Comment and debate on faith issues in Scotland June/July 2019 www.openhousescotland.co.uk Issue No 282 £2.50

Open House conference 2019 Editorial Unlocking potential

The Open House conference on 1st June was remarkable for conference bear this out. They are both familiar and new. A several reasons. People had to be turned away at the door. greater role for lay people, meaningful consultation, Bishops, lay people, priests and religious sat down together to accountability and shared decision making are familiar themes discuss new directions for the Catholic Church in Scotland. from renewal programmes which responded to the Council’s The format of the day created a pattern of respectful listening vision of integrating clergy, religious and laity within the and sharing which resulted in the overwhelming conclusion common framework of one people of God. Now we see them that the status quo is not an option. in the context of a developing synodal style in local churches The format was shaped by the belief that the people in the around the world. room had the collective wisdom and insight to address the task Bishop Brendan Leahy gave a vivid account of the Limerick in hand. The challenge was to unlock it. Participants listened diocesan synod of 2016. It drew on many skills and involved together to short contributions from people who are already widespread consultation and communication with more than taking the church in new directions, and shared their responses 5,000 people over two years. The themes which surfaced were in a series of round table conversations. Ideas took shape. eventually voted on at the synod to form the basis of a Headlines were agreed. Patterns emerged. The conversations took place against the background of Pope pastoral plan, following much shared prayer and discernment. Francis’ call for a synodal church in which bishops, priests and It was, he said, a profound immersion in the church as a living lay people listen and learn from one another as they journey organism rather than simply an organisation. The challenge together. This is the path, the pope says, which God expects of now is to keep the synod alive as a way of being church. the church of the third millennium. He has described it as a Taking the church in this direction requires serious prophecy of the Second Vatican Council which we have yet to investment in skills and resources, episcopal leadership and a absorb in all its profundity and to develop in all its daily commitment to processes which give new life to the Council’s implications. vision. At the Open House conference we got a glimpse of the The new directions for the church which emerged from the kind of church which could emerge. Reclaiming the beautiful game

So Scotland at last sent a team to the football World Cup. The All this is far removed from ‘the beautiful game’. The story is women’s World Cup, that is. Fifty years ago when FIFA told of a woman who was surprised at her husband getting up proposed putting women’s football on a professional basis, the early on a Sunday morning to shower and dress, thinking he Scottish FA was the lone dissenting voice. Rose Reilly was had decided to go back to church. But he was getting ready for belted in her Catholic school for insisting on her right to play. an early football match. Football is not now more important She had to go to Italy where she captained the Italian team than religion. For some men it has taken the place of religion. that won the World Cup. Women’s football offers a corrective to this. By and large they This year all four finalists in the European Cups have come from the English Premier Division. None of the managers is are still intent on getting the ball up the park to score a goal. English. Only a minority of the players were born in England. ‘Professional’ fouls are rare. They are playing for a fraction of Such is the wealth in the men’s game that money is not an the cost of the men’s game. At school level girls are encouraged obstacle when it comes to hiring the best. The English Premier to take their place among the boys. The onus is on skill rather League spent more than a quarter of a billion pounds on than physique. players’ agents. Is it money well spent? FIFA is attempting to even out the financial field by trying to Little boys are dressed in the latest gear to take part in local get the top teams to depend on gate receipts rather than football leagues. Parents give over Sunday mornings to cheer sponsorship. But even Barcelona gave way with Qatar on their them on. But even in Scotland a very small minority will make shirts rather than UNICEF. Next year’s men’s World Cup in it into the premier league. Professional teams will stretch their Qatar might appear to be a further bow to the rich. But it is budget to buy the best they can afford from anywhere in the world. Supporters expect club boards to spend money they taking the competition to a country that is a minnow in terms don’t have on borrowing players from wherever. The salaries of the World Cup. It offers hope that a degree of sanity might of top footballers and mangers can make them immediate be restored to a game that really only needs ordinary people millionaires. and a ball.

2 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 Contents Open House conference 2019

MARY CULLEN

Page 3 Exploring new directions Mary Cullen Exploring new Pages 4-8 Open House Conference 2019 directions Mary Cullen Page 9 Empowering the laity In this special six page report, the editor highlights key Joe Fitzpatrick moments from an inspirational day of listening and Page 10 The church in the public learning at the Open House conference in Glasgow. square John McFall Page 12 Jean Vanier: an appreciation Over 170 lay people, religious and discussion and invited to jot down priests from around the country thoughts and ideas on their paper Jock Dalrymple and beyond were joined by the tablecloths. After 15 minutes, they Page 13 Notebook bishops of Galloway and Limerick were asked to write headlines from to explore new directions for the their conversation on large sheets of Page 15 Letters Catholic Church in Scotland on 1st paper which were displayed around June. Over a dozen others who had the room before moving on to new Page 15 The canonisation of not booked a place had to be turned tables and new conversations. Julie Billiart away because of lack of space. Menu cards summarised café etiquette. Focus on what matters; Page 16 Reviews: books, film Inside the conference hall, rows of seats had been rearranged around contribute your thinking and and music round tables covered in white experience; listen to understand; Page 24 Moments in Time tablecloths, each set with flowers, listen together for patterns, insights pens and menu cards. Welcome to and deeper questions; speak the world café. your mind and heart. Take ideas/ The world café is a whole group reflections as seeds of conversation interaction method focused on to new tables. conversation. It creates a relaxed, The quiet murmur of over 170 informal atmosphere in which people talking and listening people feel free to bring the best of carefully to one another was themselves to achieve a common testimony to their concern for the task. future of the church. It was also an Thank you to all those who contributed The assumption is that the affirmation of the process by which to this edition of Open House. knowledge and wisdom needed they were able to listen and share. Open House, which was founded in for the task is already present and Bishop William Nolan of Dundee in 1990, is an independent accessible in the room. Collective Galloway said: journal of comment and debate on faith insights evolve from honouring each ‘It was a very positive experience. issues in Scotland. It is rooted in the unique contribution, connecting How encouraging to see so many ideas, hearing the collective and reforms of the Second Vatican Council faith inspired people listening and noticing deeper patterns and (1962-65) and committed to the learning from one another, honestly questions. dialogue which began at the Council - acknowledging the difficulties and The day took the form of a series within the Catholic Church, in other problems we face, and looking with of round table conversations, hope to the future. A sure sign that churches, and with all those committed prompted by contributions from the Spirit is active in the Church’. to issues of justice and peace. Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick The unobtrusive but expert www.openhousescotland.co.uk and members of parishes from facilitation of the day was provided Galloway, Glasgow and Edinburgh. by Ronnie McEwan from the Cover photos by Dominic Cullen. After each 20 minute contribution Kinharvie Institute with support from speakers, participants were from fellow Marist brother Brendan given a question to help focus their Geary.

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Planning travelled to dioceses in Participants were invited to discuss America and to Rome where synods what insights and observations stood The had already taken place. A preparatory out for them. Here are some of their commission met every month. Around responses: 400 delegates were elected. There were Limerick questionnaires, focus groups and parish The church has a huge pool of gifts gatherings involving over 5,000 people. and talents that are not being Media advertising, public meetings and harnessed, especially among women synod Synod Sundays updated parishioners. and young people. Delegates gathered, the statistical profile The synod should be better known as of the diocese was presented and 100 a way of being church. Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick proposals were formulated to be voted opened the conversation at the on at the synod. This was a refreshing transformation conference by explaining why he took The journey was unfamiliar for of what we understand by ‘the the diocese in a new direction with a everyone. Throughout the synod process church’. synod held in 2016. a wide variety of themes surfaced. A lot Widespread consultation led to The Limerick synod was a collective of listening, talking and clarifying was step forward which aimed to build on needed. A 150-page workbook was widespread involvement. work that had already been done to distributed to delegates, a summary of The tone and style was empowering. develop parish clusters and pastoral what had emerged to date. The guide areas in the diocese. would inform them at the synod. There is a role for bishops in releasing A synod is a time-honoured process Six main themes emerged: Community the energy of God’s people. and sense of belonging; Faith formation; that listens to the heartbeat of the Change is difficult. We need a change Pastoral care of the family; New models diocese and indicates directions that can of mindset from clergy and laity. become church law. Years ago a of leadership; Liturgy and life; Young diocesan synod could take a morning, people. Each theme was presented at the The importance of prayer and with the bishop and some clergy making synod by a speaker who summarised the discernment. practical decisions. To convoke a synod main points that had emerged in consultation with church teaching on For a flavour of the synod, go to today is about process and dialogue. It the topic. The bishop was invited to https://www.icatholic.ie/synod-2016- is a way of taking up the Gospel respond. Then the synod delegates were invitation to work more in unity with limerick-report invited through a scriptural input into a one another. Pope Francis has space for reflection, then exchange, emphasised the importance of synods in really listening to each other. the church. Then came the vote with a zapper What did the Limerick synod look type click – which meant instant like? There was an element of risk. results. People could vote three ways People express their hopes and wishes, – ‘I strongly support this proposal’; I but also their fears and anxieties. The support this proposal’; ‘I do not Holy Spirit was in the synod process. support this proposal’. The system Even if it goes badly, Bishop Leahy enabled voting to be carried out thought, it’ll go okay. quickly and efficiently across 101 In convoking the synod in September proposals. 2014, he issued a pastoral letter entitled The main dynamic of the proceedings Together in Mission: A Time to Begin was one of spiritual discernment. By Again. He wanted to make his own the linking Scriptural insights with a focus words of Pope Francis in The Joy of the on mutual listening and learning, in the Gospel: spirit of the new commandment of love ‘I dream of a “missionary option”: for one another, those who took part that is, a missionary impulse capable of became ‘trained’ in a way of transforming everything, so that the communion that should always Church’s customs, ways of doing things, undergird decision making in church. times and schedules, language and Would they do things differently? Of structures can be suitably channelled for course. It was a first synod in a long the evangelisation of today’s world time and a new experience. A future rather than for her self-preservation’. synod might not try to review the The diocese was entering a period of whole life of the church. It would be spiritual discernment. enough to pick one or two topics or Bishop Leahy consulted with many areas for review. It would be important groups about the possibility of a synod to develop a regular and frequent Bishop Brendan Leahy opened the and the Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral rhythm of synods. conversation at the conference.

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The biggest challenge is to keep the A particular feature of the People of God synod alive as a style of church. That that has emerged since the Council is the Moving requires more than techniques, methods need to rediscover the place and and programmes. It needs a new step in importance of charisms. This is linked to how we approach our spiritual life as synodality: the church is called to activate forward members of the church and not just as the ministries and charisms present in her individuals. Pope Francis has provided us life and listen to the voice of the Spirit, in Bishop Leahy’s second contribution with images that can help. order to discern the ways of evangelisation. focused on moving forward after the The first is journey. The word Relationships are at the heart of a synod. synodality contains the image of a synodal style of church. Pope Francis It was a great experience for many. The journey. The church is nothing other than emphasises how we need to be able to challenge was to distil all the data which the journeying together of God’s flock ‘encounter’ people, not just pass them by had been gathered into a practical plan. along the path of history towards the or treat them in terms of duty or function. The first step was to interpret it with the encounter with Christ the Lord. Francis This relationship-encounter-dialogue is help of professionals – statisticians and often returns to this theme. In walking the way of the church today. mathematicians – and drill down into the together, as people do on the camino, we We need a robust spirituality of voting. Some proposals were strategic in discern the truth. We understand what to communion. What is the opposite of nature and others very straightforward. do, we see what direction to take. A key ‘me’? The answer is ‘us’. The concept of Proposals with a strong mandate needed biblical image is of the disciples on the ‘we/us’ is at the heart of what Pope to be prioritised. road to Emmaus. Francis calls a mysticism of encounter. We A pastoral plan was needed to offer a A second image is that of the pyramid need to put in practice, in synodal style, menu to parishes, pastoral areas and the reversed. Often in the past, when the participative structures we already diocese as a whole. It didn’t imply speaking of the church as a structured, have (priest councils, pastoral councils, everyone should do the same thing at the ordered society (the ‘perfect society’) the episcopal conferences). But we need also same time. image used was of a pyramid with pope to guarantee the ‘cement of love’ which There was a delegates’ assembly some and bishops on top. Pope Francis is binds us together. As Jesus said, by this months after the synod to tell the story telling us this needs to change. We all they will know, if you love one another. and hear from them that the data was serve one another, and so the hierarchical We must show a church that truly lives its being interpreted accurately. ‘ministers’, who are necessary and have a own reality. In each theme of the pastoral plan, a specific charism, see themselves not Participants were invited to discuss start was made by doing something at above, but in service. what they were learning from this diocesan level to increase the ability to A third image is the polyhedron. The presentation. Here are some of their move – by training, employing or pope comments on this in The Joy of the responses: Gospel appointing people to key positions. The importance of prayer, Scripture, ‘..the polyhedron… reflects the Training and resources were provided at discernment. local level to ensure people could deliver. convergence of all its parts, each of which The diocese responded to proposals preserves its distinctiveness. Pastoral and The ‘camino’ is for everyone. Jean from groups or agencies with expertise political activity alike seek to gather in Vanier started out on his own and experience, such as a children’s grief this polyhedron the best of each… It is There are a lot of good people project, by working with them rather the convergence of peoples who, within ministering outside the church. the universal order, maintain their own than in parallel. Change is not always clergy led. Delegates with passion and experience in individuality; it is the sum total of persons particular areas, such as the John Paul II within a society which pursues the The importance of consultation, Awards for young people, are being common good, which truly has a place feedback, accountability, supported. for everyone…’ communication. What are the main challenges as the Pope Francis is inviting us to adopt a The gifts of young people. diocese moves forward? To ensure the synodal style of ecclesial life. It is a church Synod means agreeing on local synod outcomes are implemented. People which listens; which is marked by priorities. have been sent to do further studies. processes of communal discernment, Pastoral units and team ministry have been participation and co-responsibility. The polyhedron a good image: there is established. Some parishes have taken up Behind this lies the ecclesiology of the a role for all and we need everyone’s the call to make more use of technology. People of God characteristic of the charisms. A major challenge is to ensure the synod Second Vatican Council. The church is Use technology! doesn’t become an event of the past. We being called to make the paschal can never communicate enough, said transition of going out from ‘I’ For a flavour of the John Paul II awards Bishop Leahy, so that all feel participants understood in a self-focussed way to the for young people, see https://www. in diocesan life. ecclesial ‘we’. limerickpost.ie/2017/12/06/papal-awards/

‘If you don’t go forward, you go backwards’ Bishop Brendan Leahy.

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They have no Catholic schools. Do not change because of the decline in One of their initiatives is the TLC café numbers being ordained to the Lay which opened in response to the needs priesthood of lonely people in the community. Do not change because we want to After consultation with health and replace the current clerical model of leadership in education services, and supplied with priesthood with a new lay priesthood food by the local Co-op, a café has been established in a parish hall where Change because… Galloway people can go for lunch and a chance We are the pilgrim people to talk. Young people from local We are guided by Scripture and the schools have begun to help, and they A group of lay people from Galloway Holy Spirit receive training in hospitality skills. opened the afternoon conversation. The mission of the Church is not to We are the people of hope and love Helen-Marie, Stephen, Carol, Sara, guard a museum, they say, but to Have courage! David and Mary come from rural cultivate a flowering garden of life. Galloway where there is one parish Participants were invited to discuss They have ‘Ninian moments’: times of priest for seven parishes, together with what they had heard from the quiet shared prayer and reflection. presentation that could work in their a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Every fifth Sunday, the Christians of Our Lady of Walsingham, two deacons, parishes. Here are some of their Newton Stewart have a joint service. responses: and a pastoral assistant. They contribute to local foodbanks and Their ministry recognises the hold ‘an exuberant joint service’at the The support of an open minded centrality of their baptism. They are end of the Wigton book festival. bishop and priest. ‘re-visioning ways which avoid All this requires a change of mindset replacing an ordained priest or deacon Collaboration across parishes, on the part of priest and parishioners. churches and other agencies. with a clerical model’. At present they believe that as a church Each of their parishes has a pastoral we are too ‘priest-focused’ – perhaps Local circumstances dictate our committee – not a pastoral council, we need to be more focused on our response to change. which would require a priest. They baptismal call. Many lay people find it Real conversations about resources meet at deanery level to share their hard to break out of a clerical mindset. and buildings. vision, the practicalities of their Some of the group have been involved ministry, and their planning ahead. in some serious, shared and drastic The importance of prayer and They share responsibility and decisions about closing churches. spiritual resources. accountability for fabric, leadership, Synodality requires a willingness for The importance of training and RCIA, sacramental preparation and parishes to work together. preparation. funerals. Seven lay people are now The presentation ended with Carol trained to take funerals. They take and Helen-Marie, declaiming together: One group observed that in ‘mission’ responsibility for evangelisation, liturgy Do not change because of declining countries there is plenty of lay and faith education of young people. numbers and ageing population leadership.

Round table conversations at the conference. ‘We yearn for parish life that helps us move forward together’

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Immaculate Conception parish, difficult part of the reading, as the Maryhill, a well-established community word missionary sounds foreign to our Divine with three schools and lots of young tradition. We tend to think it is for families. evangelicals or those in Religious They opted to use DR in response to orders who go away from home. Over Renovation the situation of the church where the some weeks of teasing this out, it current vacuum in ecclesiastical became clear that missionary is much leadership means there is no common more about finding ways to make in Edinburgh pastoral strategy. DR gave them a ourselves known in the wider focus, using a ‘reading group’ model, community, of engaging with other with 100 people on average gathering agencies. Above all, being missionary is and Glasgow each month to reflect and discern how being prepared to be beside others – in they could become a community more our neighbourhood, our workplace, concerned with reaching the wider Monica Thompson and Gerry even in our own families, wherever they community rather than just Mulvenna shared their experience of may be on the journey. Missionary is maintaining the status quo around the using Divine Renovation (DR) in their always having an eye on the parish buildings and liturgy. South Edinburgh cluster of three opportunities in real time, to be of Where Edinburgh is using DR to parishes, which have shared two priests service or of helping someone to share create a whole new reality from a for nearly 20 years. in what we have ourselves found. It is multi-parish cluster, Maryhill is using it Divine Renovation - bringing your not proselytising but accompanying! as a tool to re-energise a single parish parish from maintenance to mission is a The parish is in the very early days of community. book written by Fr James Mallon. It seeing how this DR process will help Since one of the factors that motivated offers a long-term process of renewal shape their pastoral strategy. They are taking up DR was to find good news in exploring creating a central team that for faith communities, with steps set the midst of the sexual abuse scandals, out in the Divine Renovation will share responsibility for parish it was no surprise to find a chapter that leadership and there are other Guidebook – a step by step guide. invites us, head on, to discuss and share One of its main themes is the primacy initiatives emerging. how this tragedy has made us all feel. Renewal, responsibility, shared of evangelisation, which is set in the The meeting around that chapter was context of the great commission in leadership, reach out, encounter, facilitated by the Diocesan safeguarding mission; this a new challenging Matt 28: ‘Go, therefore, make disciples officer and proved an uncomfortable of all nations…’ vocabulary but one we now recognise but very open and frank, even a as important for us into the future. It uses the Alpha course, which healing, event. It helped move people That surely can’t be bad? explores the Christian faith over a towards a liturgy of shame and sorrow Participants were invited to discuss period of eleven weeks, with a retreat to coincide with Pope Francis’ what they had heard from the towards the end. invitation at the start of Lent. presentation that could work in their The Edinburgh parishes are on their The fundamental premise of the book parishes. Here are some of their fifth Alpha cycle. People have spoken of and the DR project acknowledges that a deeper relationship with Jesus, more every Catholic needs to be rooted in an responses: confidence in their faith, and stronger encounter with Jesus. This echoes Pope DR is a toolkit which can respond to connections to the community. Francis’ call to renew the church not in local needs. Last year the priests of the Edinburgh its structures but in our faith- The workbook means we don’t have cluster entered a process of prayer and relationship and in our prayer. to reinvent wheels. discernment before inviting six For DR, the experience of Sunday is parishioners to form a DR team with key; it is to be the main event of the A powerful book which needs to be them. The team meets for two and a week in which all are moved and adapted locally half hours every fortnight and is a real energised and given the opportunity to It could work in a parish looking for experience of clergy and laity have that encounter together. a structure for change. collaborating and sharing responsibility. As well as examining how well we Parish pastoral councils work with the prepare and celebrate Sunday Alpha opens up people’s faith journey leadership team, whose primary role is Eucharist, DR invites us to look at and their personal encounter with to lead the faith communities on their where our priorities are and how this is Jesus. journey from maintenance to mission. reflected even in our parish budget! Do There is a positive affirmation of we put our money where our priorities prayer life. The Maryhill experience are? Key among these priorities, we are Fr Jim Lawlor and Julie Hughes shared asked how ‘missionary’ our parish Empowerment of lay people but their experience of DR in the attitude and outlook are. This is a needs a willing parish priest.

‘We yearn for parish life that helps us move forward together’

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Work together with other partners to Leadership Final build a new world. The leadership of Pope Francis was Die to the old model and embrace the referenced throughout the day. The new. role of bishops in leading and thoughts… supporting change was highlighted. A dream – that I get a call from my There was also an acknowledgement bishop asking for help……… that change need not be clergy led After reviewing the gallery of and could begin at local level. headlines from the day’s Emerging themes conversations in silence, and taking The process of sharing throughout the The role of lay people time for personal reflection, day generated many thoughts and There was widespread affirmation of participants were asked to share what insights which will take time to sift the role of lay people in the church new directions would engage their through and gather. But already and the need for their voices to be energy and interest for the future themes are emerging. heard at all levels. There was a direction of the Church in Scotland. recognition of the need to invest in Each table was invited to name one. The challenge of change lay formation. A synodal church. This came up in many conversations. Hope People described change as difficult, Open up the camino! A sense of hope permeated the day. risky, requiring courage, and A follow up to continue the journey! Pope Francis is widely understood to dependent on a change of mindset be addressing the ‘unfinished business’ A change of heart: to be one pilgrim from laity and clergy. Creating a of Vatican II on issues like the primacy church climate for change was seen as of baptism, synodality, and the need Move from ‘I’ to ‘us’. important. for structures which enable the church to draw on the gifts of all the Change through prayerful New ways of being church baptised. Many of those who took discernment and action. The synodal model of church in part in the conference were veterans Adult lay formation fully resourced which lay and ordained listen and of programmes for change. The young and supported. learn from one another was widely people who came along were looking for a more inclusive church. All Ministry which responds to today’s affirmed as a direction in which the shared the same hope of change. needs in and outside the church. church should go at local and Divine Renovation diocesan level. The synod’s processes Next steps of consultation, accountability and Small courageous steps to overcome There will be a full report of all co-responsibility energised many fear and offer our gifts and talents. the conference contributions and people as a way of harnessing the the conversations they prompted Engage people where they are. gifts of all the baptised and engaging on the website www. Invite young people in who accept with other faiths, other Christian openhousescotland.co.uk. everyone (eg gay people) and are traditions and the secular world. There will be a special letters enthused by social issues. page in the next edition for your Structure Respectful dialogue between laity and thoughts on the conference, hierarchy. Structure was closely linked to whether you were there or not. discussions about new ways of being The copy deadline for letters is Empowerment of lay people. church. Both Bishop Leahy and the Friday 26th July. Openness to the new ideas and group from Edinburgh highlighted Open House will continue the conversation about new directions models explored today. Pope Francis ‘dream’ of a church in for the church in Scotland. To be which all its structures and ways of Trust our baptismal promise. part of it, please consider taking doing things serve its mission rather Evaluation, feedback, action. out a subscription (many thanks than its self-preservation. The old if you already have one!) or Recognise, affirm and encourage clerical model, one group wrote on encourage a friend to subscribe. people’s talents. their tablecloth, is ‘no longer You’ll find a subscription form on Have courage. sustainable or acceptable’. page 23.

‘The clerical model of church is no longer sustainable’

8 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 New directions for the church

JOE FITZPATRICK Empowering the laity

In response to questions raised by the Pope’s life is not the day he was elected The church needs to become more Open House conference about future Pope, but the day he was baptised.’ synodal. Synodality lies behind the directions for the church in Scotland, The great challenge facing the church notion of ‘collegiality’ to be found a Scot living in Yorkshire shared the is to replace the image of the church in the documents of the Second following reflection. as an upright pyramid with that of an Vatican Council. It involves honest inverted pyramid. How do we do that? ‘Did Jesus want a two-tier Church?’ communication, sharing ideas and The answer is a resounding ‘No’. By empowering the laity, by creating listening intently and with an open Everything we read in the Gospels forums in which lay members – women mind and heart to what others have reflects and supports that judgment. In and men, married and unmarried – to say. It can be practised at different Matthew 23, 8-9 Jesus is reported as can speak frankly and honestly with levels of the church but it is important members of the hierarchy and other saying to ‘the people and his disciples’, that no group is left out or remains ordained ministers. ‘You are all brothers and sisters alike’. unconsulted. The sexual abuse scandal made it Later he adds, ‘The greatest among you New directions will require new clear that church governance can no must be your servant…’ In Luke, Jesus structures of church governance and longer be confined to the bishops. Had tells his disciples: ‘In the world, kings accountability. It is likely that the lord it over their subjects… Not so lay people, especially professional lay people, been consulted on the issue, it notions of parish councils and diocesan with you: on the contrary, the highest councils will need to be revived and among you must bear himself like is very unlikely that this practice would become a reality. Ecclesia semper the youngest, the chief of you like a have endured for so long. As Catherine reformanda – the Church must always servant.’ (Lk, 22: 25). Pepinster remarked after investigating be in the process of being reformed. Christian egalitarianism is allied to the handling of the clerical sexual I recently read Stephen McGinty’s the notion of leadership as service. abuse of minors in the archdiocese To speak of leadership indicates that of Birmingham, what emerged was The Life of Cardinal Winning and was there should be a variety of functions ‘a culture of clericalism, secrecy and struck by the revelation that Cardinal in the Church if it is to be a viable authoritarianism’. Winning looked on Mgr Gerry Rogers organisation. Underneath this variety It is this culture that needs to be as his ‘mentor’. I recall Mgr Rogers there is a basic equality; all of us dismantled and replaced. Pope Francis, telling me many years ago that it through our baptism make up the has identified clericlalism as the central was important to get rid of the ‘cloth ecclesial community. Participation in contributing factor in the sexual abuse cap’ image of Catholics in Scotland. ministry for lay and ordained ministers scandal. Clericalism rests on a power It is clear from McGinty’s biography is not a promotion beyond the ranks imbalance between the ordained and that this aspiration was shared by of the baptised nor an indicator of the non-ordained. We have grown up Cardinal Winning, whose father was superior holiness. All the baptised are in a church in which all power and an unemployed miner. called to be ministers, in the service of authority have been invested in the This goal has been achieved. There the Church and the Church’s mission ordained. The duty of lay people was has been a huge leap – in in terms to ‘pray, pay and obey’. to the world. of employment, financial prosperity Clericalism and secrecy go hand in Ministry is fundamentally ecclesial, and, above all, education – between hand. What the Australian Bishop emerging from the life of the Church my parents’ generation and my own, and its mission. The Pauline epistles Vincent Long has referred to as ‘the ageing, generation. This is even more make clear that ministry is for the sake male celibate club’ makes all the true of our children’s generation of the community of faith: for the ‘one decisions and the rest of us remain in and their children. Lay Catholics in body’ (Rom 12, 4), ‘the common good’ the dark. It is clear from recent history (1Cor 12, 7), and ‘God’s church’ (1 that many bishops and archbishops Scotland are no longer the ‘simple Tim 3,5). preferred it that way. But recent faithful’ of yesteryear. They are well One of the great breakthroughs history also makes it clear that this is capable of helping to devise new brought about by the teaching of Pope a very unhealthy situation and that structures of church government and Francis, which reflects the teaching secrecy must be replaced with greater new structures of accountability. It is of the Second Vatican Council, is transparency. Bishops and priests will time the church hierarchy made use of ‘baptismal ecclesiology’. This stresses have to share power and decision- their talents and expertise. the pre-eminence of the sacrament of making with the wider Catholic baptism and supports the notion of community. Joe Fitzpatrick is a writer on ‘lay ministries’. As the late Cardinal It is important that accountability theological issues and a former ‘The clerical model of church is no longer sustainable’ Suenens put it: ‘The greatest day in a is both top-down and bottom-up. inspector of schools.

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 9 Church and politics

JOHN MCFALL The church in the public square

A member of the House of Lords and former Labour MP who has spent over 30 years at Westminster reflected on the relationship between church and society at a meeting of the Glasgow Newman Circle.

Bishop Trevor Huddleston, the hungry, visited the sick, the lonely Raymond Burke. Ben Harris- great anti-apartheid campaigner and the bereaved, and buried the Quinney of the conservative think who believed that basic human dead. tank the Bow Group is a trustee. rights for all lie at the heart of Today we are living out our faith Like politics, the church is a coalition the Christian gospel, was an early in the public square of a pluralist of interests. influence on my political life. Hailed society. Is this a problem for society Timothy Radcliffe speaks of by Nelson Mandela for his love and or for the church? ‘Kingdom’ and ‘Communion’ commitment to those who suffered The church is faced with the Catholics. Kingdom Catholics are on the atrocity of apartheid, and by question of how to respond to a a pilgrimage, and are characterised Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the culture of diverse, fragmented and by equality and empathy. one person who could be described often antagonistic groups which Communion Catholics value the as single-handedly making it a seek to live within the confines of institution. How do we make the world issue, Huddleston was also a common civilisation. Vatican II tensions between them fruitful and characterised by his biographer as was crystal clear in proclaiming dynamic? prickly, vainglorious and intolerant the opening up of the church to the It is not an even playing field. of criticism. He had shortcomings, world. It recognised that the goal of Right wing think tanks have money just like the rest of us. His great gift churches and religions was to make and influence. Questions have been was to make people realise they were the world a brighter place. So what is raised, for example, about billionaire better than they thought they were. the position of Christians today? backers of the Catholic University of I have always been aware of the The late Cardinal Carlo Martini America such as the Koch brothers, resonance and commonalities quotes Jesus to his disciples and to who have poured huge amounts of between church and political us: ‘You are the judges of the world’. money into conservative political environments. As an MP, the We are put in a position of power causes in the US, including climate- church provided me with a window to help the world find direction. change denial. One of CUA’s board into community and society. I This is not easy in a world where members is Tim Busch, who is also saw churches as the glue holding many would say that church and on the board of EWTN, the global society, particularly its voluntary society have both reached tipping religious media network. These right organisations, together. points. We see the rise of populist, wing Catholic groups want to change At national and international level, authoritarian politics and witness the church. The Dignitatis Humanae the church’s emphasis on the dignity a church in decay, characterised by Institute aims to be a ‘retreat’ for of each individual has spurred disillusionment and fragmentation, seminarians and believers. It is a base social progress on welfare and deeply affected by abuse scandals from which to mobilise a movement humanitarian issues. It has provided and their consequences. The right to set the church ‘in the right structures for society through its wing American media figure Steven direction’. institutions around the world, and Bannon is reported to have told is often the last thing standing when Italy’s populist leader that Pope Governance war or conflict break out. The UN Francis is ‘the enemy’. Bannon has The focus on the pope is a diversion regularly looks to surviving priests been steadily building opposition from fundamental problems. The and parishes as a route through to the current papacy through the church is virtually ungovernable, which order can be restored. The Dignitatis Humanae Insitute, based as ministers at Westminster often churches and their members who, in in a 13th century mountaintop discover when they pull levers the name of God, created hospitals, monastery not far from Rome, and nothing happens. In Rome, children’s homes, community centres where he is an advisor. The institute’s the Curia is a law unto itself. The and schools, also gave food to the honorary president is Cardinal warning signs have been there

10 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 for years. In 1939 Pope Pius XI Gaudium et Spes, the final leadership requires a paradoxical described the church, the Mystical document of Vatican II, speaks of blend of humility and enduring Body of Christ, as a ‘monstrosity’ learning from ‘riches hidden within will; it includes management, in which the head has become very various cultures which open up although management alone is not large and the body shrunken. The new avenues to truth’. Pope Francis leadership; and it requires good self- writes in Evangelii Gaudium that only way to rebuild it, he said, management in order to lead others was to ‘mobilise the lay people’. the ‘(the poor) have much to teach well. In servant leadership, the desire Curial horror greeted the calling of us… we need to let ourselves be to lead derives from a desire to serve. Vatican II. Cardinal Ratzinger, later evangelised by them’. When he Benedict XVI, compared the church was Archbishop of Milan Cardinal American economist Jeffrey to a boat about to sink, taking on Martini established a forum for Sachs, who is Jewish, has described water on every side. Pope Francis non-believers in the city in order Catholic Social Teaching as his listed 15 ailments of the Curia in to hear from them what they are lodestar. Its agenda can be summed 2014, describing it as suffering from contributing to saving the world. up in ten building blocks. There is ‘existential schizophrenia’. The Jesus’ commission to go out and the human person, always worthy Archbishop of Melbourne, Mark teach all nations compels us to enter of respect; human life, precious at Coleridge, has said that ‘nothing less into conversation with all people, to every stage; association, ie the way than a Copernican style revolution is offer them our friendship, and to try we organise society in economics, and work together. I regard myself necessary’. politics and law; participation, in As members, we are responsible not as a Catholic politician, but as the common good and well-being of for the ongoing governance of the one who is a Catholic. The essence of all; preference for the poor, which church. We have collectively failed. Francis’ message is to urge us into a is marred by deepening inequality; For too long governance has resided deeper and more profound solidarity with the Curia and bishops – a with the world. solidarity, loving our neighbour; failed model. As lay people, we have His great environmental encyclical stewardship, which is respect for the responsibility for changing the power Laudato Sí, for example, drew on creator; subsidiarity, which concerns structure. We have a church under contributions from experts like the the limits and responsibilities of siege, imploding from its criminality. Astronomer General, Lord Rees, government and the essential role Child abuse was for too long treated through the Pontifical Academy of of voluntary organisations; equality, as a moral problem, and the response Sciences. In turn he acknowledged its which is about the essential dignity was to plead for forgiveness. influence on the Paris climate change of the human person; and the conference of 2015 and the church’s Following the film Spotlight and common good, the promotion of global reach, its long term vision and a series of Commissions, it is now social conditions which allow people understood as a crime that needs its concern for the world’s poor. to reach their full potential. to be reported to civil authorities. The church and politics have As abuse survivor Marie Collins Leadership common goals. The way forward for told Pope Francis, ‘we are looking We are an ageing church and the church in the public square today for actions, not words’. We need urgently need young people, but independent assessment; the clergy without a vision we cannot expect lies in the empowerment of the laity cannot police themselves. commitment. Leadership is key. The and the development of diocesan We also need a revision of Canon present top down model sees bishops synods in which lay voices can be Law in order to strengthen the role as the equivalent of mediaeval heard. It lies in dynamic co-operation of lay people in the church. Canon monarchs. Written above their doors, with people of all faiths and none. 129 says that lay people can ‘co- commentator Clifford Longley As Canon Pat Browne, Catholic operate’ in the power of governance; suggests, are the two principles of chaplain to the Houses of Parliament it does not give them the right to ‘never explain, never apologise’. said in February when Pope Francis participate in decision making. The issue is a systemic one; the convened an ‘abuse summit’ in Such a revision would pave the individuals who staff diocesan Rome, this is a moment in history way for the system of synodality offices are pleasant and helpful. for the whole family of the church to which Francis is proposing for the Good management and leadership – take part in this discussion, identify church. As the Irish theologian two separate concepts – are largely Gerry O’Hanlon SJ says, a synodal absent. where the rot is, begin to root it out, church would be characterised A programme of effective leadership and lay down the ground rules and by decentralisation, open debate, for the church in the public square expectations for the future. Over to consultation and involvement of lay would be characterised by constant you. people in governance. Synodality is a integrity; clarity of direction; and ‘process of mutual listening in which respect for people in their differences John McFall is senior deputy speaker everyone has something to learn’. and resourcefulness. Good of the House of Lords.

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 11 An appreciation

JOCK DALRYMPLE Jean Vanier

For me, as for countless others, Jean and one-off talks – speaking for to people with learning difficulties – Vanier, the founder of L’Arche and more than an hour at a time, always and through learning how to receive Faith and Light, who died, aged 90, without notes – and almost always as well as give, that we are enabled to in May, has been both a wise guide there has was something new and grow and change and develop. and an inspiration. In his books and stimulating. Over two decades ago, I heard Jean retreats, and in the way he lived, he One example of change and reflect wryly – anticipating Pope offered a vision of the life of Jesus, development in his thinking can be Francis, whose advent thrilled him and of how we, who seek to follow seen in the difference between the – that while the Gospel consisted him, could or even should live our first and second editions of his book of Law and Spirit, the Church was lives. To paraphrase what was said on sexuality and marriage, Man and much more inclined to focus on the about Jesus in the gospels, people Woman He Made Them. The first former than the latter. Nor was Pope hung on his words because he taught edition (1984) contained a rather Francis – who rang him a few days with authority. harsh critique of homosexuality, before he died – the only radical As a priest working in a parish, which caused considerable hurt to elderly Pope to show him affection. In I have found that vision – of some people. In the second edition Speight’s biography of Jean’s father, the tenderness of Jesus, of the (2008), retitled Man and Woman he described the visit in July 1959 of preciousness of each person, of the God Made Them, after consultation Jean and his parents to the Vatican for invitation and challenge to take the and discussion, he chose to leave a private audience with the recently downward path, of how we are all those sections out. In the years that elected Pope John XXIII whom they in different ways wounded and/ followed, he began to give retreats had known well when he was Nuncio or broken, and of how those who for gay people – and couples – at in Paris; and how ‘as Jock [as Jean are most fragile have a particularly La Ferme, the retreat centre in the was known by his family] literally important part to play in the life of a founding Trosly community, reflecting fell into the arms of the Johannine community – has been a wonderful privately to friends on the depth of embrace. The Pope exclaimed ‘I love ideal to which to try to encourage suffering through marginalisation and Jock’. people to aspire and embrace. discrimination that he encountered. Jean was much more than just a Yet it’s often forgotten that it Another example was his recent teacher and philosopher: at times of was only in his mid-30’s that Jean enthusiasm for the Basque scripture personal crisis in my own life, he was eventually discerned what his path scholar Jose Pagola’s book Jesus: a there for me – as he has been for so in life was to be. In Robert Speight’s Historical Approximation, which he many others – giving time and gently biography of his distinguished soldier- chose as one of his ‘Books of the Year’ offering his wisdom, but first of all diplomat-Governor General father in 2017. He reflected towards the end listening with an attentiveness I have Georges, published in 1970, six years of his life that, after several decades never experienced before or since. after the beginnings of L’Arche, he is focusing largely on John’s Gospel, A final image of Jean will always portrayed almost as a problem-child, Pagola had helped him rediscover the remain vivid in my memory. In 2000, someone who had eventually found synoptic gopels. he came to Scotland to give a series of ‘his own rather tortuous way to a very Some of the insights he offered in retreats. After an ecumenical retreat special vocation’ – through gaining private conversations I have found in my parish in Leslie and Glenrothes, some ‘success’ with what Speight particularly illuminating. One was he stayed in the parish house for the referred to in the language of the day in the early 90’s in response to the night. I saw him to bed at 11, and as ‘retarded adults.’ concerns of ‘restorationists’, dismayed sometime after that was called out to I once heard Jean say that he by the loss of a distinctive Catholic the hospice in Dunfermline, to see a was a type six on the enneagram, identity through – they thought – too dying parishioner. Returning at 2am, I instinctively law-abiding and great an openness to the world after was surprised to see that the light was respectful of authority. Yet because he VaticanII. Jean expressed his sadness on in the living room. Opening the has always remained open – to people, that so many chose to base this door, I discovered Jean sitting in his and to the Word of God – his thinking reassertion of identity on personal pyjamas, poring over the Jerusalem continued to develop, sometimes morality, rather than on service of the Bible, and his beloved Gospel of John. taking him far beyond the confines of poor. He stressed the importance not the tradition and teaching in which just of service but of mutuality: we are Jock Dalrymple is a priest of the he had been brought up. For over 30 called always to relationships, and it is Archdiocese of St Andrews and years I listened to him giving retreats through relationships – and especially Edinburgh.

12 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 NOTEBOOK

Symposium of the Old Firm rivalries had been neglected from discussion and remained important in understanding Kieran Taylor writes: On Saturday 18th May the contemporary manifestations of sectarianism. Mitchell Scottish Catholic Historical Association and the Saint pointed out that anti-Catholicism could be found easily Andrew’s Foundation at the University of Glasgow on the internet and social media. provided a stimulating symposium on the contentious The speakers stimulated a number of questions and issue of anti-Catholicism in Scotland. Professor Tom Devine (Emeritus Professor of History, statements from the audience. These covered the Edinburgh University) and Dr Michael Rosie (School importance of Protestantism to British national identity, of Social Sciences, Edinburgh University) charted the the lived experience and discrimination many Catholics changing phenomenon of bigotry in Scotland and faced, debates over Catholic schools, the challenges of provided historic and contemporary understandings of secularism and a perception of unfair treatment within anti-Catholicism. the media when covering abuse. Professor Devine provided a chronological account of Discussion of anti-Catholicism in Scotland remains Scotland’s relationship with anti-Catholicism, noting contentious. On the same day in Glasgow Catholics particularly the ferocity of the Reformation. Suspicion came together to hold a silent protest against an Orange towards Catholicism lingered, he said, ‘politically’ Walk which passed by a Catholic Church. throughout 1700s on account of its association with See music review on page 22 Jacobitism. The arrival of Catholic and Protestant Irish to the Noel’s knighthood industrial heartlands of Scotland in the mid-1800s saw the ‘importation of tribal hatreds’, yet Devine noted that there were never as many anti-Irish disturbances in Scotland as there were in England. The sectarian crisis associated with the 1920s and the Church of Scotland’s campaign on the Menace of the Irish ‘came late’ and was influenced by economic hardship, scientific racism and anger towards the state funding of Catholic schools. Discrimination against Catholics began to decline following the Second World War. Devine argued that the formation of the welfare state and the internationalisation of industry greatly reduced the most pervasive forms of anti-Catholicism. Dr Rosie provided a compelling presentation which illustrated the decline in sectarianism in Scotland. He revealed that almost 47% of Catholics were married to non-Catholics and that Catholics are now well represented in almost all areas of the labour market. With regard to religious hate-crime, Rosie said that while Catholics were the majority target in hate crimes based on religion, 95% of these were offences committed by young men who were drunk and did not know the religion of their victim. He suggested that the nature of contemporary anti-Catholicism in Scotland was a Noel and his wife Kathleen at the investiture. complex concern and that hate crime figures had perhaps less sinister explanations than was reported by the Congratulations to Open House contributor and popular press. supporter Dr Noel Donnelly on his investiture as a Papal Responding to Devine and Rosie’s arguments, Dr Knight of St Gregory. The honour recognises his many Géraldine Vaughan (University of Rouen) and Dr Martin services to the church as a musician, biblical scholar, Mitchell (University of Strathclyde), challenged them teacher, and former lecturer in religious education. on several points. Vaughan argued that the significance

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 13 Noel, who is now in his 87th year, composed music The guide gives details of how parishes can register for the visits of Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul to with Eco-congregation Scotland, an ecumenical Scotland. His psalm settings and hymns are sung in Christian initiative which helps churches improve their parishes around the country. His beautiful playing of the environmental impact and offers ideas on how to get harp has enchanted people on many special occasions. started. Over 300 churches across Scotland have already New book signed up. The SCIAF guide also has tips for individuals on home A new book from the pen of writer energy, travel and food, which includes a useful list of and Open House contributor Alasdair seasonal produce for the kitchen. If you want to do Roberts has just been published. It something big to cut your carbon footprint, it suggests, brings together articles he has written don’t fly if you can take a train; if you want to do for Light of the North, the magazine something small, walk to the shops instead of driving. of the Diocese of Aberdeen. Entitled You could also walk to Mass or organise a car share. Northern Catholic History Notes, it is The guide is available on SCIAF’s website at www.sciaf. beautifully illustrated in colour by Anne org.uk. Dean. And to help those who want to learn more about the The new book will be reviewed in the pope’s teaching on the environment, Justice and Peace next edition of Open House. Scotland has organised a day of reflection on Laudato Sí. Going green It will take place on Saturday 21st September in Blythswood Hall, Renfield St Stephens Centre, Bath St. SCIAF has produced a useful guide to Glasgow. The event begins with coffee and registration help individuals and parishes join the at 10am and ends at 4.30pm. The cost is £10 including movement to tackle climate disaster. lunch. Caring for our common home offers Call 0141 333 0238 to find out more, or book through tips and ideas to cut your carbon Eventbrite. footprint and bring Pope Francis’ See also www.justiceandpeacescotland.org.uk. encyclical Laudato Sí to life in your parish. Open House AGM It showcases Sacred Heart parish in Lauriston, Edinburgh, which has won two Eco- The Executive Committee of Open House met in Congregation Awards for its green credentials. Glasgow on 4th May for its AGM. Among the activities the parish organised were outdoor Chairperson Jim McManus thanked Honor Hania, who masses followed by a walk and picnic to celebrate stood down from the committee, for all her support and creation; Christmas craft activities for children to for the work she has done in uploading each new edition promote re-cycling and the message of Christmas; and of the magazine to the website. a ‘greening our street’ group of volunteers who joined Other members of the committee were re-elected for others to create a wildflower plot in a local park. another year.

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 26th July. If you would like to contribute an article or a review, send it before 26th July by email to [email protected], or post it to the address on the back page.

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.

14 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 A saint for our times

LETTERS Rome, May 22nd, 1969. Pope Paul VI email : [email protected] pronounces Julie Billiart, foundress of the Sisters The Editor of Open House of Notre Dame de Namur, a saint for the All correspondence, including email, must give full postal address and telephone number. universal Church. Julie Billiart is canonised. In response, Mary McClure, then a student at Notre Dame College wrote the following: Original sin gently challenging us to do our own analysis here in Scotland. Yes, there I refer to the review of Daniel are similarities, such as the advance Julie Billiart O’Leary’s An Astonishing Secret in of secularism and the church’s loss of the April/May edition of Open ‘It was the best of times moral authority, but there are also House. I was surprised that the It was the worst of times’ reviewer made no mention of differences. We need to do our own Julie Billiart lived in times so very like our own. O’Leary’s often repeated assertion analysis. Lamenting loss and that there is no such thing as original maintaining the old ways is not She was a young woman of a revolution sin. Initially, I thought he was merely enough. The French Revolution. referring to the fact that the account The Young Christian Worker She lived during an epoch of chaos of the Fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative method of see-judge-act was taken up Of uncertainty, in the 1980s by the justice and peace language, but reading the book it Of revolt against authority soon became aware that he was movement in Scotland, but the Spiritual as well as temporal rejecting the traditional church’s failure to fully embrace the understanding of the Genesis story reforms of Vatican II in this and in An era of discontent entirely and opposing the belief that other areas meant that it did not Of sweeping changes ‘Revelation gives us the certainty of fundamentally alter mainstream Of disregard of convention. faith that the whole of human history practice. Pope Francis’ commitment This was a time for renewal is marked by the original fault freely to the Council’s insights and reforms … a time so very like our own. committed by our first parents’ offer new hope of change. But they (Europe was infused with the spirit of (Catechism of the Catholic Church, will need to be rooted in our Revolution) 390). changing Scottish context. We could If O’Leary is right in stating that begin by listening to young people Julie was a product of her times, what he refers to as the ‘sin/ who are leading the way in their using the spirit of change and renewal redemption theology’ with its ‘dark commitment to climate justice, and in In her time. doctrines’ is inaccurate (p.57), it their acceptance of people who are Instead of rejecting all of the past seems to me that this raises major still marginalised, such as those in the She assimilated those values issues ranging from the Church’s LGBT community. Baptism liturgy (with its prayer of with those that rose from the embers of exorcism and the practice of the Edward Gallagher, Glasgow Revolution : baptism of infants) to the need for a … liberty, equality and fraternity. complete revision of catechesis at a Open House conference She met the challenges of her times with whole Church/diocesan/parish level heroism and complete dedication and a major review of religious To all concerned in the conference, a education in Catholic schools in very, very big thank you. It was so to the Christian ideal Scotland. good to see so many people from all and defined the role of education: over Scotland and beyond at this ‘Give them (girls) what is useful for life’. William Liston, Airdrie event. I just want to send my Education of the poor and destitute, especially immediate feeling of great gratitude girls, Challenging for a most inspiring and searching day. I hope I’ll be able to distill my could only be satisfied by well-trained teachers Congratulations on an excellent ‘they shall give of themselves’… edition of Open House (April/May thoughts into something a bit more ‘who the teacher is, is most important’. 2019). Brendan Geary’s article on the coherent and structured but I wanted Vatican abuse summit was one of the to send my immediate reaction. Julie recognised that education is an apostolate best I have read on the subject, and THANK YOU. ‘the greatest work on earth’. Timothy Radcliffe’s lessons in hope Molly McGavigan, Bridge of Weir Education must meet the needs of the times from the Middle East were deeply Open to change and adaptation. There is no moving. room for rigidity. I found the article on synodality by We received many messages of thanks in the the Irish theologian Gerry O’Hanlon days following the conference, and we are For Julie most challenging. Any attempt by the very grateful to all those who made it teaching is a vocation – a call to Love, church to facilitate our encounter possible, including those who helped with all a call to bring others to that Love. with Jesus and promote his mission the planning and preparation and those who Julie’s educational insights remain relevant. of justice and peace, he said, has to helped with registration, catering and Eternal truths encompass all time, be situated within the culture in support on the day. All people, all situations. which we live. He then went on to Please send reflections on the conference for outline a contemporary cultural a special letters section in the next edition. Julie Billiart’s vision remains relevant. analysis from an Irish perspective, The copy deadline is Friday 26th July.

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 15 Obedience men to reflect on their spiritual life. He BOOKS The book’s narrative follows a served as Chaplain to Yorkhill Hospital chronological path through Willy Slavin’s for Sick Children. In twelve years as Life is not a life, and he speaks with affection of his parish priest in St Simon’s, Partick, he created a cafe for the homeless; and he long quiet river parents and family life. He is trained in obedience at home and then as a boarder founded Glasgow Emmaus, which offers Willy Slavin at Blairs College. structured support and community life for homeless people. Birlinn, 2019 For a minister of the Reformed Church, as this reviewer is, it is difficult to The uniting characteristic in initiating Willy Slavin is well- imagine making a promise of obedience all these enterprises was Willy’s known to readers of to the authority of someone higher in the compassion for people facing difficulty. Open House as a hierarchy. But we see that in fact, while long-time member of the Executive Willy promises obedience to the Celibacy Committee and for many years a authority of the bishop, his own insights The final section explores the narrowing perceptive and provocative reviewer of and his persistent curiosity frequently place of celibacy in an increasingly film. But even for those who know him bring him into conflict. We learn that sexualised culture. Willy affirms the well this fascinating Memoir will be full such differences of opinion often lie traditional case for a person to remain of surprises. behind him being moved from one parish unmarried: without a wife and other This compact volume is really several to another, albeit in obedience to the dependents the priest is free to devote his different books compressed into one. It is bishop’s instruction. life and his love to a wider range of people. He regards the fluency of his own a self-searching autobiography, reviewing way of life as having been made possible a lifetime of rich and varied achievement. Poverty by the dynamic of his three promises. It is a portrait of the ordained priesthood We can discern that Willy performed Willy’s writing style compresses a mass in the generation following Vatican II. It important roles in one field after another. of information and opinion into each is a revelation of the immense worldwide He trained as an educational paragraph. Elliptical sentences and reach of the Roman Catholic Church. psychologist, and learned about urban poverty in Glasgow. From Glasgow he epigrams flow from his pen. So swiftly is And it is a testimony to the significance the reader moved from one theatre of of Jesus of Nazareth to the person who moved to Bangladesh. In the Xaverian education centre in Jessore he put the action to another, and so lightly does the would live a meaningful life. whole college grounds under cultivation author touch the surface of large events The author accepts the scriptural to produce food. Back in Scotland, he and his response to them, that sometimes assertion that human beings live for 70 the significance of Willy’s activities and became secretary of the Justice and Peace years, or for 80 if we are strong. As he interventions can be overlooked. Commission; and he was a key member himself approaches the full share given Finishing the book the reader will be in of a small residential community of to the strong, he examines the role awe at Willy Slavin’s prodigious energy activists pursuing a Justice and Peace played in his life by his three vows – and imagination. I am certain that his agenda. As chaplain in Barlinnie Prison influence still echoes in the places where ‘promises’ as he calls them in respect of a he foresaw the infamous riot in 1987, he set foot, with individuals paying ‘secular’ priest of the parish, such as he and established a charitable fund for tribute to his challenge, his insight and has been. He sees that old age tends to remand prisoners who had no privileges his devotion. enforce these promises on us all – and few visitors. He was organiser of the Although he says ‘it is possible to see poverty and celibacy and obedience. Scottish Drugs Forum in its first five only the embers of faith’, he has written The book has a three-part structure, years. Moving to St Alphonsus’ parish, a genuinely evangelical work. It speaks each part focusing on one of the with the Glasgow Association of Family well of the Church he has served, and of promises: Obedience, Poverty, and Support Groups he started an annual the one whose name and spirit the Celibacy. And in each part the major Service of Remembrance for those who Church bears. themes of the book are closely had died through drug-related problems. interwoven. He initiated a men’s group, to enable John Miller

Mass Exodus: Catholic I read this book on a describes. I was a teenager during Disaffiliation in Britain and return train journey from Vatican II; my Catholic boys’ school in Edinburgh to London. I the north of England broadcast the first America since Vatican II couldn’t put it down, Mass partly in English on the BBC World Stephen Bullivant having lived through the Service. I was a university student in Oxford University Press, 2019 period Bullivant 1968, making me a soixante-huitard,

16 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 and proud of it. Then I studied for the generally, in the US and Britain than was the book, and not a little depressed. So priesthood in the heady days of the early probably anticipated by the drafters of much of it seemed true, and yet to mid-Seventies, during which the only the document. The destabilising effect of somehow wide of the mark. I couldn’t time I wore a clerical collar was when I these changes, with Humanae Vitae quite put my finger on what was wrong. played an Anglican vicar in a Christmas thrown into the mix in 1968, radically After finishing the book, I still had an play. Most of those who studied with me changed the coherent worldview of hour or so of my journey before reaching left, leaving me a member of that rare Catholics forever, according to the thesis. Waverley. So I picked up the New breed of seminarians who survived the Bullivant bases his argument on solid Statesman, which I regretted buying Seventies - and I wouldn’t have missed it sociological grounds, using as his thinking I wouldn’t read it, and started for anything. authority the work of Peter Berger, thumbing through until my eye caught Bullivant’s narrative of numerical arguably the doyen of sociologists of an article titled, ‘I went to church three decline in the Catholic Church since religion in the English-speaking world. times this week - and the final time, I Vatican II is complex and nuanced. By Berger taught that the ‘worlds’ we watched Aretha fly’. The columnist, no means a traditionalist diatribe against inhabit are socially constructed and kept Tracey Thorn, an avowed atheist, had all that went wrong in the Church in the in place by ‘plausibility structures’ that this to say about watching the film 1960s, it deserves to be read by anyone reinforce our worldview. The Amazing Grace on Aretha Franklin concerned about the future of the Catholicism of the 1950s, in both Britain singing in a Baptist church in the 1970s: Church in Britain and America, and and America, was one such worldview. ‘Aretha sings of God, and to God, her beyond. The author is a sociologist of And the plausibility structures were voice rising up to the heavens… [The religion and he knows his stuff. He many: church teaching, devotions, the people] shake their heads in wonder. prefers the term ‘disaffiliation’ to unchanging nature of the liturgy, Latin as They are there to praise God… They ‘lapsation’, as disaffiliates may include the universal liturgical language, clap their hands… and they echo back her words. For a moment you see what the lapsed, who retain some sense of sodalities, schools, and so on. All that church is for, and amen to that. Amen’. belonging in many cases, but also changed in the 1960s. Even Berger It now dawned on me what was wrong: includes those who have not just lapsed himself was aghast at what the Catholic I had no feeling that Bullivant but have joined other churches or Church seemed to be doing to itself. understood what church is for. It’s not become ‘nones’, with no religious Once the socially constructed about Latin, or even the vernacular. Nor affiliation at all. Disaffiliation casts a worldview of 1950s Catholicism began is it about any of the things he was wider net. to crumble, as much from within as from talking about. Church is for praising The thesis of the book is a simple one: without, there was no turning back. The God, and thanking God, and doing it while there is evidence of numerical rate of disaffiliation accelerated and joyfully. I can’t recall that happening to decline before Vatican II, and while other shows no sign of abating. The statistics, me before Vatican II, and I can’t imagine churches have also experienced a many of them, that Bullivant quotes it happening to me during a Tridentine dramatic dip in numbers over the same speak for themselves, compellingly, even Mass; but it has happened to me since period, Vatican II, and in particular the allowing for variations and exceptions to - in Africa, in South Korea where I document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum the general rule, like the Poles in Europe worked as a missionary, and even in my Concilium, was the main catalyst for or the Latinos in America. One little previous parish in South Hackney. Not disaffiliation. A watershed moment was giveaway is the author’s habit of often, but enough times to keep me ‘Vernacular Sunday’, the First Sunday of peppering his narrative with Latin going. The Spirit blows where It wills. Advent 1964, when the liturgical changes phrases: fairly obvious hints that the Veni Sancte Spiritus. began. And these were implemented with demise of Latin is part of the problem. more enthusiasm by bishops and clergy, I confess I was exhausted by the end of Paul Graham OSA

In the Closet of the Vatican at the General Secretariat of I was working in sin city which, Vatican: Power, Caritas Internationalis. Our office coming from Clydebank, wasn’t wasn’t in the City itself but in an entirely obvious to me at the time. Homosexuality, Hypocrisy exclave, Palazzo San Calisto, about a The author, Frédéric Martel, a Frédéric Martel kilometre along the Tiber in the French writer, journalist and restaurant-filled rione (district) of researcher, says that his purpose in London: Bloomsbury Trastevere. Dicasteries (departments writing the book is to understand the Press, 2019 of the Vatican) shared our courtyard, secret and collective way of life of the Catchy title, eh? I and Cardinals lived in the apartments many priests, bishops and cardinals spent twelve years at the top of the building. But, leading a life contrary to their working within the according to the author of this book, commitments taken at ordination

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 17 behind the Vatican walls. He claimed case, pointing the finger at a prelate. supplied free training within the at the press conference launching the Martel admits that he is an parameters of the moral teaching of book in February that ‘the great ‘unbeliever’ and it shows. He mocks the Church throughout Africa, Asia as ‘religious superstition’ the Latin majority’ of the 200 members of the and Latin America to Caritas College of Cardinals were American veneration of Our Lady of members, helping to professionalise homosexual, many of them actively Guadeloupe, forgetting that it is a so, and stressed that many of the celebration of life for the poor of that their work and improve care for their other clerical employees were leading continent, and especially for the clients. double lives - pious on the outside indigenous people of Mexico; he Despite the many faults of the book, and promiscuous on the inside, a bit describes cardinals as being used to as the former Master of the like a libidinous Rolo. Martel’s ‘absolute theocracy and papal Dominicans, Timothy Radcliffe purpose may have been to dish the infallibility’ which he obviously does wrote in The Tablet, we should dirt on hypocrisy but it was also to not understand. (perhaps) be grateful to Martel. make money given that the 555-page Above all, Martel is often Timothy claims that a new way of book (and that’s without an index inaccurate because of his lack of which is to be found on his website) knowledge of the Church. The being church is emerging in this time was published simultaneously in 20 author states, for ecample, that of crisis. If so, it might result in fear countries in eight languages, and Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy being replaced by love, hypocrisy, received vast publicity. See representative to the UN in clericalism and lies being replaced The style the author adopts is far Geneva, was against helping those with honesty and loving service, and from being rigorously academic, living with HIV/AIDS. Catholic our current crisis in the Church despite his having researched the agencies, including SCIAF, witnessed becoming a moment of grace where book with a team of investigators for the spread of the disease syndrome in over four years. The opening Africa, parts of Asia and Latin the Gospel is preached, where sentence in the preface describes a America where they worked, and everyone, regardless of race, sexuality priest in the Vatican ‘whispering knew it was a development problem or politics, is accepted, and where the conspiratorially’ in Martel’s ear while as well as both a health and human rigid fundamentalists within the pointing out a fellow cleric and issue, affecting mostly gay men and Church become, in the words of saying, ‘He’s of the parish’, i.e. gay. male and female drug users in the Pope Francis, converted to a Church The book continues in this vein global North, and mostly poor which is the sign and the instrument throughout, and becomes excessively women, men and children in the tedious. A young Asian man opening global South. of God’s love for humanity and all the door of a Cardinal’s apartment is Archbishop Silvano, whom I knew Creation. enough for Martel’s pen to wag. well, was well aware of this and The American Franciscan Having lots of books is deemed invited the then Director of UNAIDS, theologian, Richard Rohr, says that a suspicious (this in a Thomistic Dr Peter Piot, to a conference fear of difference creates a very Church?). Martel claims that priests, arranged by Caritas in Geneva on constricted, exclusive and small bishops and cardinals mostly talked what the Church was doing for those religion and life. Pope Francis is our freely to him like ‘real canary birds’ living with HIV/AIDS throughout the model in banishing fear of the about a homosexuality which they world. Piot was so astonished at the were content to condemn in the depth of the commitment of so many ‘Other’, and Martel gives a good strongest of terms from the pulpit sisters, priests and laypeople towards example of the Holy Father’s praxis while leading lascivious lives those living with the virus in all sorts in his book. When the conservative themselves. of circumstances that he invited the Cardinal Müller, former Prefect of A fellow lay member of the SCIAF Caritas representative in Geneva to the Congregation of the Doctrine of Board admitted reading the whole join the UNAIDS Board and came to the Faith, wanted to sanction an tome in a weekend and said, ‘even if Rome to co-sign with myself a Memo elderly theologian for his supposed one tenth of it is true, it’s shocking’. of Understanding about cooperating The problem is that we don’t know in our different ways about HIV/ gay-friendliness, Francis replied, what is true and what isn’t since AIDS in the global South. The ‘Wouldn’t it be better to invite him Martel’s interviews are occasionally Secretariat of State’s Cardinal Tauran for a beer, talk to him like a brother, laced with doubts about verification. was sent the draft for approval and and find a solution to the problem’. That means he is guilty of going described it as a good example of Dialogue, not condemnation. against basic journalistic ethics which Catholic Social Teaching in action. require solid proof before, in this The result was that UNAIDS Duncan MacLaren

18 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 Jane Haining, A Life of professed to admire them humiliating understanding. Nor does a perceived children. Like most of us she was affinity indicate equality of regard. Love and Courage complex. The Church of Scotland missionaries Mary Miller Two things are especially welcome in who left Scotland to convert the Jews Birlinn, 2019 Mary Miller’s biography of Jane of Europe, like those who left to Haining. It singles out love as the convert the tribes of Africa, did so out Scottish state primary partner of courage in this exceptional of an absolute conviction that their schools in the 1970s life. And it emphasises the rightful ‘way’ was better. Whether it was were not the melting place of an ordinary woman among remains a subject for discussion, as pots of diversity they the great and the good of Scottish does the question of whether are now. They largely missionary examples. I never heard of condescension may be regarded as reflected the Jane Haining at school. That omission racism. What is not in doubt is that Presbyterian only began to be widely corrected with Jane Haining found her vocation assumptions that had Sally Magnusson’s 2014 BBC through a talk given by a minister who existed since John Knox established documentary. By then a corner of the convened a committee of the Church the principle of ‘a school in every St Mungo Museum in Glasgow had of Scotland dedicated to the parish’ and preserved a sense of been devoted to Jane Haining, but you conversion of the Jewish people to cultural and ‘religious’ priority. That could easily wander past it. It is Christianity. She too was probably included six-year-olds being appropriate then that in this biography complex. encouraged to venerate David Mary Miller tells her extraordinary Having turned that sense of vocation Livingstone and Mary Slessor. They story in the kind of accessible, into training as a deaconess with were selfless, well educated, of humble unpretentious prose that is a reflection domestic science skills, Jane arrived at background; brave, God fearing, and, of its subject. a girls’ school in Budapest in 1932. consistent with all of these, spawned Jane Haining was born to a farming One of her most admirable qualities and shaped by the Church of family in rural Dumfriesshire in 1867. was an ambiguity around her true Scotland. They were our people. Her upbringing was characterised by motivation. A theological desire to My Primary 1 and 2 teacher was a hard work, education, religious convince and convert appears to have big fan. She was a church-choir, observance and the understated yet taken second place to a more earthy old-school matriarch. Her latent confident belief in the uniquely saving calling. Mary Miller explicitly says sarcasm was well suppressed, but one power of Christian faith. A feature of that the principal attraction for Jane thing was guaranteed to unleash it: Scottish Presbyterianism in its various was to the work of the school, to its irreverence for anything she held dear. schismatic forms (Jane grew up in the status as a boarding ‘home’ for its This included the virtues associated United Free Church) had always been girls, to the vocation of caring more with Church of Scotland missionaries a perceived affinity with the Jewish than to the object of conversion. She as listed; the Queen; the poems of people, a consequence of a particular quotes from an early letter home ‘...I Robert Burns; the Lord’s Prayer; reading of Old Testament theology. approached not from the Missionary self-effacing, conscientious industry; That perception shared with Zionism side but from the Girl’s Home side.’ clean hands; good diction; nicely a belief that the Jewish people would (p.31) covered jotters; and a familiarity with reclaim Palestine as their homeland, This practical, simple desire to meet the terms ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. I but it parted company with Judaism in human needs was, according to Mary was well mannered, clean, nicely its own belief that that reclamation Miller, a key feature in both the turned out, and fond of a good poem. would also see the Jews convert to impact she had upon the children she My jotters were pristine because my Christianity as the fulfilment of the cared for, and her faithfulness to the uncle was a butcher. (We had access to Messianic vision. end she shared with them. Following stacks of the shiny brown paper used In the Scotsman’s review of this book her arrest in the Spring of 1944 by the to wrap square slice.) I was quietly the reviewer makes the claim that this Gestapo for, amongst other relaxed about the ascendancy this partiality to the Old Testament made infringements, being distressed at conferred on me and equally it ‘difficult’ for anyone raised in the having to sew the Star of David onto complacent about the verbal ridicule Church of Scotland to be anti-Semitic. the children’s clothes, she is described inflicted on some of my peers. It was As one so raised I beg to differ, and it by the author in these terms: much later before I wondered whether is an important point to distinguish ‘So sudden and shocking was the there was a contradiction in hearing because Jane Haining’s apparent lack utter change in her circumstances that the stories of Livingstone and Slessor of such prejudice may be no small it must have been hard for her to told without any reference to love; or deal. A professed admiration in no believe it was happening. Her an irony in hearing an adult who way indicates a profound thoughts surely raced all over the

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 19 place, worrying about the children’s her with their own survival. Her worthy cause in this moving lunch, their tea, how the most insistence on clearing your plate meant biography. Jane emerges as a practical, vulnerable ones would be coping with that one girl at least had acquired the kind, no-nonsense yet humorous, fun her sudden disappearance, all the self-discipline to force down enough of -loving woman. The state of Israel has domestic details she had not had time the revolting calories provided in the named her among the Righteous of the to tell anyone, and more’. (p.137) camp to ensure her life. Jane Haining, Nations, and she is honoured in the The ‘and more’ leaves a chill, for it an ordinary woman who cried in fear, Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem by must have included tortured anxiety who preferred feeding children and the Jewish people as one who about what lay ahead. That question keeping them clean to worrying about sacrificed herself, contrary to any was resolved when, in mid May 1944, their religious status, who probably in distorted idea of their salvation, for she was put on a train to Auschwitz the end just loved them too much to the very lives of their children. It’s an where she was murdered, probably be able to leave them, died the honour her native country, in its around mid-July, in a gas chamber. ultimate Christlike death: one that aspiration to greater inclusivity, Twice, as the Nazi nightmare gives up itself out of love for the other. diversity and equality should reflect; deepened, she had been given the It has taken quite a long time for the and Mary Miller should be thanked opportunity to return to Scotland and story of Jane Haining to be told for giving it voice. safety. She chose to stay with the clearly and well. Mary Miller has children, many of whom later credited made a huge contribution to that Lynn Jolly

Love is Blind Africa and Any Human Heart. very unusual result. There follows This would not be a Boyd story if some long European travels and Wlliam Boyd Brodie remained in Edinburgh. He is startling revelations. Viking, 2018 promoted to assistant manager in his There are considerable and interesting Until the rise of the employer’s new showroom and early twentieth century details, guitar, many homes warehouse in Paris. There the including restaurant menus, meals and boasted a piano, adventure begins before moving on to wines. Practically everyone smokes and usually in the sitting St Petersburg and Tsarist Russia, we learn of all their preferred cigars, room, and some Switzerland, Nice and Biarritz, and tobacco and cigarettes. Moncur finally to the little known Andaman weekly piano lessons. smokes American cigarettes and has Islands. Ours was a tall Berlin them sent to him, wherever he is, from Business in Paris is slow, so Moncur upright and being his little Edinburgh tobacconist. comes up with a money making idea. rather elderly, it required regular visits The turn of the century tale is very He is in contact with an international from the piano tuner. He was a kindly difficult to put down. It includes an concert pianist who will be paid for man who allowed us to watch and intense love affair, an illness, a listen to him at work, followed by a exclusively playing their piano, which mysterious pursuit around Europe and wrestling match to be first to play the will follow him around on his tours, all an unexpected and breathtaking now tight and tuneful keys. of which will be heavily advertised. surprise. In true Boyd fashion, The prolific William Boyd’s He then goes to work and to tour however, the greatest detail, arising protagonists are always unusual and Europe with the pianist John Kilbarron this fin de siècle story is told who turns out to be a drunken Irish from the author’s usual painstaking exclusively through the eyes of Brodie bully with a sinister brother Malachi, research, belongs to the pianos and Moncur, a son of the manse and an who travels with them. Their tuner their tuner. expert Edinburgh piano tuner. remains with them and puts up with The writer tells us at one point that Love is Blind is Boyd’s fifteenth novel much because he has fallen heavily in Brodie spent the whole day on the and he himself is as interesting a love with the pianist’s girlfriend Lika, a concert grand and ‘He retuned the character as some of his heroes. His beautiful Russian soprano. piano, then worked on every hammer father was a Scottish doctor working Against this background, they tour with his India- rubber bellows and his in Nigeria where he was brought up France, Austria and Russia with own mixture of dry lubrication, a before being sent home to board as a Moncur having to cope with drunken concoction of talc, graphite and fully pupil at Gordonstoun for five years. abuse while pursuing Lika with some ground molybdenite from Norway.’ He then attend the universities of Nice, success. About two thirds of the way So now we know what we used to Glasgow and Oxford. He has since through the story, matters watch in our sitting room! been a busy and popular storyteller unexpectedly come to a head with a particularly with A Good Man in pistol duel in a Russian field with a Lewis Cameron

20 OPEN HOUSE June 2019 FILM

Dead Good (2018) Director: Rehana Rose Music: Deborah Mollison Cinematography: Rehana Rose, Lisa Thomson

Open House readers may remember funerals conducted from the house of the deceased. White sheets replaced curtains to indicate that a death had taken place. The corpse was within. wash the body and prepare it for resurrection which would possibly Fast forward to today. Nobody dies viewing. Then they selected the kind frighten those present even more than at home. Older people have mostly of coffin they preferred and decided death has. The Anglican priest in the been transferred to care or hospital where they would lay it to rest. This film, dressed in shorts and bandana, where as soon as death has occurred included a woodland. was prepared to do as much or as the body is removed to the mortuary. Not long ago Catholics prided little as people wanted. From there a funeral company will themselves on their funerals. This He commented on the importance of retrieve it and prepare it for their year, however, a Scottish bishop the time between death and burial. ‘parlour’. Meanwhile relatives make caused a storm when he seemed to Some traditions try to make this as their way to the funeral ‘home’ where suggest there should not be a homily short as possible. There remains about the deceased. This was in negotiations begin about the details something of this among Catholics response to some clergy concern (and the costs) of the funeral. who can be surprised that in Britain it Dead Good is about the change that about the kind of eulogies they had to takes at least three working days to has taken place so recently from listen to. The Requiem Mass, like any arrange a funeral. They may gnash caring for one’s own at the ultimate Eucharist, is the celebration of the their teeth at death but they seem to rite de passage to the business style of death and resurrection of Jesus. Now want the funeral over and done with the funeral ‘industry’. Why did we the Mass leaflet will usually advertise as soon as possible. The ‘time change and what are the benefits and the service as a celebration of the life losses of the contemporary way of of the one who has ‘passed’. between’ is not valued. Death, death? In 1948 Evelyn Waugh wrote Increasingly families will now pass however, is no longer the ultimate a satire The Loved One about what the church and proceed directly to the taboo. As people live longer they are he saw in the USA. This was followed crematorium where they will engage prepared to talk about it. in 1963 by Nancy Mitford’s someone they know to conduct the The film places responsibility for the American Way of Death. This proceedings. The service will centre funeral back into the hands of those prompted a Congressional inquiry on the life of the person who has most affected by the death. They into the cost of funerals. But, as in died. There will be no mention of should be encouraged to take their other things, the new idea crossed the time in planning the funeral. The Atlantic. final rite of passage should include The main funeral companies everything they want for their loved declined to take part in Dead Good. one. This might coincide with the Clearly they thought it might current declericalisation of Catholic interfere with ‘business’. The film’s funerals. There are not enough priests director had to make do with a or deacons to conduct them. Some woman who, disappointed with her dioceses are already training lay mother’s Catholic funeral, established people to preside. Dead Good would a funeral company which would let make a useful contribution to such the relatives determine the style of training. the funeral. Three families were filmed who took the opportunity to A scene from Dead Good. Norman Barry

June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 21 and anti-Catholic bigotry that was 1970s and features work with seminal MUSIC endemic in Victorian/Edwardian Breton music groups such as Barzaz Glasgow and which can still be found and Skolvan, and influential MARY ANN KENNEDY in Glasgow today. In Mary Ann’s collaborations with other luminaries of dramatic arrangement of this song, Breton music such as the jazz pianist Glaschu – Home Town Love Song Jarlath Henderson’s Irish pipes deliver a Didier Squiban and the singer-harpist ARC Music, EUCD2833 wailing, mournful rebuke to the Anne Auffret (try their duet on this www.maryannkennedy.co.uk intolerance of Scottish Gaels whose album, Ar Marc’hataer Yaouank). own history should have taught them Along with Erik Marchand, Kemener compassion. Mary Ann popularised Breton kan-ha-diskan Mary Ann has explained the reason call-&-response singing (try Pe Oen Me Kennedy is a well- why she decided to include such an known Scottish Bihan, Bihan on this album). uncomfortable song in her tribute to Kemener was deeply engaged with Gaelic traditional Glasgow’s Highland Gaelic community. singer, musician Breton culture at all levels, as this She says it is because ‘Them-and-Us is album shows. Here, Kemener explores and radio/TV still there in the city’s never-resolved presenter. She was Breton poetry, traditional and modern, religious sectarianism, and in the composed by revered poets and by born and brought furthest extremities of Highland up in Glasgow’s Southside, and this unknown peasants and pilgrims. Some Sabbatarianism that sometimes barely poems have traditional tunes, others are album is a vivid collection of Gaelic conceals the same’; and she adds that poems and songs composed by Scottish set to music. Poets like Yann-Ber ‘this album is a love-song, and a real Kalloc’h (1888-1917) and Yann Sohier Gaels who lived in Glasgow in the 19th love-song embraces all sides, the and 20th centuries. (1901-1935), whose vivid poems evoke beautiful and the difficult’. Brittany’s ancient maritime culture of Accompanied by guitars, bass, After the last banshee notes of the fishing and farming in word-paintings whistles, uilleann pipes, saxophone, uilleann pipes have brought Margadh that are suffused with a profound French horn and string quartet, these an t-Salainn (The Saltmarket) to an end, Catholic mysticism that stretches back songs range in style from the graceful, Mary Ann turns from contempt to to the Celtic age of saints. lilting ‘parting glass’ song Soraidh compassion, and from hatred to love, Kemener has the perfect voice for Leibh Is Oidhche Mhath Leibh with a Gaelic version of Michael Breton songs, an expresssive high tenor (Goodnight & Farewell), to the Marra’s satirical song Mother Glasgow, with a tremolo that suggests rousing, rhythmic Horo Tha Mi Fo which Mary Ann sings without satire, vulnerability and deep emotion. The Smalan Dheth, that celebrates dancing as an earnest prayer. instrumental support on this album is drunkenly with the statues in George Those who find this album as moving superb, weaving signature Breton sound Square on Hogmanay, to the as I do should listen also to the accompaniment of slide guitar and ecumenical CD of Gaelic Psalms Lasair textures from song to song. Erwann saxophone. Dhè that Mary Ann recorded with the Tobie plays accordion, Anne Auffret At the heart of this album is a Highland folk group Cliar. provides harp and vocals, Heikki sequence of pivotal tracks about Go méadaí Dia thú, a Mhàiri Anna! Bourgault plays guitar, and Aldo tolerance and inclusion. The poem Ripoche’s cello conjures the lacrimae Orange Parade an Glaschu (Orange rerum of the Breton soul (try Barzh An Parade in Glasgow) is composed by Yann-Fañch Kemener Turki). Derick Thomson, originally from the This collection demonstrates the Roudennoù / Traces (Hommage à la Free Presbyterian Isle of Lewis, who Atlantic mood and timbre of Breton became Professor of Celtic Studies in Poésie Bretonne / Barzhoniezh Breizh) folk music. It is rich in ballads of Glasgow University. Recited in Gaelic Buda Musique, BUDA 2CD 7715525 doomed splendour. Its heady, infectious by Mary Ann and in English by the dance tunes are, if you slow them www.budamusique.com actor Bill Paterson, the poem compares down, melodies tinged with sadness. www.kemener.com the Orange Walk to ‘a spike in a tree (Try the exhilarating Melani Vihan on without fruit’. Yann-Fañch this album). Mary Ann follows this poem with Kemener died on Living on the stormy North-West coast Margadh an t-Salainn (The Saltmarket): 16 March 2019 of Europe breeds a cultural a lively Scottish Gaelic song composed at the age of temperament that treasures the golden in jig rhythm in the late 19th century by only 61. This sunlit hours, knowing how fleeting they John MacFadyen, originally from Mull, magisterial 2CD may be. This poignant, lyrical music who lived in the Southside of Glasgow. homage to recalls St Bede’s description of a human MacFadyen’s song makes humorous Breton poetry is life as being like the flight of a bird mockery of the Glasgow Irish, the singer’s last work. His death is a through a torch-lit mead-hall: drenched describing them as drunken, boastful, huge loss to Breton culture. One of the in intoxicating colour, aroma and sound dirty, ragged, impoverished and giants of the Breton traditional music – then out into the infinite night. belligerent, and comparing them to rats. revival, Kemener’s lengthy discography The song reeks of the anti-Irish racism (30+ albums) stretches back to the Paul Matheson

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June 2019 OPEN HOUSE 23 Moments in time OPEN HOUSE We arrive at Renton gorse bushes bright with their Executive committee: station on a fine yellow flowers. Now we see Spring day where we Carman Reservoir, surrounded by a Jim McManus (chair); find a small museum belt of trees and popular for fishing. Florence Boyle (Treasurer); in the station Hidden in a grassy bank, we spot a Alison Clark; Willy Slavin; building devoted to metal cup on a chain beside a stone Jennifer Stark. the memory of Robert the Bruce, chamber; this is reputed to be a who lived near here during his holy well, an indication that this is latter years. It is run by a local Editor: an ancient route. Ahead lies the site group called the Strathleven of the Carman Hill Cattle Fair; a Mary Cullen Artisans, and as it is open we go inside and are shown some very large area enclosed by the remains [email protected] interesting exhibits, including an of a wall, the land inside is green in amazing replica throne which has contrast to the rough moorland Open House is published six times a been recently constructed using outside, the result of the manure year. We welcome letters and highly symbolic materials, skillfully left by generations of cattle. This contributions, which should be sent to crafted. was on one of the drove roads from From the station, we leave the Argyll to the main fair at Falkirk the editor by the last Friday of the village, which was built to house and lasted until 1896. Three large month before publication. Articles the workers at the local mills, and sycamore trees have survived on the should be no more than 1200 words cross over the railway to a small site of an old cottage which was long, and reviews no more than 800 group of sandstone villas, where demolished in the 1930’s. There is presumably the factory owners quite an atmosphere in this quiet words. Letters and articles may be lived, with a few modern houses place which was once a hive of edited or held over for future editions. constructed in the large gardens. activity. Now we cross the main road to We walk along a rough track The opinions and ideas expressed by all Loch Lomond and climb through across the moor, heading west with Craigandro Wood to a farm track. our contributors are their own and not a glorious view over the Clyde From here, a steep path climbs accepted as those of Open House. beside an old dyke to a stile, where estuary to the mountains of Argyll. we sit for a while to catch our Suddenly, we hear the distinctive breath. To our surprise, a hare call of the cuckoo, coming from the All correspondence about the content appears in the field below; as so upper slopes of Carman Hill. We of Open House to the editor: do not see the bird but the call is often happens, if we had not Mary Cullen, stopped we would not have seen it. one of the iconic sounds of Spring There is a fine view over the Vale of which captures the spirit of the wild Ramelton, Leven with Dumbarton Rock to the places. 204 Cardross Rd, south and the Kilpatrick Hills to Tim Rhead Dumbarton, G82 5DH. the east. The path crosses a section of Tim Rhead is a pastoral assistant Tel: 07909 594797 boggy moorland with scattered in the Episcopal Church. www.openhousescotland.co.uk

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24 OPEN HOUSE June 2019