuck with me is a group and avoid the danger of ‘New it’. We were bitterly disappointed at comment made by a priest in one of ideas’. There were lots of ideas the lack of clergy at the conference and the groups I was in. I and others were circulating now we need to have the total absence of the hierarchy of complaining about how difficult it is to another meeting to discern and develop the church of Glasgow. How can we do anything when your parish priest possibilities for movement, always move forward when the ‘movers and and archbishop have no desire to keeping to the same principles of shakers’ are not even interested in support you, or they actively generative conversations with genuine joining the conversation? undermine you. He advised words to listening. We will hopefully build on the the effect of try not to waste your I did hear one comment on the enthusiasm and example of people in energy fighting, that power but to absence of no representation from other parishes and learn from them, build from the bottom up. That made Scottish Bishops... This seemed to be a but the clergy need to join this sense to me but how do we support sign that nothing would happen.... conversation if it is to bear fruit in the one another to do that? Personally I believe ‘small is beautiful’ life of our parishes and the church in general. and if we respond and incorporate A parishioner, Glasgow: Pope Francis’ words and spirit into our I thought the conference was good and conversations hopefully something will Peter McMillan, Glasgow: well attended. However, I got the sense happen ‘off the paper’. Probably the best church conference that the attendees were speaking more (Bishop William Nolan of Galloway I’ve ever been to. The presentations, of how to come up with new ways to attended the conference).

Do you have thoughts on the way Correction ahead? Letters for the next edition In our conference report in the last edition, we wrongly said that there should reach the editor by Friday were no Catholic schools in rural Galloway. We should have added: ‘in the 27th September. east of the region’. The three eastern towns of Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie By email to & Kirkcudbright do not have a Catholic school. There is however, a [email protected] or Catholic school in Newton Stewart in the west. Apologies. by post at the address on page 23.

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 17 packed with movie reference books. On leave after the pre credit sequence at the BOOKS his desk, they narrate, were a packet of beginning of The Sound of Music only cigarettes, an ashtray, a portable Olivetti to be clamped back down on his seat for Notes from the Dream typewriter and usually a Gin and Tonic! three hours! They all saw this through a haze of French is sometimes a little surprising House smoke until the G&T and then the but unafraid in the opinions he reaches. Kersti, Karl, Patrick and Sean French tobacco gradually disappeared. The There was a huge outcry about the typewriter remained for a long time, frank scenes in the Marlon Brando film Carcanet, 2018 however, as he was never entirely happy Last Tango in Paris when it first came As they are the ones in the world of the word processor. It is out, but he finds it ‘totally unerotic and we rely upon to guide rare and fascinating to hear of a critic’s less explicit than many commercial and instruct us with writing habits. movies’. The western Heaven’s Gate authority in many French’s love of the cinema was total. was critically crucified when it fields, it is a little Whereas many film critics choose to appeared, but he feared that there had unusual to pay tribute, write solely about obscure foreign been some kind of concerted desire that in return, to the critic, dramas, he afforded popular films the it should not merely fail but ‘be the although that did same critical attention. While many occasion of a positive debacle’. He then happen as recently as critics, like his successor, choose just one goes to some length to examine it in the last edition of Open House with the for review, he tended to deal with all the detail and justify his opinion that it is a comprehensive review and revelations new releases, both low and high brow, rich and bold film. of critic Fr Willy Slavin’s superb and with equal interest and vigour. He also demonstrates some knowledge thoughtful memoir. There are some of When reviewing The Gospel according of the priesthood. In his review of the us, however, who for years immediately to St Matthew he wrote ‘when the 1995 film Priest, about a young priest dived in to the Observer each Sunday to subject of religion and the cinema is caught up in a Merseyside scandal, he locate and devour Philip French’s raised it is usually the bad films that says ‘In treating the priestly vocation, weekly film reviews, before finally come first to mind.’ Although this was the film seeks neither the austerity of turning to headlines about world directed by the Italian Marxist Pier Diary of a Country Priest nor the calamities. Paolo Pasolini, he finds it infinitely sentimental pieties of Going My Way’. French also wrote several books on the superior to the Hollywood versions in He considers that it asks what the cinema, including Westerns: Aspects of reflecting the style of the Gospel Church’s role in a secular society is, and a Movie Genre. His Scandinavian wife properly, and thought it earned the right about the nature of vocation today. He Kersti and his three sons have now paid to be dedicated to the memory of Pope is a little less impressed by the tale of the him the tribute of an anthology of his John XXIII. Jesuits in South America in The Mission reviews from 1963 to 2013 in Notes French also found the time and and rather surprisingly concludes that it from the Dream House. inclination to describe the universally is a ‘Protestant treatment of a Catholic French died in 2013 at the age of 82 popular Christmas special Home Alone subject’. His favourite, however is Au and had been the Observer’s film critic which ‘should entertain the whole revoir les enfants about the French for 35 years. He was educated at family with a Yuletide setting and priests who hide a young Jewish boy Oxford and Indiana Universities and should still be enjoyable when the from the Nazis in their school. He served in the Parachute Regiment, decorations have come down’. He was a considers it the best film made about which helped him to better follow and little worried about a child using childhood and about the Occupation . understand war dramas such as Saving violence towards the two adult burglars Having read the diversity, detail, Private Ryan and A Bridge Too Far. His but is reassured as ‘the children sitting extensive knowledge, love and career as a BBC radio producer for around me in the cinema loved it’. What experience as well as the wit of Philip French in this superb choice of his work, many years was also a useful other critic has ever said that? it is no surprise to read that he was on background for the essayist and writer The format chosen for the book, which the jury of the Cannes Film Festival in that he became. covers his reviews over 30 years in 1986, a member of the Booker Prize In an interesting introduction to his chronological order, demonstrates his jury in 1988, and a Fellow of the British film reviews, the family describe their development as a critic. It also reflects Film Institute. He received an OBE in memories of his working methods. changes of tone and subject matter over 2013. There is now an annual Philip Domestically he had a large screen the years, changes in taste, and the French Memorial Lecture each July in which descended at the touch of a extensive relaxation of what the censor Bristol. His widow and sons have button and allowed him to check details will permit. There is an enjoyable little provided much to remember him by in or revisit old favourites. early piece My Children’s Taste in Films this outstanding collection. He actually wrote his reviews in a where he talks of his three young sons’ back room surrounded by shelves preferences. The six year old starts to Lewis Cameron

18 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 It’s Late! Final pages of a context of the Catholic Church’s role parishes and schools, meetings with in the development of Scotland bishop’s journal priests, ordinations, committee through its ‘teaching, pastoral work meetings and regular Ad Limina visits Mario Conti and liturgy’ and the contribution of to Rome with his fellow bishops to Burns Publications, 2015 its bishops and religious orders. This give an account of their stewardship. is the context in which Archbishop Administration is important: ensuring If you ever wondered Conti reflects, for example, on the that the finances of the diocese are what a bishop does honorary degree conferred on him by sufficient to meet its needs, the care of all day, then this the University of Glasgow, which was book is for you. It created by a papal bull and ‘born property is attended to, and insurance runs to nearly 450 from the heart of the church’. is in place to protect against possible pages, including the The church’s role in serving the losses. index, and covers the ‘social, spiritual and cultural needs of The journal touches on controversies last three and a half the community’ is a major element in – the row over the transfer of pre- years of Mario the archbishop’s diary. In the course 1798 Catholic archives to the Conti’s time as of a week he meets the archdiocesan University of Aberdeen; same sex Archbishop of Glasgow from his 75th commission for ecumenism and marriage legislation; and the decision birthday in March 2009 (the age discusses his attendance at a service to close Scottish Churches House. It when Catholic bishops are obliged to to commemorate the 450th records pilgrimages to Lourdes, the offer their resignation to the Vatican) anniversary of the Reformation: how Holy Land and Carfin, holidays in to the installation of his successor should he approach it? They sign off New York and Italy, journeys back Philip Tartaglia in September 2012. a leaflet marking the 45th anniversary The title It’s Late comes from a of the publication of Nostra Aetate, home to the north east. It recounts verse by Italian poet Giovanni Vatican II’s decree on interfaith the detailed planning involved in Pascoli, a friend of the priest who relations. The following day the Pope Benedict’s visit to Scotland and taught Archbishop Conti’s maternal archbishop addresses the Presbytery England in 2010, and the work grandfather to read and write. of Glasgow. Three days later, he hosts involved in the restoration of ‘I know it is time, I know it is late; a meeting of parish ecumenical St Andrew’s Cathedral. It but let me stay and watch a little representatives, and is much demonstrates an encyclopaedic longer. Let me look into my heart. Let encouraged by their work at local knowledge of the correct clerical garb me live over my past’. level. The next day he takes part in a for all occasions. The choice of the verse touches on service organised by Strathclyde The journal reveals a man who loves issues close to the archbishops’ heart: Police in St Mungo’s Cathedral to the church, its history and its sacred his Italian roots, his love of family, commemorate police officers who places (‘We mortals have a need of history and the arts, and his project died in the preceding year, noting that sacred places’). He has an eye for the to restore St Andrew’s Cathedral on Catholics would not have been the banks of the Clyde. Pascolini’s allowed to attend such an event in the beauty of the landscape and the visual verse is inscribed in its cloister garden past, let alone participate in it. A arts, and cares for the people he as part of a memorial to the victims week later he is invited to dinner at serves. He touches on issues like of the sinking of the Arandora Star Holyrood House at the invitation of synodality but his focus is on during the Second World War. the Lord High Commissioner during maintaining the institution he The journal intersperses detailed the course of the General Assembly of inherited. It is to his successor we accounts of a busy diary with the Church of Scotland, an occasion now look for the changes sought by reflections on their significance and which is described in great detail. Pope Francis. history. Civic engagements, of which The journal records the archbishop’s there are many, are seen within the pastoral responsibilities – visits to Mary Cullen

Letters and contributions If you have any comment on articles which appear in this edition of Open House, please consider writing a letter for publication in the next edition. Send it to the editor by Friday 27th September. Contact details can be found on page 23.

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 19 often concentrated on FILM the nitty gritty when ‘Hollywood’ has offered Varda by Agnès an escape for the masses. Agnès Varda had a brief (2019) interlude in Hollywood but most of her work is Directors: Agnès Varda, based on her Didier Rouget photographing of reality. Featuring: Agnès Varda, Sandrine Cinema can be an escape Bonnaire, Hervé Chandès but at its best it offers a In summer time the cinemas seek to reflection on what is pull in the school children. The big going on all around us. movies at this time of the year are Varda died this year at Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. 90. It is drama on For the slightly older there is television that has taken Spider-Man: Far from Home or up her mantle. The Avengers: Endgame. For couples on small, now not so small, a night out there are tales of the box is not to be ‘supernatural’ with Midsommar discounted. and Annabelle Comes Home. So it Documentaries faithfully is something out of the ordinary to record the realities of find in this season a film by a ordinary life. There is famous director explaining her escapism on the telly but craft. staple of European cinema. Ordinary scenes of daily life that we would Agnès Varda was a Belgian who people, albeit at the extreme of living, otherwise know nothing about are worked in France first of all as a are put on film. A recent example there at the touch of a button. photographer. She was part of the would be Ken Loach’s I Daniel Blake ‘New Wave’ of French cinema (Open House 265). This is against Norman Barry associated with the directors Pixar’s Inside Out in which a child’s Truffaut, Godard, Rohmer, Chabrol brain becomes a TV studio (Open and Rivette. Varda was more of a House 253). The latter is what we ‘Left Bank’ person, meaning more think of as ‘Hollywood’. political. She married another ‘Left Possibly the heyday of Hollywood Reviewers Bank’ director, Jacques Demy. Their was ‘the Western’. Indians were shot impetus was to take scenes from Norman Barry is the long time ordinary life, preferably using off their horses by the dozen. Nobody film reviewer of Open House. non-actors. mentioned genocide. Everyone Lewis Cameron is a retired One of Varda’s better known films whooped and hollered. John Wayne sheriff is The Gleaners and I. It compares bestrode the plains. There’s been a lot those who pick up what remains in of political correctness since then. Mary Cullen is the editor of the fields after the harvest to those And a flight to fantasy of a different Open House who scour the city market for kind. Hollywood now specialises in leftovers before the refuse collectors the need to be saved from other Paul Matheson is a music move in. Varda saw continuity worldly terrors. reviewer and an equality and among those who depend on what Cinema started with scenes of daily diversity officer with the police. would otherwise be discarded. life though it soon included ‘A Trip It could be said that this is the to the Moon’. European films have

Contributions for the next edition Thank you to all our subscribers and contributors to this edition of Open House. The next edition (October/November) will be published in the second week of October and the deadline for letters and articles is Friday, 27th September. Open House exists to promote comment and debate on a wide range of issues from a faith perspective in Scotland and we would encourage our readers to let us know what they think about the views, opinions and reviews we carry. Letters and contributions are always welcome and we would be interested in your suggestions for topics or events we might cover in the future. Submissions, letters, ideas for features and notice of upcoming events should be sent to the editor at [email protected], or by post at the address above. We look forward to hearing from you.

20 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 The duo also performs some sings the text of a Hindu devotional MUSIC heartbreakingly-beautiful slow airs. poem to Lord Krishna, composed by The sweet, gently-caressing Glenbervie the female mystic poet Mirabai RACHEL HAIR & was composed by Rachel for her (1498-1547), the celebrated Bhakti RON JAPPY brother’s wedding and is paired with a saint and singer whose poetry and gorgeous traditional lullaby from the song is still widely popular in North Sparks Isle of Man. Indian Hindu tradition. The text of March Hair Records, MHRCD005 The wistful, evocative composition Mirabai’s song sung here by Rajesh is: www.rachelhair.com Looking At A Rainbow Through A ‘O mother, what should I do? Dirty Window starts tentatively and The sound of the thunder and rain then slowly unfurls a yearning melody and the lightning frightens me. that is drenched in ecstatic emotion. Knowing that I am alone, my Beloved is testing me.’ TYHAI Another beautiful hybrid of Indian and Welsh tradition is the piece O Gwanwyn Vrindavan I Bontypridd which opens Taith Records, TRCD00023 with Rajesh’s honeyed, supple voice www.tyhai.com singing a traditional Hindi song in the Thumri (romantic love and courtship) genre. The song describes Radha seeking her beloved Krishna in the Rachel Hair is a Scottish harpist and holy town of Vrindavan, where composer from Ullapool in the Krishna had spent his childhood. Highlands. Her 5th album sees her Soulful saxophone then shifts the performing in a duo with Scottish scene to Wales and the traditional acoustic guitarist Ron Jappy. Both Welsh love song Ym Mhontypridd come from fishing villages rich in Mae ‘Nghariad (My Love Is In musical tradition. Ron grew up in Pontypridd), which Rajesh sings Findochty, learning the fiddle. He sweetly in perfect Welsh. started playing guitar while studying The music group Tyhai are the Welsh Gwanwyn (Springtime) sees Rajesh music in Glasgow (UNESCO city of trio of Rajesh David (vocals, take a 14th century Welsh poem by harmonium), Pete Stacey (soprano music) where he met Rachel. They Dafydd Ap Gwilym and put it to a saxophone, alto flute) and Dylan studied music during the day and traditional Welsh melody from the Fowler (guitar). Their music combines attended Glasgow’s famous music collection The Ancient National Airs Welsh folk with Indian traditional sessions at night. Of Gwent And Morganwg. Dylan’s singing. Rajesh was born in India into What resulted from those sessions is guitar accompaniment is elegantly a family of singers, and is trained in a superbly sympatico duo, with guitar lute-like, and the twisting notes of Indian classical music. Dylan is strings and harp strings intermeshing Pete’s serpentine saxophone have a steeped in European jazz and Welsh and interweaving flawlessly as they Hindustani shehnai-like quality. It is folk music. Pete has a long-standing perform bright, rhythmic, iridescent revelatory to hear a traditional Welsh involvement with Welsh folk, Indian tune and mediaeval Welsh words sung arrangements of traditional jigs, reels, music and jazz. The result of their polkas and syncopated strathspeys, by Rajesh in the soaring microtones of collaboration is a very smooth and the classical Hindistani style. from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of engaging synthesis of Welsh traditional Man. On the Lochinver set, Ron’s Mediaeval Welsh music predates the song, Indian classical music and new introduction of modern Western guitar provides exhilarating adrenalin age jazz. to the quicksilver shower of sparks tuning of twelve equal intervals per The composition Breakfast Cabaret octave. So it might very well be that coming from Rachel’s harp, with Scott For An Audience Of One is based on mediaeval Welsh troubadors sang in a Wood’s whistle swooping in and a piece of music that Pete created style that was closer to Rajesh David soaring lyrically into the finale. The when his daughter was a baby and than to Bryn Terfel or Katherine Black Hair’d Lad set of reels has would rise very early in the morning. Jenkins. As the poet T S Eliot once Rachel conjuring a Catherine-wheel of It evolved as a flute melody as she sat wrote: crystalline harp phrases, underpinned in the bouncy chair and Pete played ‘We shall not cease from exploration, by a rhythm’n’blues-inflected the flute and drank tea. Pete’s note- and the end of all our exploring will percussive punctuation from Ron’s bending flute and saxophone-playing be to arrive where we started and acoustic guitar. And Ron puts a bluesy intertwine beautifully with the know the place for the first time’. touch onto Rachel’s laid-back, loping, classical Indian microtones of a vocal jazzy jig Sunset Squatters. counterpoint provided by Rajesh, who Paul Matheson

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 21 An appreciation

MARIO CONTI Bishop Joseph Devine

Bishop Joseph Devine, former bishop of for some years at Scalan, and Bishop the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 Motherwell, died on 23rd May 2019, Devine for seven years at St. Peter’s followed. In the same year the seminary, aged 81. The retired Archbishop of Cardross. For both of them education formerly at Scalan, whose removal in Glasgow preached this sermon at his was a principal concern, with Bishop 1799 to Aquhorties near Inverurie Bishop month’s mind Mass. Hay writing several books on faith and Hay negotiated, moved to the Estate of Ten days ago I travelled north to its practice, and Bishop Joe chairing the John Menzies of Pitfodels on the outskirts Scalan to the secret seminary in upper Catholic Education Commission and of Aberdeen, where both Bishop Devine Banffshire, where Mass was celebrated playing a key role in the establishment of and I received our secondary education. to mark the 250th anniversary of the the Scottish Catholic Education Service. Bishop Joe was a stalwart of the Faith; episcopal ordination of George Hay, In a recent article in the magazine of he loved it. He loved the popes he met one of the great stalwarts of the revival the Pluscarden Benedictines, the historian in his time. He loved to reminisce, of the Catholic Church in Scotland. He Alasdair Roberts refers to a slim volume comparing one with another but not in was Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland by Lady Cecil Kerr on Bishop Hay any critical manner. District in the years 1778 to 1805 published in 1927. In it he notes that He loved the fact that Carfin was in when the episcopal governance of the ‘she was highly respectful of Bishop Hay, his diocese, and memorably sent all us post-Reformation Catholic community but she acknowledged that he had fierce pilgrims home with a funny story after the was divided between two Districts, the critics among the clergy. This was not seriousness of the homilist’s subject. He Highland and the Lowland. about his resistance to music in what had invited the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes There were similarities between Bishop been (at the time) threatened chapels, but to join us at Carfin. Hay and Bishop Devine. Both were rather about money. Like most historians If Bishop Devine was restless, and I consecrated bishops at the age of 39; she ignored the subject’! Though not a saw it at our prolonged meetings, he was retired from active service at the age of historian, I will do likewise. never impatient; if he did not engage in 75 having been bishops for 36 years, and But I do acknowledge Bishop Joe’s the argumentation he often clinched the died at the age of 82 or in their 82nd year love of tabulating facts and figures, matter with his well-timed ‘that’s it’! If he of life. and, during meetings of the Bishops’ was not a man for endless chatter, other In both cases their final years were Conference, instructing us on their than on the subject of football, he was clouded by ill health. When Bishop relevance to our pastoral situation, most always pleasant to individuals. Hay died his remains were buried in notably on the diminishing number Bishop Devine and Bishop Hay made ground belonging to the chapel of a local of priests being ordained. Most recent their mark on the Church in Scotland, laird, but his actual tomb has not been figures suggest a small but significant not by extravagant acts, but by their identified, nor a monument erected to increase in candidates, particularly for love for Christ, devotion to their people, him. Happily in the case of Bishop Devine Motherwell, in part attributed to Bishop and constancy in their episcopal duties. his body has been buried close to that Devine’s influence. As time goes on, historians will measure of his predecessor Bishop Thompson Both Bishop Hay and Bishop Devine their contributions more intelligently than in the garden of the Cathedral, and no focused strongly on the clergy, giving today’s ephemeral press. doubt will be appropriately marked, and encouragement by word and example to For the rest we can keep in mind what honoured. adhere to the well-established practices St. Paul wrote, brushing aside, as it were, Apart from obvious differences the of the faith. I think for example of the an invitation or inclination for us to judge likeness in the lives of the two men seems decision of Bishop Joe to maintain the one another. quite extraordinary. It led me to consider pattern of the sacramental initiation ‘People must think of us as Christ’s whether they were alike in other ways. of children in the faith at a time when servants, stewards, entrusted with the There were differences in terms of other dioceses were experimenting with mysteries of God. What is expected of a background. Hay was born in Edinburgh, a different order from which some have steward is that each one should be found Bishop Devine in Glasgow, and it showed now retreated. Bishop Devine was well worthy of his trust, not that it makes the in their general deportment. known for his faithful adherence to slightest difference to me whether you, Bishop Hay was a convert to the a practice of visiting schools prior to or indeed any human tribunal, find me Catholic faith, Bishop Devine a Glasgow Confirmation to see and be seen by those worthy or not… The Lord alone is my Catholic from birth and evidently proud he would be confirming. judge. Leave that until the Lord comes. of it. Bishop Hay’s strictures against music Then will be the time for each one to have Both were gifted intellectually, with Hay in his churches was not on account of whatever praise he deserves, from God’. qualifying as a doctor of medicine prior a distaste for music (his violin is in the (1 Corinthians 4: 1-5) to his priestly vocation and undertaking Blairs Museum) but a concern lest the The Lord’s assurance is: ‘There are many his studies for priesthood at the Pontifical voice of Catholics became overheard rooms in my Father’s House...I am going Scots College in Rome, where later in a Scotland not quite ready for the now to prepare a place for you...so that Bishop Devine gained his doctorate in Parliamentary Acts which historians now where I am you may be also’. philosophy, studying at the Gregorian. attribute to his prudence. He lived to That is our prayer for the steward we Both taught in seminaries, Bishop Hay see the Catholic Relief Act of 1793, and have in mind; may he rest in peace.

22 OPEN HOUSE August 2019 Subscribe to Open House Subscription rate for one year (six editions) is £25. We are very grateful for additional donations. Subscriptions to: Florence Boyle, 3 Dalnottar Terr, Old Kilpatrick, OPEN HOUSE Dunbartonshire, G60 5DE email [email protected] Executive committee: Jim McManus (chair); I wish to pay by cheque Florence Boyle (Treasurer); Alison Clark; Willy Slavin; Name Jennifer Stark. Address Editor: Mary Cullen Postcode [email protected] Tel Open House is published six times a email year. We welcome letters and contributions, which should be sent to I wish to pay directly into the Open House bank account the editor by the last Friday of the month before publication. Articles Bank of Scotland Sort code: 80-73-31 a/c 00735370 should be no more than 1200 words Please identify your payment as an Open House subscription. long, and reviews no more than 800 words. Letters and articles may be I would like to give a subscription as a gift edited or held over for future editions. The opinions and ideas expressed by all Name & address of recipient: our contributors are their own and not Postcode accepted as those of Open House. All correspondence about the content Your name & address: of Open House to the editor: Postcode Mary Cullen, Ramelton, I wish to pay for my subscription by standing order 204 Cardross Rd, Dumbarton, G82 5DH. Please complete this standing order mandate and take it to your bank. Tel: 07909 594797 www.openhousescotland.co.uk Your name Address Thank you Postcode Thank you to all our contributors Please pay Open House the sum of £25 (or additional amount ) whose generous sharing of their time and talents makes each issue of Starting on (date) , and thereafter annually. Open House possible. Your account number: Thank you to our subscribers, who keep us afloat - and a special thanks Bank sort code: to all those who send a donation along with their subscription. It is To the manager - name and address of your bank greatly appreciated. Thank you to all those who tell us Postcode they value the contribution Open House makes to a conversation Signature Date about faith issues in Scotland and the future of the church. Encourage Please pay to the account of Open House, Account no: 00735370 at the Bank of Scotland, your friends to join the conversation Dundee City Branch Sort code: 80-73-31 – give them a gift subscription. Please complete this tear off slip and send it to Open House or email us to let us know you Data protection have set up a standing order. New Data Protection regulations came into I have set up a standing order of £______to pay for my subscription to Open House. force on the 25th May 2018. Open House has an obligation to tell our subscribers about the Name personal data we store and how it is used. Name, address and contact details are held for Address the purposes of mailing out the magazine and are only passed between the treasurer, the editor Postcode and printer. We do not share our mailing list with third parties. Tel. For those subscribers who pay by cheque a log of the cheque number and date received is maintained to help with subscriber enquiries. email

August 2019 OPEN HOUSE 23 Moments in time

It is a fine summer day along the coast; they have come from surprised to encounter a large school as we leave the old the Bass Rock which we can see in the party heading towards us, the keen harbour at Cellardyke, far distance off the East Lothian coast. ones out in front and the less eager bordered by tightly Soon we come to a large farmhouse lagging behind. The coast is rougher packed cottages, but no called Caiplie situated unusually close here with low cliffs; amongst the gorse fishing boats now apart to the beach and now used as holiday and bracken we see a stonechat, a from a few creelers. Like many others, accommodation. The path narrows colourful bird which often lives near the harbour was extended in the 19th and is fringed by wildflowers, the most the sea. We climb a stile and come to a century, partly to accommodate larger numerous being red campion. Ahead ruined cottage on the shore. This was vessels and partly for safety reasons, as we see an interesting rock formation; built as a salmon bothy on the site of many ships came to grief trying to these are the Caiplie Caves formed an old saltworks, which was once an negotiate narrow harbour mouths in from a red sandstone outcrop now important industry along this coast. stormy weather. The Fife Coastal Path weathered into fantastic shapes. We The path ascends the cliff to give a takes us past a smart looking caravan explore the caves, which were the wonderful view of Crail harbour, one park to a stretch of rich farmland with home of early Christian missionaries, of the most picturesque and smallest in growing crops of wheat and barley. then used for many different purposes the East Neuk. We go down to the Here we see or hear three types of over the centuries and latterly the beach again before reaching the edge buntings ; the familiar yellowhammer, home of an army veteran, known as of the small town where we make our reed buntings in the marshier areas and ‘Covey Jimmy’ who came here in 1910 way to the Golf Hotel for a welcome the much rarer corn bunting, which and lived as a hermit. refreshment after a most interesting has vanished from most of Scotland. Here we have our lunch, enjoying the and enjoyable walk. The coast is flat and rocky with a peace and quiet with no buildings or view to the Isle of May with its three people in sight. There are grey clouds Tim Rhead lighthouses at its nearest point to the to the east but here the sun is still Tim Rhead is a pastoral assistant mainland. We spot a few gannets flying shining. We climb a low ridge and are in the Episcopal Church.

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24 OPEN HOUSE August 2019