Comment and debate on faith issues in Scotland February/March 2021 www.openhousescotland.co.uk Issue No 292 £2.50

Lent 2021 with SCIAF: Fratelli Tutti: response to Choosing a new bishop: in solidarity with the poorest criticism from senior cleric a complicated process Editorial Critique of Fratelli Tutti

A critique of Pope Francis’ widely acclaimed encyclical, Aires, but now his pronouncements belong to the pastoral Fratelli Tutti, by one of the most senior priests in the seat of the bishop of Rome. The problem is not that he is Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, has caused not a theologian, but rather that his theology is pastoral. widespread concern among Catholics in Scotland. What really bothers his detractors, Codina suggests, is Monsignor Patrick Burke, who is Vicar General of the that it stems from reality: the reality of injustice, poverty archdiocese, wrote an article on Fratelli Tutti in the and the destruction of nature, and the reality of ecclesial January/February issue of the magazine of the Faith clericalism. Movement (www.faith.org.uk/magazine). In it he argues In terms of socio-political criticism, Codina points out that the ‘subjective frame of reference’ used by the pope in that Pope Francis’ messages are in continuity with his encyclical means that his reflections are ‘more his own prophetic biblical teaching and the social teaching of the individual views than an act of magisterial teaching’. The church. What hurts some people, he suggests, is their Tablet responded with an online article in which papal prophetic clarity: the Pope says no to an economy of biographer Austen Ivereigh and theologian Massimo exclusion and inequality, no to an economy that kills, no Faggioli challenged Mgr Burke’s analysis. Faggioli argued to an unjust social and economic system that locks us into that his critique ignores the role that the parable of the unjust social structures. Good Samaritan plays in the encyclical, which is to Opposition to Pope Francis, Codina argues, is in reality provide its theological foundation. opposition to the Second Vatican Council. Francis speaks Writing in America magazine in 2019, theology of the church as an inverted pyramid, as polyhedral, and professor Victor Codina SJ discusses the theological above all as synodal, which means as we travel the same background to opposition to Pope Francis within the path together we should listen to one another, as priests, church. Those who oppose Francis on theological people and pope. Pope Francis belongs to a long line of grounds, he suggests, do so from the conviction that his prophets who have wanted to reform the church, from his lack of theological professionalism - in contrast to that of namesake Francis of Assisi to Angelo Roncalli. Popes John Paul II and Benedict - explains what they consider to be his inaccuracies and even doctrinal errors. See pp 5-7 for a response to Mgr Burke’s article by Dr Codina points out that Francis studied and taught Mary Stevens, and a reflection by Fr Noel Colford on the pastoral theology as Jorge Mario Bergoglio SJ in Buenos parable of the Good Samaritan. Sunday of the Word

Pope Francis was gently mocked for his recent the passage from the Gospel then that passes in a blur too. pronouncement opening the order of Lector/Reader (and This is in contrast with other churches which, not having Acolyte/Server) to women. It’s a long time since anyone communion, see the reading of the Word and the sermon as would be surprised by a woman reading in church. The sacramental. Pope was making a stronger claim than people being Pope Francis has made the Third Ordinary - near the stopped on the way into Mass and being asked to ‘do the beginning of the year - the Sunday of the Word of God. It is reading’. He was seeking some dignity to the task such as intended to jolt Catholics in general out of their lethargy is, mostly, accorded to Ministers of the Eucharist. with respect to the Bible. They can all read nowadays so When the Lectionary was introduced into the Mass after there is no reason why they shouldn’t be aware of which Vatican II it was done as part of ‘business as usual’. One Gospel and what part thereof they are going to hear when week the old readings were used, the next week the new they go to Mass. And even perhaps to check out any Old ones were read. Although the Lectionary is a magnificent Testament reference. achievement (now imitated by other churches) it was over the heads of average Catholics. Fifty years later, you only The ‘People of the Book’ is a reference in the Quran to have to ask a regular Sunday Mass-goer which gospel is Jews and Christians. During the current pandemic when being followed that year to be met by a blank stare. Mass is online, some Catholics are appreciating that title. For Catholics, going to Mass is going to Communion. In which case there will be no going back to what was The bit before, the readings, are an endurance test. The first ‘normal’. Catholics will be better versed in the Bible than reading, usually from the Old Testament and supposedly previously, and be more comfortable with other Christians. connected to the gospel, is often incomprehensible. And And when they get back to Mass they will appreciate more unless the priest or deacon has prepared an explanation of the first half of the Eucharist.

2 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Contents International development

Duncan MacLaren reflects on this year’s SCIAF Lent campaign and its approach to development. Page 3 SCIAF’s mission Duncan MacLaren Page 5 A very personal interpretation SCIAF’S mission Mary Stevens Page 6 Return to the source As we mourn the untimely death 11th May, but because of SCIAF’s Noel Colford of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, we adherence to Integral Human Page 7 How good was your remember, as Lent approaches, the Development (IHD). This is a Catholic school? way he spoke movingly of SCIAF’s form of development, emerging Mark Wilson mission in his homily during the out of the Catholic Social Justice Page 9 Learning from lockdown special Mass last November to Tradition, which brings real, Stephen McKinney, Stuart bring to mind those who had durable, sustained change into Hall & Kevin Louden supported SCIAF and were now the lives of the poorest, enhances Page 11 A suitable candidate with God. He said: their dignity and gives them the Helen Costigane ‘The mission of SCIAF, born from confidence and means not just and sustained by the love of Jesus Page 13 The way we were to cope but to flourish as active Christ, is to seek to lift people Joe Fitzpatrick participants in their own societies. across the world out of poverty and The programme the SCIAF team Page 14 Medieval Glasgow to help them to achieve the change is focusing on this year is in South Gerry Carruthers that is necessary for families, Sudan, the newest independent Page 15 Inspiring women communities and nations to live nation on earth, one of the poorest Mégan Buhrmann and to prosper according to their and wracked by conflict. In the Notebook human dignity, in peace and in UN’s 2020 Human Development justice’. Page 17 Letters Index, it is fourth from the bottom. The Archbishop summed up Page 19 Reviews: books, film, music well the mission of SCIAF: born Page 22 Obituaries out of scripture and the Church’s Page 24 Moments in Time teaching and praxis throughout the Children who are disabled ages, its mission is to lift people out of a poverty that diminishes are, in the words of Pope them as human beings created in Francis, the ‘abandoned… the divine image; and to achieve those considered disposable transformation so that they can live because they are only in peace and justice and flourish considered as part of Thank you to all those who according to their human dignity, contributed to this edition of possessing agency over their own a statistic’ Open House. lives. Open House, which was founded in Just as the pandemic reduced the Dundee in 1990, is an independent effect of SCIAF’s Lenten Campaign The project will be run by journal of comment and debate on last year, in terms of awareness- a trusted Sudanese partner faith issues in Scotland. It is rooted raising and funds, so the same is organisation which will work in the reforms of the Second Vatican most likely about to happen this with 400 disabled children, their Council (1962-65) and committed year. I want to suggest why readers communities and schools, in the to the dialogue which began at the and their families and colleagues Council - within the Catholic region of Western Equatoria. This should support SCIAF even more Church, in other churches, and with is an area where there is food all those committed to issues of enthusiastically this Lent. insecurity, an illiteracy rate of 67 justice and peace. per cent and school enrolment is Integral human www.openhousescotland.co.uk only 56 per cent of the total school- development age population - and now there is Cover photo by kind permission The reason is not just because the COVID. Children who are disabled of SCIAF UK Government will double the are, in the words of Pope Francis, income supporters contribute to the ‘abandoned… those considered SCIAF between 12th February and disposable because they are only

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 3 considered as part of a statistic’, for schools, parishes, groups and children who lead hidden and individuals - and for those parents impoverished lives. And, in South teaching their children from home Sudan, children who suffer great during pandemic times. stigma and discrimination. Integral Human Development Tackling a problem with such empowers the local people to say multifaceted elements calls for how they wish the development following the IHD framework. programme to shape and It takes into account all aspects transform their lives. SCIAF’s of human life, including the role is more that of a facilitator, spiritual and cultural; and all the a friend acting out of solidarity. stakeholders, including elites who In the SCIAF materials, you will may not want, for example, girls not find a group of happy South to be educated. This is a good Sudanese with a ‘white saviour’ example of a programme which, in in the middle. You will not find the words of the UN’s Sustainable pictures which demean in any Development Goals, ‘leaves no way the people or display them one behind’. In South Sudan, a as passive objects to prick our generation of disabled children who uninformed consciences. Even the are locked out of education and cameraman/photographer is from trapped in a cycle of poverty have South Sudan. Achuoth Deng has now been put at the top of SCIAF’s brought out the determination, takes time and resources, but the agenda. ability and courage of disabled result is to be found in sustainable people, their friends and families, programmes which work for the in his beautiful images of his fellow whole community, especially those countrywomen and men. He gently who are left most behind, and where holds all his subjects in frames of the people feel fulfilled. Integral Human dignity and joy at the ‘lifting of And where the smiles of bettered Development empowers the suffering’. lives are genuine. local people to say how they It has been said of SCIAF’s work that it is too complex and This Lent, learn assiduously to wish the development its message is not simple, as in change, pray with gritty intention, programme to shape and feeding children, or allowing and give as you’ve never given transform their lives. Westerners to get on with the job before. of eradicating poverty. Those are strategies which Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI describes as charity Dr Duncan MacLaren was SCIAF’s degenerating into sentimentality, not first Director and worked for the Raising awareness transformation. SCIAF recognises agency for thirteen years before The Lenten Campaign is about that, if you are intervening in the being called to the Vatican as raising the necessary funds but lives of some of the poorest people Director of Programmes of Caritas even more about raising people’s in the world, you are entering a awareness of the plight of others, complex reality with all sorts of Internationalis. He was then elected an awareness which grows to make facets. You are entering a sacred as Secretary General of the global space for empathy. SCIAF provides zone, the life of another person who Confederation of 165 Catholic an abundance of materials to has a family, a community, a culture humanitarian, development and social introduce the children and their lives and a belief system which must be service agencies. He served on the through images and information held in esteem. Dealing with all this SCIAF Board from 2014 until 2020.

THANK YOU Thank you to all our contributors to this edition and throughout the year.

4 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Fratelli Tutti

MARY STEVENS takes issue with an article on Pope Francis’ latest encyclical by a senior Scottish priest. A very personal interpretation

The January-February edition of Church and of human insight. Pope is listening to other voices outside Faith Magazine, the journal of the Francis has listened to many people, the Catholic Church, has apparently Faith Movement, published an from bishops to victims of abuse, failed to notice the unequivocal article by Monsignor Patrick Burke, from imams to secular thinkers and statements scattered through the Vicar General of the Archdiocese Catholic traditions, and above all to text which demonstrate clearly that of St Andrews and Edinburgh. The the Gospel and to the Spirit in prayer. while the Pope is listening to all and article considers the papal encyclical It is widely, if not unanimously, addressing all, his vision is entirely Fratelli Tutti of Pope Francis. Many accepted that the world is currently rooted in the fundamental and of those reading this article have been going through a time of crisis, and specifically Christian revelation of left confused, and it is my intention this is the Pope’s address within that redemption in Christ. The encyclical to address some issues which may crisis. does have a pastoral, apostolic contribute to this confusion. It would Mgr Burke states that the Pope’s and missionary tone of outreach, be impossible to respond fully in this principal concern is that ‘rapid engendered within the interior love short piece. economic globalisation and of the Trinity. One example suffices The article carries the title A Very ubiquitous digital communication, of the bedrock on which the whole is Personal Letter and Mgr Burke begins far from making the world more built: by claiming that in this encyclical integrated and harmonious are ‘We likewise believe that Christ the Pope is making no claim to resulting in greater inequalities, shed his blood for each of us and authoritative teaching and that its international conflict, and that no one is beyond the scope of his contents are not an act of magisterial interpersonal alienation’. The Pope universal love. If we go to the ultimate teaching. He thus clears the way himself writes: source of that love which is the very for a reception of the text which ‘I offer this social Encyclical as a life of the triune God, we encounter leaves freedom to have fundamental modest contribution to continued in the community of the three divine disagreements with the author, now reflection, in the hope that in the Persons the origin and perfect model of seen as a private individual, and thus face of present-day attempts to obviate the necessity to work with the all life in society. Theology continues eliminate or ignore others, we may text in the teaching and practice of the to be enriched by its reflection on this prove capable of responding with a church. This is the first and essential great truth’ (para 85). new vision of fraternity and social problem with the article in question. The encyclical calls repeatedly for friendship that will not remain at the Fratelli Tutti is an encyclical: this communication and respect. level of words. … It is my desire that, is not open to denial. The proofs ‘Today, in many countries, in this our time, by acknowledging the that Mgr Burke raises to disallow hyperbole, extremism and dignity of each human person, we can its authority and status are unable polarization have become political to alter this simple fact and they are contribute to the rebirth of a universal tools. Employing a strategy of false. At least since the time of Pope aspiration to fraternity’ (para 6). ridicule, suspicion and relentless Pius XII, the Catholic Church has The stimuli behind the Pope’s desire criticism, in a variety of ways one taught that an encyclical is part of to write about universal fraternity denies the right of others to exist or to the pope’s ordinary magisterium. The include war, aggressive nationalism, have an opinion’ (para 15). authority of an encyclical stems from selfishness, loss of social sense, a Mgr Burke quotes from the second the papal office, not from those to global economy which imposes sentence above. Curiously, at this whom it is addressed nor the sources a single cultural model on the point, he makes the comment that of the thought or quotations in the world, division, loss of the sense many of those who have been on text. of history, the Covid-19 pandemic, the receiving end of fierce criticism new cultural colonisation, the ‘for such sins as “clericalism”’ might A social encyclical distortion of democracy, freedom raise an eyebrow while reading the Fratelli Tutti is a social encyclical: that and justice, survival of the rich and Pope’s words. Mgr Burke appears to is to say that at a particular time and strong, the prevalence of poverty and be creating a parallel between those circumstance it seeks to apply both powerlessness. He is driven by the experiencing criticism of clericalism the teaching and wisdom of scripture, urgency of profound crises of social and those being destroyed by abusive revelation, and reason to social and individual humans lives. governments and dysfunctional public structures and situations, offering discourse, which destroys inalienable ways to enlighten, understand and Rooted in revelation human rights. progress justice and human dignity Mgr Burke, while he sees the breadth This is quite extraordinary and truly in an evolving society, in keeping of the vision of crisis which the Pope out of kilter with both the mind of with the treasure of wisdom of the is painting and hears that the Pope the Pope, the experience of very many

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 5 Fratelli Tutti members of the church and of those NOEL COLFORD coffers a reflection on the spirit of suffering from the real evils described the Gospel at the heart of Pope Francis’s encyclical. in Fratelli Tutti. There is commonality between the different sets of experiences in that there is abuse of power, selfishness and disdain for others in Return to the source both corrupt government, dysfunctional society and in clericalism - but not in the criticism of clericalism. Pope Francis has Pope Francis declared in his The answer lies in the word that is spoken repeatedly of the evil clericalism. prayer intention for January, not said, but should be said. Writing to the priests of Latin America in ‘We believers must return to our The lawyer is asked to choose 2016, he says that clericalism sources …. for us Christians the between the priest, the Levite ‘arises from an elitist and exclusivist wellspring of human dignity and and the Samaritan. He should vision of vocation, that interprets the fraternity is the Gospel of Jesus.’ obviously answer ‘the Samaritan’, ministry received as a power to be This is precisely what he himself but he doesn’t. The Samaritans exercised rather than as a free and has done in his encyclical Fratelli were traditional enemies of the generous service to be given. This Tutti and he has succeeded in Jews, hated and despised. The leads us to believe that we belong to a capturing the true spirit of the lawyer cannot bring himself to say group that has all the answers and no Gospel. Fratelli Tutti is built on that the Samaritan was a better longer needs to listen or learn anything. the premise that ‘God created person than a Jewish priest. His Clericalism is a perversion and is the all human beings equal in rights, prejudice chokes him. Jesus is not root of many evils in the Church: we duties and dignity, and called them just saying that the neighbour we must humbly ask forgiveness for this and to live together as brothers and are called to love is every human above all create the conditions so that it sisters, to fill the earth and make person, whatever their race, is not repeated’. known the values of goodness, religion or background - he is In Fratelli Tutti we read: love and peace’. teaching what it means to love. It ‘Saint Paul, recognizing the temptation Pope Francis says that faith is not simply to have compassion of the earliest Christian communities to has untold power to inspire and and care for others, it is to respect form closed and isolated groups, urged sustain our respect for others, for them. The Samaritan, the despised his disciples to abound in love “for one believers come to know that God foreigner, is the good person, another and for all”’ (1 Thess 3:12)’ loves every man and woman with worthy of respect and admiration. (para 62). infinite love and ‘thereby confers Pope Francis insists that real It is this abounding love ‘for all’ which infinite dignity’ on all humanity. love involves respect and esteem prompts the Pope to draw a broad He expresses very beautifully what for others. Compassion without picture of ‘the dark clouds over a closed it means to love when he says respect becomes pity, and world’ and to urge a new way forward. that kindness is an attitude that is patronising pity arouses anger ‘For all our hyper-connectivity, we gentle, pleasant and supportive; it rather than gratitude. When witnessed a fragmentation that made it speaks words of comfort, strength, we come to the parable of the more difficult to resolve problems that consolation and encouragement Prodigal Son the question that affect us all. Anyone who thinks that and it entails esteem and respect arises is, ‘Why does Jesus not the only lesson to be learned was the for others. He stresses that love finish the story? Why doesn’t he need to improve what we were already values others, and so is open to tell us how the elder son responds doing, or to refine existing systems and dialogue and cooperation. to his father’s appeal?’ regulations, is denying reality’ (para 7). These ideas may not be expressed The answer is surely that Jesus explicitly in the Gospels but cannot finish the story - only his Many of us, who are not baptised they are implied in the two great listeners can. They are the elder to live in closed and isolated groups, parables of St. Luke’s Gospel, the son. They are complaining like would resonate in hope, joy, courage and Good Samaritan and the Prodigal the elder son that Jesus welcomes enthusiasm with the encyclical Fratelli Son. It is only when we don’t sinners. Jesus is appealing to them. Tutti, were it grasped by our pastors and understand these parables that we How will they respond? When put to work in our midst. I therefore can fully understand them, and we the elder son refers to the younger sincerely hope that Mgr Burke himself is writing as a private individual and not as can only appreciate what is said not as his brother but ‘this son of a prelate, vicar general of a metropolitan when we notice what is not said. yours’, he is not only rejecting his archdiocese, called by his Pope and ours The parable of the Good brother but his father as well. His to be sisters and brothers to one another. Samaritan is told to answer the self righteous indignation masks question, who is the neighbour I a deep resentment against both of Dr Mary Stevens is an Honorary Fellow am called to love? But the story is them. in Divinity at the University of St about who gives love rather than The father forgives the prodigal Andrews. who receives love. Why is that? because he loves him. He rejoices

6 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Education at his repentance. The elder son has no MARK WILSON looks back on 40 years as an real love either for his brother or his educational psychologist. father; yet his father loves him too. He goes out humbly to plead with him. He addresses him tenderly as his child. He assures him of his position. The How good was your father treats both his sinful sons, the repentant and the unrepentant, with extraordinary respect. He actually Catholic school? honours the prodigal for his courage and humility and he commends the faithful service of the elder son. I would like to share experiences School A Jesus is teaching that God is our of the ‘informal curriculum’ in Father who loves all of us as his This large school had a wide Catholic schools - the things that children. Even when we fail him and catchment area including city children and staff learn from the turn against him, he still cares for us children and pupils from a large ethos and what goes on outside and longs for our repentance. In his town and surrounding villages. the classroom. love he is ready and anxious to forgive. When the school leaving age What are the events that inspire If we appreciate the beauty of his love was raised to 16 in the 1970’s, goodness and make for a good for us, we will not only trust in his an extension was added, so education? What builds a sense love and forgiveness, but see his other that a new curriculum could of belonging to a community that children as our brothers and sisters be expanded. The school and be eager to love and forgive as we cares? What practices might have management team and guidance are loved and forgiven. been part of our own schooling, teachers were kind and committed Jesus himself is reaching out in love and are rightly assigned to the to doing their best for the to his arrogant opponents. Perhaps past? they will see themselves in the elder I have just retired after 40 years children. I quickly felt we could son. Perhaps their own hard hearts as an educational psychologist. I work well together. will be touched by the beauty of the became a Catholic in the 1980’s, I recently found notes from father’s love and the respect Jesus is at the start of my career. I saw a meeting in 1985 from a showing them. His most beautiful parishes and schools making ‘community connections’ parables are told to his enemies with adjustments to the Second Vatican working party. Led by a Quaker respect and without accusation. They Council, and finding a new vision friend who was a community too can see and change. for their role in a modern world. development worker, the agenda Pope Francis insists that our love Corporal punishment was started with an item on ‘How must extend to the wayward and abolished in Strathclyde Region in might we teach caring?’ These the wrongdoer, both repentant and 1981/82. I remember a Catholic meetings led to opportunities for unrepentant. His teaching that we Secondary in the late 70s being school children to participate in should see all people as our brothers described as a ‘very violent local groups for elderly citizens. and sisters, children of the one loving school with very violent children Father, needing our care, respect and and very violent teachers’. No- forgiveness, expresses the heart of one would say that about a the Gospel. At the beginning of the Scottish school today. Children ... a very vulnerable boy encyclical he declares, ‘It is my desire, may still live in violent homes used to eat his lunch every in this time, by acknowledging the or violent neighbourhoods, but day with that teacher, to help dignity of each human person, we can school communities can be real contribute to the rebirth of a universal him stay out of trouble. In sanctuaries for children. Many aspiration to fraternity. Fraternity is in the week that the teacher had all men and women.’ things were starting to change in a heart attack, the boy set the His appeal is addressed to all people. the 1980s. school alight. Christians and non-Christians alike I will highlight my experience can see the beauty and feel the power by writing of two secondary of his message. schools with different cultures, over 30 years ago. The accounts There had been a fire at the Noel Colford is parish priest of Holy are fictional, but every memory is school. A teacher told me he Cross, Arran. based on real experience. carried a feeling of guilt for that

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 7 fire.It had been started by a pupil Puebla, and the church’s concern - a very vulnerable boy who used about the impact of poverty on Some pupils, of course, to eat his lunch every day with that children ‘born in the image of wanted to be sent home, and teacher, to help him stay out of God’. Strathclyde Regional Council learned that this could be trouble. In the week that the teacher published similar sentiments in its had a heart attack, the boy set the ‘Social Strategy for the Eighties’. arranged easily by throwing school alight. There were real pressures facing chips in the dining hall. School exclusion (temporary children at the school, and staff who suspension for a few days or weeks) were trying to provide support. But an event repeated again and again. I was a fairly significant feature of there was a culture which valued saw children and families developing schools in the early 1980’s, but I relationships with all the children a real sense that they did not fit at remember real efforts at the school and their families, and those of us in the school. Some pupils, of course, to deal with mistakes constructively. other agencies. Together, I think we wanted to be sent home, and learned An education officer asked me for found signs of hope. that this could be arranged easily by a report on a boy who was out of School B throwing chips in the dining hall. school as a result of police charges. This was especially true in the most School B used to be the senior The school secretary told me she disadvantaged part of the catchment secondary school for its community. lived near him and worried about area, which historically had weak In the 1970’s it became a his whole family. She had bought connections with the school as few comprehensive. It had built a fine him food when she saw him looking children had passed the ‘qualy’ exam reputation as a school that would hungry. School and social work to get to senior secondary. open up significant opportunities for planned together so that he could be I recall a tradition which seemed to Catholic children to become part of reintegrated. be particularly resistant to change. If the middle classes. Legends abounded I remember a first-year girl who I visited after lunch, I would see a line about the head teacher visiting local would now be described as a ‘young of boys waiting to meet senior staff. employers to ensure they were not carer’. She had been suspended after They had been fighting with boys discriminating against his pupils. repeatedly punching a teacher, whilst from a nearby non-denominational The school continued to have a in a flood of tears. Her mother had school. This caused a lot of failed to bring her to appointments strong reputation in its community, frustration. Generations of boys had to discuss her return. I visited and I remember teachers who were maintained the habit and the wounds them at home and brought them passionate about their subject. The that resulted. I remember a member to school. The mother was injured, management team was entirely male, of staff mocking the behaviour as walking with a stick, and the girl as were all the guidance teachers. ‘defending the faith’. was embarrassed by her mother’s There were some female principal In the West of Scotland, many appearance. But the depute head teachers. One was doing sector- Catholics entered the social work welcomed them with such kindness, leading work with dyslexic children. profession. I remember a social and led then through a most amazing Another was described by a senior worker telling me of her efforts to discussion about the stresses the manager as the way every female build partnerships with the school, girl was under, and the variety of teacher should be: totally committed to support a boy who was returning supports they could put in place. to her vocation, and unmarried! after a long absence. A time had I saw this as a school’s version of But many members of staff been agreed for her to take him to reconciliation. Now such ‘restorative remembered a time when standards the school to plan his return. She approaches’ are quite common in in the school had been much higher. was advised that she didn’t need to schools. Some voiced real pain about the bother bringing his mother. When Business in the Backyard (1985) impact of government policy. Senior they arrived she heard the most was a theatre production by the staff were trying to hold fast to magnificent singing. She asked at the Wildcat Theatre Company. School traditions of authority and discipline, office about what was happening - staff arranged a night out to see but the children and their families had the choir was preparing for Easter. it. It used music and drama to a wider range of needs, presenting After a lengthy wait, office staff explore poverty and violence in issues that needed patience and care advised them they would have to Central America, and the influence as well as challenge. come back another day. I recall of liberation theology in local When ‘the belt’ was banned, many a suggestion that this school had communities. I had been reading children were excluded from school. too much religion and not enough about the 1979 conference of Latin For some, this was an effective Christianity. American Catholic bishops in warning, but for many others it was I met teaching staff who cared,

8 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Education but I also heard conflicting ideas STEPHEN MCKINNEY, STUART HALL and KEVIN about what might be beyond the LOWDEN look at emerging evidence of the remit of a teacher, and a sense of alarm amongst staff who felt very implications of lockdown on children. alone in their efforts to adjust. The local authority expected that schools would involve outside agencies. Learning from Some teachers welcomed this, while others saw it as an intrusion. I did not share the belief that punishment by exclusion was likely to lead to lockdown a new level of cooperation. In my mind we faced a challenge together, to build approaches that would The latest lockdown measures relation to Covid-19. support a child to learn to improve introduced in Scotland in January There has now been time to their behaviour. But we were at a very 2021 in response to Covid-19 undertake research and reflect on early stage of dialogue and learning to have had a major impact on the impact of the first lockdown cooperate. the schooling of children and of 2020 and subsequent Conclusion young people. Many schools restrictions on the education have remained open, but only of young people. Education Catholic schools have continued for vulnerable children and Scotland has just published What to develop systems of nurture and the children of key workers. Scotland Learned: Building Back pastoral care, and strengthened their The majority of children have Better (January 2021). It draws partnerships within and outwith the moved to remote learning at on research and input from a school. The Charter for Catholic home, supported by their school, wide variety of stakeholders. It Schools in Scotland now gives parents/guardians and various is focussed on six key themes: direction for the ethos of the Catholic media (including the BBC). Relationships, Leadership, Health school and the role it plays within its This article looks at the and Wellbeing, Learning and community. implications of the latest Teaching, Communities and My memories identify two different lockdown for the learning of Successes and Achievements. features of Catholic institutions. School A looked to the future and children and young people, their The section on Learning and strove towards an ethos of inclusion health and wellbeing, and the Teaching addresses some of the as well as achievement. Staff were position of young carers. difficulties faced by teachers committed to high levels of pastoral The Scottish Government has as schools closed down at very care. In school B, I saw that new highlighted the detrimental short notice. There was little expectations to meet the needs of effect of young people being out time to prepare for the move to vulnerable children were often seen as of school during the lockdown online and remote teaching. The a threat. in 2020, which affected their publication recognises the serious I am left wondering if this divide is educational developmental challenges faced by parents who still in evidence today. Covid presents and mental health. There struggled to balance working new challenges to teachers, and all are particular concerns for at home with supporting the who work with children. We have all educational outcomes for young education of young people. The experienced an interruption to our people, and the mental health of lockdown highlighted some of the comfort, and we know the need for adolescents, especially vulnerable pre-existing effects of inequality. compassion. Covid and its restrictions young people. The Government Some young people did not have have impacted more on some children has been anxious to keep schools access to equipment that would than others. In recent years Pope open where possible because allow them to engage in online Francis has suggested that the Church of serious anxieties about the learning, or the household could could aspire to be like a ‘field hospital increase in educational and social not afford to pay for the internet. after battle’. I have experienced inequalities caused by closures. There have also been some very things in Catholic schools that fit that In the period leading up to useful insights into some of the description of ‘field hospital’. How Christmas, there was an increase successes. Lessons can be learned will we manage to ensure that love in school absences, mainly due from other parts of the world and care is received by all today? to young people self-isolating in where radio, tv and even phone

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 9 tutorials are used for education in in public and academic discourses on the demands of home learning with the home, and have been used in education: young carers. caring and finding a quiet space to previous pandemics. There have study. Many young carers had to been successes in the move to online Young carers deal with the deteriorating mental and remote learning. Many teachers A young carer is under 18, or health of the adult person(s) they have been able to upskill with 18 and still at school, and has care for. Some young carers are more considerable alacrity and efficiency, caring responsibilities for a family socially isolated and disadvantaged often with the support of formal member or members, or a friend. than other young people and this and informal networks. Many The Scottish government estimates has been intensified during school young people have assumed greater that there are 44,000 young carers closures. responsibility for their learning and in Scotland. Those cared for are There is much to be learned about likely to be ill, have a disability, a have become more autonomous the continuation of education mental health condition or suffer learners. and home learning for young The mental and physical health from drug or alcohol addiction or people during the period of the and wellbeing of young people related health problems. The caring pandemic. There are issues about under lockdowns and restrictions can involve physical personal care, the effectiveness of remote and has become an increasing cause household chores and mental health online learning and the equity of for concern. The Scotland Youth support, and may involve caring for the learning experience. There are Parliament Survey of 2020 lists a younger siblings. questions about the flexibility and number of factors causing mental The Scottish government provides agility of the teaching profession to stress. These include worries about a small annual grant for young the virus, the loss of connection carers, though notes that many adapt to new learning environments, with extended family and friends, do not perceive their role as being and implications for the future negotiating home life that is also that of a carer: it is a way of life. A education and preparation of a learning environment, anxiety reduction in social services during teachers. A greater awareness of the about public exams and about the the pandemic has created more extent of poverty and child poverty future. Some young people who pressure on young carers to assume in Scotland has emerged as well as had received support for mental further caring responsibilities. A the consequences of lockdowns and health issues through the school survey conducted by Dr Blake- restrictions. have experienced a reduction in the Holmes from the University of East Stephen McKinney is Professor service. Anglia between April and June 2020 of Education in the School of The lockdown and restrictions have demonstrated that many young Education, University of Glasgow. exacerbated the daily challenges carers feel a strong sense that school Stuart Hall and Kevin Lowden faced by disabled children, those provides a welcome routine and are Senior Research Fellows in the with additional support needs, and respite from caring responsibilities. School of Education, University of vulnerable children. It has also This has been disrupted by Glasgow. created enormous difficulties for that lockdowns and school closures. group of children and young people Some young carers felt higher levels A full list of references is available who often receive limited attention of stress as they struggled to balance on request.

10 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Canon law

HELEN CONSTIGANE outlines the process for appointing a bishop, following the death of Archbishop Tartaglia. A suitable candidate

Some years ago, I accompanied morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, needs of the diocese. He will also a group of postgraduate canon prudence and human virtues, and consult with other bishops in the law students on a visit to Rome, possess those other gifts which equip ecclesiastical province1, the president during which we visited several him to fulfil the office in question’. of the episcopal conference, and departments of the Curia. Among This list of qualities is not intended hears the views of at least some these was the Congregation for to be exhaustive, for other desirable Bishops, which oversees the selection qualities would include good of most new bishops. Not slow in judgement, an equable temperament, coming forward, the students asked management skills, and fidelity to If he considers it rather pointed questions at times, the magisterium. The reference to beneficial, the nuncio may among which was: ‘Why does it take the ‘office in question’ means not seek individually and in so long to appoint bishops?’ The only to the episcopate in general, response was diplomatic but rather but also to the particular office to be secret, the opinions of opaque, but it raised questions filled, therefore local and national diocesan and religious from the group on the very process concerns would have to be taken clergy and of ‘lay persons itself - who is eligible to be a bishop, into consideration. how do names come forward, who The process of considering of outstanding wisdom’ decides, and do some people refuse candidates for the episcopacy (canon 377 §3). the office? begins before a see becomes vacant It can be argued that the through resignation by the bishop appointment of bishops in the on the grounds of age or ill-health or Church is rather a complicated through the death of a bishop while members of the college of consultors process, with various ‘stakeholders’ in office. Canon 377 states that the and the cathedral chapter. If he having a role in the selection. The bishops of an ecclesiastical province considers it beneficial, the nuncio exact process can vary, depending or of an episcopal conference are to may seek individually and in secret, on a number of factors. These draw up ‘by common accord and in the opinions of diocesan and include the location of the diocese secret’ a list of priests judged to be religious clergy and of ‘lay persons geographically, whether the suitable generically (that is, without of outstanding wisdom’ (canon 377 candidate is being chosen to fill reference to any particular see) to §3). the office of a diocesan bishop or be appointed as bishops. This list Once the nuncio shortens his list being appointed as an auxiliary is always recent, because the canon of candidates, he seeks the input bishop, and whether he is already an requires that it be drawn up ‘at of a number of people who know ordained bishop. least every three years’. However, each candidate well enough to individual bishops may also make comment on their qualities and A suitable candidate known to the Apostolic See those aptitude for episcopal office. This The Code of Canon Law 1983 priests they consider are worthy and is done by way of a questionnaire specifies who is a suitable candidate suitable for episcopal office. which is completed in the strictest for the episcopate; a priest ordained When a see become vacant through confidentiality. While this obligation for at least five years, who is at the death of the bishop and someone for secrecy may be questioned, least 35 years old, and held in good needs to be appointed to fill that there is a human dimension here. esteem (canon 378 §1). He must also gap, more concrete consultations Bearing in mind canon 220 which be well versed in sacred Scripture, take place. The apostolic nuncio (the upholds the right to a person’s good theology and canon law, if he does Pope’s representative to both the reputation and privacy, if it were not hold a licentiate or doctorate in government and hierarchy of a given widely known that a priest had been one of these disciplines. This canon nation) asks the vicar general or under consideration and had not also specifies that a candidate must the diocesan administrator to draw made it to the final list, people might be ‘outstanding in strong faith, good up a report on the situation and speculate - erroneously that he had

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 11 been excluded because of some fault the appointment. If the Pope gives process, and what appears to be a found in him. his assent, this is communicated to narrow base for consultation about the Congregation who notifies the a candidate’s suitability for office, List of three nuncio. He in turn then notifies the leaves the rest of the community in The nuncio will then send to the candidate to obtain his consent to the dark. This, they say, calls into Apostolic See a list (known as the the appointment. If the answer is account the overall efficacy of the ‘terna’) of the three candidates who ‘yes’, the Vatican is notified, and a process. seem to be the most appropriate date is set for the announcement. The suggested solution is that for consideration, together with the So, that describes the current a broader base of consultation information that has been gathered process for filling a vacant see. should be established, particularly on each of them. He will also send However, questions have been raised among lay people in the diocese his own opinion drawn from the about the process itself in that it where the bishop is to be appointed. evidence available. seems to be rather opaque and long, Such greater transparency and While great weight is given to about the question of consultation wider consultation would give the nuncio’s recommendation, and those who are in fact asked the Catholic community a better it is important to note that his about the qualities of candidate, and understanding of how episcopal ‘gatekeeper’ role does not mean that the whole issue of secrecy. leaders are appointed. At present, his recommendations are always these proposals are being considered followed. The department of the Time for reform? by the Australian bishops. Whether Roman Curia responsible for an These points have been raised they are accepted or not, no doubt appointment to the archdiocese of in a recent document that was there will be ongoing discussion on Glasgow is the Congregation for commissioned by bishops and the current provisions on appointing Bishops, which comprises around religious orders in Australia, in bishops, and whether any changes 30 cardinals and archbishops response to the recommendations will improve the process. drawn from around the world and of the Royal Commission into headed by one who is known as the institutional child sexual abuse.2 The 1A Province is a territory comprising one ‘Cardinal Prefect’. report notes instances of dioceses archdiocese, and one or more dioceses called suffragan sees. If the appointment to the vacant being left vacant before new bishops see involves a bishop who is being have been appointed, and given that 2The report is entitled The Light from transferred from another diocese, the process outlined above can take the Southern Cross: Promoting Co- Responsible Governance in the Catholic the matter may be handled by the up to two years (or more), it is a Church in Australia, 1 May 2020 Prefect and the staff. However, if valid criticism that a more pro-active (available online). a priest is being appointed to the succession plan does not appear to 3Canon 401 §1 states that a diocesan episcopacy, a discussion of all bishop be in place, given that we know the bishop who has completed his seventy- members of the Congregation is age at which a bishop will likely fifth year of age is requested to offer his ordinarily involved. One known retire.3 However, the Australian resignation from office to the Supreme as a ‘Cardinal Relator’ is chosen report concedes that delays Pontiff. to summarize the documentation may be caused by unavoidable and make a report to the full circumstances, that there is a Dr Helen Costigane SHCJ is a canon Congregation, which generally diminishing pool of candidates from lawyer and teaches at St Mary’s meets at least monthly. After which to choose, and it speculates University, Twickenham. hearing the Cardinal Relator’s that it seems likely that some people report, the Congregation discusses who are approached decline the the appointment and then votes. appointment. The Congregation may follow the ‘Consultation’ and ‘secrecy’ are recommendation of the nuncio, also discussed in the report. While choose another of the candidates on the principle of consultation is the terna, or even ask that another provided for in canon law, it is not terna be prepared. readily apparent how this happens However, as noted in canon 377 in practice, and much of this is §1, the final decision lies with the conducted under the practice of Pope. When the Congregation sub secreto pontificio (under the decides on who should be ‘pontifical secret’). appointed, it presents its conclusions The report suggests that the lack to the Pope and asks him to make of transparency in the selection

12 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Pope John XXIII

JOE FITZPATRICK looks back on his time as a student in Rome during the pontificate of John XXIII. The way we were…

In recent day I have had been told that the found myself reflecting protocol required us on some of the more to genuflect when the memorable and Pope entered the room impressionable events in and we duly did so. my life. One of these was But Pope John waved my experience of meeting his hands upwards and Pope John XXIII as a peremptorily told us to student in Rome. stand up, adding, ‘Sulle Following the death of ginocchia solamente Pope Pius XII in October avanti di Dio’ - ‘On the 1958, Italian newspapers knees only before God’. and magazines were full He exuded warmth Michael O’Neill, who writes for Open House from Florida, is on the left, of photos and biographies and good humour and and Joe Fitzpatrick is second from the right. of those Cardinals you could see why he considered to be ‘papabili’. having served as apostolic visitor in was universally liked; As a second year student in the Bulgaria, apostolic delegate in Turkey, there was simply nothing solemn or Scots College, I was taken by several and papal Nuncio in France before pompous about him. He chatted with commanding figures among these men. being appointed to Venice. His sojourn Bishop Scanlan in a mixture of French As the Conclave to elect the new Pope in France was a tricky one as the fairly and Italian before being introduced to got under way, we students would troop new French government had to deal each of us in turn. Towards the end of along to St Peter’s Square in the hope with a country recently occupied by the the short audience, I heard him say to of seeing white smoke rising above the Germans where many of the bishops the Bishop, ‘Un piccolo bacino primo di Sistine Chapel. had supported the Vichy Petain regime. partire?’ - ‘a little kiss before parting?’ It was only at the end of the twelfth When Roncalli arrived, the post-war My last memory of the audience was ballot that the smoke turned from authorities made it clear that they of these two rather short, stout men a dubious grey to a clear white. wanted 33 bishops to be removed from hugging each other in a warm embrace. Excitement in the crowd grew to a their posts. Through skilful negotiation This audience took place a few years new level of intensity as we awaited Roncalli had the number reduced to before the start of the Second Vatican the legendary statement from the three. He was a class act. Council, which was to be Pope John’s balcony - ‘Habemus Papam!’ When it I came to enjoy the large general greatest and most lasting achievement. was announced that the new Pope was audiences with the new Pope, which He died on 3rd June 1963, two years Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, I have to were held in St Peter’s Square each before the Council ended. There was confess to never having heard of him. week. He had a clear, ringing voice an enormous outpouring of grief from I asked my better informed student and a lovely self-deprecating sense all over the world in honour of a Pope companion who Roncalli was and, in of humour, in stark contrast to the who wanted above all to dialogue a voice dripping with disappointment, lugubrious voice of his successor, with the world, to engage with its he replied that he was (and I quote) Paul VI. In a smaller audience I attended problems, and to help nations better ‘a little fat guy with an ugly face’. We with a group of Scottish pilgrims, he understand each other. Krushchev’s soon learned that Roncalli was the said that he wanted to say ‘a couple of son-in-law visited him at the Vatican Archbishop of Venice and was aged 77. words in Italian and a word and a half and President Kennedy said he was The common belief at the time was that in French’, hinting at the fact that his proud to belong to a Church whose he was a stop-gap Pope, elected to allow French was not quite up to the standard leader was the author of the encyclical some of the younger Italian bishops of his native Italian. He did not speak Pacem in Terris (‘Peace on Earth’). Pope and archbishops to join the college of English. John turned his back on the negative, Cardinals, from whose ranks the next My most vivid memory of Pope John finger-wagging, rebuking style of many substantial Pope would be elected. stems from 1959 when Bishop Scanlan of his predecessors in the 19th and 20th This proved to be one of the greatest of Motherwell was able to bring centuries. As his biographer, E.E.Y. misconceptions in the history of the students from the Motherwell Diocese Hales, wrote: ‘No four years of papal modern Church. Roncalli was certainly to a private audience with the Pope. We history have seen such major policy short and stout and came from a very were conducted to a large room deep in changes...’ Some stop-gap! large northern Italian family of peasant the Vatican buildings. After a short wait, farmers, but he had behind him a long the Pope arrived, wreathed in smiles, Joe Fitzpatrick is an author and a retired and distinguished diplomatic career, and greeting us warmly in Italian. We inspector of schools.

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 13 Scottish literature

GERRY CARRUTHERS traces the ongoing presence of medieval Glasgow in Scottish literature. Medieval Glasgow

Early medieval Glasgow was called but the Glaswegian physical and and its proximity to the cathedral. In ‘Cathures’ (a derivation, probably, of even intellectual structures of the one sense a break from its medieval ‘fortress on the Clyde’). Its literature latter remained essentially intact: the life, in another its new neo-gothic in the 12th century was related to the University, founded by papal bull in grandeur spoke of a revival of things fact that the city was an important 1451 (making it the fourth oldest pre-Reformation, including the ecclesiastical centre, especially seat of higher learning in the English- leadership here of the third Marquess revolving around its foundational speaking world) and the cathedral of Bute, a Catholic convert, whose sixth-century saint, Mungo or itself. A 19th century painting by funds endowed the magnificent Bute Kentigern, whose feast day falls on David Roberts, ‘Defence of the Hall at the university. 13th January. Cathedral by the Trades’ House On a lesser scale we find the By the 1180s the city was known in 1579 during the Reformation,’ politically radical poet, Alexander as Glasgow (perhaps ‘green hollow’ features a story that may be Rodger (1784-1846) celebrating St becoming ‘dear green place’) when its apocryphal, but which reflects a spirit Mungo in his poetry, and the great Bishop, Jocelyn, commissioned a Life in the city which was loath to see the novelist John Galt (1779-1839) of Kentigern from another Jocelyn stone of its great church recycled to writing even-handedly of both sides other uses. (the Cistercian writer) and this work in the Reformation, including events During the 19th century, especially, promoted not only the holiness of around Glasgow, in his novel Ringan we ought to realise that medieval Mungo but the life of his mother, Gilhaize (1823). Glasgow not only had not been Taneu or Enoch, his following in The proud revivifying of St Mungo’s obliterated in the 16th century, but the footsteps of St Ninian and his Cathedral through the 19th and into was always present - in the city relationship to his contemporary St the 20th century by the Church of Columba. coat of arms, for example, framed Scotland offers further proof that The saintly power of Scotland’s around the mythography of Mungo, medieval Glasgow had never really great western metropolis was boosted including the saint as a boy bringing left the city’s heart, both physically also at the end of the 12th century by back to life a robin stoned to death and metaphorically. poems such as ‘Song on the Death of by his playmates. In even more recent times, we Somerled’ written by William, a clerk The university in 1870 moved to the have Edwin Morgan’s collection of (or priest) at the Cathedral. This west end, away from the High Street poetry about the city, Cathures Latin poem documents Glasgow (2002) and the entertaining Gil being saved from the marauding brigand, Somerled, after Cunningham mystery novels prayers to St Mungo facilitate by Pat McIntosh set around Somerled’s head being hacked the cathedral precincts. These off by a priest and presented to include, very suitably in the the Bishop. central conceit of its title, St Glasgow’s real-life muscle in Mungo’s Robin (2008). With its current affairs was very much own fictional medieval detective, boosted by the power of prayer, Glasgow is a city, clearly, whose and it became an archbishopric pre-Reformation identity is from the 1480s. In the medieval still powerfully deployed in its period cities such as Edinburgh citizens’ imaginations. and Stirling fuelled their claims In these thankfully ecumenical to power via association with times, today’s Glaswegians the monarchy, together with a can grasp a common historical more prominent secular poetry, heritage which both survives and which was largely absent in the traverses confessional bounds. west (although it is likely that some such literature associated The St Mungo Lecture on with Glasgow was lost in the this theme was delivered by period of Reformation). Professor Gerard Carruthers The Protestant Reformation of Glasgow University on 7th marked a theological break St Mungo’s Cathedral, Glasgow. January, as part of the annual St with Medieval Catholicism, Photo by Dominic Cullen. Mungo Festival.

14 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 MÉGAN BUHRMANN NOTEBOOK Inspiring Sister Julia Former Open House contributor, women and one of our most loyal supporters, Sister Julia McLoughlin has died. Her funeral took place at the Immaculate I’ve always admired women who pave Mary, in particular, the perfect disciple. Conception church in Maryhill the way for their sisters and have I question at times the message being challenged the status quo. At fourteen, heard by young, Catholic women: if on Wednesday 2nd December, on the brave, clever observations of you too are meek, mild and completely what would have been Julia’s 90th Jane Austin made me grateful for the obedient the Church will exalt you. birthday. She was in religious life progress women have made. I adore the If you voice dissent at the status quo for 73 years. fearless Frida Kahlo for her confident your voice will be ignored or worse, As a Franciscan Sister of the self-expression. I’m inspired by many demonised. Is it any wonder that young women globally; Jacinda Ahern for Catholic women walk away? Immaculate Conception, Julia her calm handling of a terrorist attack, Where there is injustice, protest comes. taught and worked in parishes in a pandemic outbreak and a volcanic Change is happening at a grassroots Nigeria for 20 years. She discerned eruption, all whilst becoming a mum for level. Catholic women who have a further call to the Sisters of the first time; Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez decided to stay are building. I recently Notre Dame and completed study whose Catholicism has made her a voice attended a talk that left me inspired. against abuses of power. And, of course, Hannah Rose Thomas, an English in business and administration. Kamela Harris, the first Black, first artist, uses her talents to be a voice to She worked at the Generalate in Asian and first female Vice President of the voiceless, leading art projects with Rome and in administration at the United States. Syrian refugees, Yezidi women who St Buenos in North Wales. She The one vital aspect of my life have escaped ISIS captivity, and most was on the administrative staff where I cannot name a single globally recently, survivors of Boko Haram. recognised woman with real authority Her evocative portraits highlighting at Scotus College in Bearsden, and the ability to create change is my their strength and dignity have created and after teaching in schools in faith life. a platform for these women to share Dumbarton and Glasgow, Julia In the early church, when it was their experiences, in their own words. pioneered industrial chaplaincy, revolutionary to do so, men and women Young Catholic parishioner Amanda as one the first women appointed had equal roles in serving the people Gorman recently stole the show at the in a post created by the Church of of God, and leading communities. The inauguration of President Joe Biden gospel tells us women led the way; with her challenging, graceful poem, England. She worked as chaplain women stayed at the cross, women ‘The Hill We Climb’. An activist against dared go to the guarded tomb, women oppression and sexism, she spoke like were first to tell of Jesus’ glorious an apostle, commanding and arresting, resurrection. as she promoted the gospel themes of St Paul’s great declaration of equality unity and social justice. is clear: there is ‘neither Jew nor Hannah and Amanda are examples Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is of Catholic women using their God- there male and female, for you are all given gifts to be a light to the world one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28). and create change. I’m reminded of my Why is it then that only men make favourite quote by Catherine of Siena: up our Church hierarchy? Only men ‘Be who God meant you to be and you lead, even those struggling to meet the will set the world on fire.’ pastoral needs of their people? Why do This is my last column for Open women build community, lead church House. Thank you, everyone, for all the ministries, raise the next generation of support you’ve given me. In the spirit of Catholics, model the faith, then step solidarity, I’ve decided to make way for back, excluded from any real decision other voices. making? I recently watched a Vicar Episcopal Sisters in Christ, keep blazing the trail. speaking at length on behalf of religious Brothers in Christ, we’re looking at you. about their vocation! There are those who point to female Mégan Buhrmann teaches in a role models in the Church, and to Glasgow primary school. Sister Julia McLoughlin SND.

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 15 to a power station in England and the Sacramental encounter with the Lenten Journeys with construction workers on the Lord as necessary to their spiritual Many parish and diocesan groups Channel Tunnel. She spent two wellbeing and their ultimate are now offering online prayer years in Berkley, California, where salvation’. resources, including programmes she studied spirituality, and was But then the Bishop of Motherwell, for Lent. The Scottish Laity Joseph Toal, wrote to the people involved in forming and leading Network, whose core vision is that women’s groups. of his diocese in support of the of enabling Scottish lay people to She was a well known figure Scottish government’s decision. come together as disciples of Jesus, around the Archdiocese and He said: ‘It is argued by some that and through prayer, dialogue and was to be seen at many lectures the Government should not have discernment find ‘new ways’ of and seminars. She had a deeply imposed this regulation on religious being church in Scotland in the 21st enquiring mind and spirit. bodies, and the Scottish Catholic century, are also offering weekly Every now and then she would Bishops have expressed this view… meetings during Lent. write a letter of support and I think the majority of Catholics in Zoom meetings will be held encouragement for the work of the Diocese of Motherwell, both on Thursdays from 7-8.30pm, Open House. After the 2019 lay faithful and clergy, agree that beginning on 18th February conference on new directions for we would accept the closure of our with Jim Skea, co-chair of the church in Scotland, which she churches for our regular acts of working group III of the UN attended, she wrote: ‘I left with a worship as a necessary consequence intergovernmental panel on climate feeling of hope, and I repeat the of being required to stay at home… change. words of Julian of Norwich - “All The present closure of our churches On Saturday 27th March there shall be well, all manner of things means we all share in the gravity will be a Holy Week retreat shall be well” for the future church. of our present facilitated by Diarmuid O’Murchu. If St Julie would have been alive she vulnerability To register for the weekly would have been there, for to her and have to meetings, or find out more about the church was to be ever open to rely on our the retreat, email slaitynetwork@ the spirit. Julie was a woman of the personal gmail.com church’. and family We’ll miss you, Julia, and we resources of plan to look at the contribution of faith, which religious sisters to the life of the are often church in a future edition of Open deeper than House. we realise’. Bishop Joseph Toal. See letter on Perplexing decision page 17. The Scottish Bishops’ response to the Scottish government’s decision Petition to close places of worship from The Scottish Bishops’ Conference 8th January in order to curtail has decided to adopt a new Thank you Mégan the spread of a new variant of translation for bible texts that Thank you Mégan for all the COVID-19 has caused confusion are read at Mass/services. The inspiring and challenging columns and dismay. translation they have chosen you contributed to Open House. A statement from Scotland’s continues to use gender-exclusive From the day you attended the Catholic Bishops said they were language. (see letters and Open Open House conference on perplexed by the government’s House December/January). new directions for the church in decision since there was no You are invited to sign a petition Scotland, you have shared your evidence that churches were sources asking the Scottish bishops to deep faith and perceptive insights of infection. Public worship is a adopt a new translation. The into the way thing are - and could human right, they said, and a duty petition can be found at: be. We wish you all the very best in which humanity owes to God. https://www.change.org/Inclusive- your challenging work of teaching Catholics ‘need the Eucharist and language-bible-texts-at-Mass children in these difficult times.

16 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 LETTERS

The Editor of Open House email: [email protected] All correspondence, including email, must give full postal address and telephone number.

On moving to the margins but quite another when this feeling is liberating about being on the compounded at the level of the margins. My parish has always been my Bishops Conference. anchor/comfort zone. In the last 40 Gemma Lamarra, Lanark I was shocked to read the statement years I have initiated or been of the Bishops’ Conference on the involved in a string of groups at COVID restrictions. Apart from Liturgy of the Word parish level. Pro-life groups, justice feeling it was ill informed and After reading Fr Tom Magill’s and peace groups, RCIA, prayer irresponsible, I felt again the thought-provoking article on the new groups, retreats, parish pastoral imposition of an ideology: persecuted lectionary in the December/January council, social committee, as well as church, threatened religious freedom, edition of Open House, I would like putting my training in spiritual dependence on the sacraments, to offer some reflections on the accompaniment into practice. All of especially the Eucharist, for our celebration of the Liturgy of the these groups depend on the support ‘ultimate salvation’. Word. of the parish priest. A change in I despaired that this was provided It appears that the decision has parish priest puts these opportunities to the media and Scottish been made regarding the version of at risk. government as representative of the the lectionary to be used. When it is What if you find yourself in a Catholic Church in Scotland. It was being produced, can we decide NOT position where you don’t want to be not representative of my thought and to produce a separate book of the associated with the deeply of most people I know. I was very Gospels? restorationist ideology and practices glad to read Bishop Toal’s Lest there be any misunderstanding, of your parish priest? Where do we subsequent letter which supported I love the Gospels and make them take our passions, gifts, experience the government’s decision and the focus of regular reflection and and willingness to serve? To another distanced itself from the Conference’s meditation. But when the present parish where the same thing might statement. lectionary was being created, the happen? It made me question who had plan was that the first reading and That is the situation I find myself written the Bishops’ statement and the Gospel would be in sync. The in. As I was leading parish groups, I what process of consultation it had second reading was not necessarily felt I had a responsibility not to gone through before it was issued. If thematically connected to the other openly share some of my views. Now it was not agreed by all the bishops, two, but gives us an invaluable I feel suddenly free to do so. who was responsible for imposing insight into the lives of the earliest I’m still Catholic, and I still long to such a statement on the Catholic Christians. With the introduction of share my relationship with God and community in Scotland? It set people the book of the Gospels, we read the help others find God in their lives. I against the government, and imposed first reading reflected by the Psalm, still long to worship God an outdated ideology, falsely dressed the second unconnected reading then communally. I will miss being part of up as orthodoxy, on the Scottish close the book and bring on another my parish community, but I look Church. book containing the Gospel, which is forward to serving and praying in Bishop Toal’s letter was a lifeline, the fulfilment of the message of the ways that do not create an unhealthy and so also was an article by Fr Tom first reading! It seems that we are dependence on the priest. Perhaps Magill in The Tablet. He described a driving a huge wedge between the the restricted situation we find church that looks for the positives in first two readings and the Gospel, ourselves in and the opportunities we our current situation and highlighted when a lot of study and reflection now have to meet virtually with where the Spirit might be leading us. went into the harmonising of the others is a starting point. I certainly It gave me much-needed hope. Liturgy of the Word. will be more open to opportunities to Voices like these have kept me, and I also feel that it is a complete widen my horizons, ecumenically others, hanging on. Where the Spirit anti-sign, or negative and geographically. is leading me, and how I can serve communication, to close the It’s one thing to feel alienated from the church without a parish is lectionary and ‘bung it’ on a your parish by a priest imposing a exciting and terrifying in equal convenient shelf or ledge on the certain ideology on his parishioners, measure. There is something sanctuary. The book of the Gospel is

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 17 carried head high at the beginning of and humanitarian responsibility to including sabeel-kairos.org.uk. Mass. Could the Lectionary be make Covid-19 vaccines accessible Mike Mineter carried in head-high also? for Palestinians in the West Bank and Convener of the Israel-Palestine I know we need no convincing that Gaza, and encourage cooperation by the Gospel is the high-point of the Palestinian Authority’. https:// working group of the Caritas, revelation - we already acknowledge theholyland.org.uk/holy-land-co- Justice and Peace Commission of that by standing up for the ordination-communique-2021/ the St Andrews and Edinburgh proclamation, made by the celebrant, The IHRA’s working definition and Archdiocese and by the unique introduction and illustrations of antisemitism have conclusions. been adopted by some universities, Prohibition treaty Given that the Gospel is already government authorities, Churches included in the lectionary, there is a and, as widely publicised, the Labour On January 22nd there took place a further consideration. How much Party. The document has also been truly momentous event; after decades does a separate book of the Gospel rejected by some. Its use has been of campaigning, we finally Banned cost? I am sure the publishing criticised by one of its authors, the Bomb, and the Treaty on the companies will love the contract. Kenneth Stern, and its flaws are Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Could the money be more gainfully increasing well known. Among these (TPNW) entered into force. It is now spent elsewhere? flaws, there is conflation of prejudice illegal under international law to To quote Dei Verbum: ‘God, the against Jews with criticism of develop, test, produce, manufacture, inspirer and author of the books of Zionism (the political goal of a acquire, possess, stockpile, transfer, both Testaments, in his wisdom has Jewish-only state in the ‘land of use or threaten to use nuclear so brought it about that the New Israel’ where its borders are not weapons. should be hidden in the Old, and defined - a goal entailing settlement This Treaty is ius cogens or that the Old should be made on land where Palestinians live). compelling law; a peremptory norm manifest in the New. For, although This creates a conundrum for the from which there is no derogation Christ founded the New Covenant in Jewish groups and individuals who (like piracy, genocide, or his blood, still the books of the Old criticise Israel’s policies and Nation enslavement), as opposed to Testament, all of them caught up State Law. Recent criticisms of the customary law, where parties have to into the G ospel message, attain and IHRA working document and its make a mutual agreement. show forth their full meaning in the misuse include [https://www. The first country to sign this treaty New Testament and, in their turn, middleeastmonitor.com/20210112- was the Vatican State. The Pope, shed light on it and explain it’. controversial-anti-semitism- along with other faith leaders, is Stephen G Bradley, Newton Stewart definition-not-fit-for-purpose- unequivocal in his rejection of all concludes-new-report/ strategies involving the use of nuclear Call to action on https://www.patheos.com/blogs/ weapons. writingfromtheedge/2021/01/ The Vatican has called on all other Palestine-Israel btselem-apartheid-and-correcting- states to ratify the TPNW ‘as soon as Might I draw attention to several the-ethical-grammar-on-israel- possible’, commending it as ‘an recent publications related to palestine/ ] important step towards a nuclear- Palestine-Israel, including one which One Israeli NGO, B’Tselem recently weapons-free world’. By adhering to calls us to action. published a report naming Israel as the treaty, states formally reject ‘the Despite COVID, the English an apartheid state. [https://www. fallacy that “might makes right” and speaking Bishops sustained their btselem.org/publications/ its pernicious modern corollary that fulltext/202101_this_is_apartheid] commendable pattern of annual some nations have the right to In the summer of 2020 Palestinian communiques about the Holy Land, nuclear weapons while others do Christians issued ‘The Cry for Hope’, this year after a virtual visit. ‘Now is not’, and they affirm that a critical moment for us all to a call for Christians worldwide to act ‘international peace and security strengthen our expression of in solidarity, including by not consist in what supports the common solidarity with the people of the profiting from investments in good of all humanity’. Holy Land not as a vague sentiment business complicit in breaking The pro-Bomb lobby has always but as a “firm and persevering international law such as in the said they believed in multilateralism. determination to commit oneself to oppression of Palestinians and the Here is a chance to prove it. Let all the common good”’.... ‘the illegal settlements. https://www. unite in supporting the TPNW. international community must hold cryforhope.org/. There are many Israel accountable for its moral, legal resources to inform such decisions, Brian Quail, Glasgow

18 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Wisbech Castle, continued wearing his Seven Kinds of People you BOOK REVIEWS habit much to the astonishment of onlookers, a religious habit not having find in Bookshops been seen in England for almost half a Shaun Bythell, Profile Books, 2020. John Chrysostom century. Campbell, Capuchin Influence from the French Court was Wigtown is a small exerted and Campbell was banished in Galloway town in the Stephen Innes OFM Cap 1600. South West corner of Capuchin Province of Great Britain, For his second mission in1606 he Scotland. In early days 2020. 415pp slipped in under cover of it was an important companionship with English diplomat harbour, ferry port and With this impressive Richard Forster, whose family had Royal Burgh but road tome, Fr Stephen Innes conformed to the state Church. and rail networks has put the Capuchins Campbell duly reconciled Forster and largely bypassed the back on the stage of family and from their Yorkshire home town. recusant history. His went on to Scotland to visit his own In 1997, it was named Scotland’s subject is John family in Stevenston. The Scottish Privy National Book Town. The annual book Chrysostom Campbell, Council was made aware of his festival, which began the following year, from Stevenston in lasts for ten days. A number of John Chrysostom presence, but by then John Chrysostom Ayrshire. Three times Campbell. was long gone. buildings have gradually been turned he entered the British In September 1609 he was betrayed by into second hand bookshops. The Isles, three times he was imprisoned, a former aristocratic convert in London latest, Well-Read Books, was opened by three times banished. and imprisoned in the Tower. One of a former colleague after her retirement The book is a biographical trilogy, his fellow inmates was Lord Cobham! from the Bench. She kindly restored each section fortified by an annexe of In 1611 he was released through French order to my overcrowded bookshelves original sources, documents transcribed influence and once more banished. by relieving me of many volumes. and translated from many archives. For his final and longest mission he One of the early Wigtown bookshops, From the first decade of the 17th entered Scotland in November 1613 simply called The Book Shop, was century, there emerges a courageous, with two Jesuit companions, future opened by Shaun Bythell in 2001. He indomitable priest, who at the risk of martyr, John Ogilvie and James Moffat. kept a daily diary of life at his shop his life entered England twice and Unlike them, he escaped detection for which was published as The Diary of a Scotland once. Each return from six years. Bookseller in 2017, followed by banishment was a challenge to the In 1616 he was in Yorkshire for a Confessions of a Bookseller. Jacobean state. His ability to hide from baptism at the Forster’s. But the He has now written a further account, the limelight, except for his first priest-catchers were on his trail and in this time about The Seven Kind of mission, must have infuriated and 1619 he was caught in Berwick. People You Find in Bookshops. He frustrated the authorities. Expenses of £130 were paid for the writes that he brackets his customers The first mission was bound to fail capture and once more he found into ‘broad categories which will because of Capuchin insistence on himself in the Tower. Once again, undoubtedly offend the very people on always wearing the religious habit. He through French influence, he was whom I depend for a living’. Although and his English companion, Benet banished, in 1621. He returned to his he tells us he had an appalling grasp of Fitch, must have made an odd couple, preaching career in Paris. Latin at school, Bythell classifies each trying to wear a secular disguise over it. According to the posthumous edition group under a Latin heading or genus Also, through its excellent espionage of Thomas Dempster’s Historia and subdivides them into a few system, Campbell’s popularity at the Ecclesiastica of 1627, he was living in different types. French royal court was well-known to Belgium and engaged in writing. No He identifies those with noisy children the English government. Both were date or place of death is recorded and as Familia Juvenis, bearded pensioners caught at Sandwich and sent to Henry so once more John Chrysostom as Senex cum Barba, family historians Brooke, Lord Cobham, for Campbell returns to the shadows from as Parentum Historiae Studiosus and interrogation. Campbell and Cobham whence Fr Innes’ dedicated, diligent the not-so- silent traveller is Viator non would meet again a decade later in research rescued him. Tacitus. much altered circumstances. The source material and genealogical One of his least favourites is Petrus, The two Capuchins were separated charts which accompany the book will the expert with specialised knowledge and Campbell was sent to the equip the scholarly researcher to engage and experience, who knows a lot more loathsome London prison, the in more forays into the Capuchin than he does about certain authors or Marshalsea. Here he turned tragedy to mission to the British Isles. Perhaps one works. One such customer paid him triumph with a Mass attended by up to of them might illuminate the last days £800 for a rare collection and later 80 people, 48 of whom were arrested. of John Chrysostom Campbell with a boasted that he had resold it at auction The result was solitary confinement and for £19,000! date and place of death? deprivation of his habit. His companion He is amused when he spots a Benet Fitch, on his way to prison in Malcolm Sinclairn customer swop dust covers so that

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 19 erotica is concealed by 19th century He ends with a frank portrait of the who fits into a Bythell character. They steam engines. second hand bookseller Venditor may be shocked when they realise they The writer also sets out some of his Librorum Antiquorum as ‘completely are looking at their own reflections favourite customers, such as those who devoid of even the most rudimentary (Cogitatio)! quietly demonstrate their love affair social skills’! Lewis Cameron with the book and never argue about Customers who haunt second hand the price. bookshops will now look around to see

FILM

Mank (2020)* Director: David Fincher Screenplay: Jack Fincher Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins Mank, as he was known, was made by the prominent American film director David Fincher. It is the story of Herman Manciewicz, a New York journalist who was lured to Hollywood where he Gary Oldman in the title role. advised his fellow writers to join him because the place was ‘run by idiots’. (Charles Dance) the newspaper tycoon ordinary people, including himself. But The movie starts with a car crash and Louis Mayer (Arliss Howard) what is the difference today? Socialism which confines Herman (Gary Oldman) of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Far from is still a dirty word in America. It may to bed. He has been entrusted by Orson sucking up to such moguls Manciewicz be becoming such in the UK, at least in Welles (Tom Burke) to write the script takes them as all that’s ‘idiotic’ about England. How else can be explained the for Citizen Kane. Up till now it was the film industry of the time. He spends switch in northern England of voters assumed that Welles, in addition to time with Hearst’s much younger from Labour to the Conservatives? It’s doing everything else in Citizen Kane, mistress, Marion Davis (Amanda not that long ago that left wing screen also wrote the script. In fact, the only Seyfried). writers in America were banned by the Oscar the film received was for the A context is offered by the 1934 film industry. screenplay which was jointly awarded attempt by the writer Upton Sinclair Herman had a younger brother, to Manciewicz and Welles. In order (Bill Nye) to win the governorship of Joseph, who appears in the film and to keep Manciewicz on the job Welles California. Hearst and Mayer have who went on to have a very successful provided a case of what looks like him down as a socialist, indeed a career in Hollywood. Herman died only whiskey but is in fact laced with the communist. So they bring the weight of 55 from excess of alcohol. But he wrote sleeping drug Seconal. the press and the media to convince the the text of the most famous film of all Mank is in black and white to give the people of that. Sinclair loses. The sub- time which will be remembered when atmosphere of the 1930/40s. It works text is that Hearst and Mayer treat their the likes of Hearst and Mayer are long through flashbacks which are meant staff, especially their writers, as ‘court forgotten. to show the environment in which jesters’ and therefore as dispensable. *available on Netflix. Manciewicz was working. Mainly this Mankiewicz is appalled that the likes of consists of William Randolph Hearst Hearst and Mayer have such power over Norman Barry

London, its twelve/thirteen members performance. MUSIC have given their vibrant and moving The term ‘stile antico’ means ‘old performances of Renaissance style’. It was coined during the Light from Darkness: polyphony to audiences all over the seventeenth century to describe the world. style of Renaissance church Music for the Season of Stile Antico has no conductor. Its composition epitomised by the music Lent & Easter members rehearse intensively together of Palestrina - polyphonic and to arrive at the group’s musical imitative in texture, strictly controlled Stile Antico is one of the world’s interpretations, and they listen closely in its use of dissonance - as opposed to leading vocal ensembles. Based in and respond to one another’s voices in the ‘modern’ developments in the

20 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 works of Monteverdi and his faithful in the privacy of their homes, Church, Gospel Oak, this is a choral contemporaries. Over the centuries, rather than publicly in churches. recording of remarkable clarity. Stile the ‘stile antico’ came to be seen as an The opening track is Tallis’s psalm tune Antico sing so clearly that one can ideal of musical purity, and composers Why fum’th in fight (the tune famously understand every word of the English such as Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt used by Vaughan Williams as the base and the Latin, which was critically and Bruckner studied it as part of their for his Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas important to the composers themselves, training. It is still taught in universities Tallis) and one can easily see why whose musical phraseology and today. Vaughan Williams was captivated and harmonies display their deep Stile Antico’s performances are often haunted by Tallis’s sonorously dark engagement with the meaning and praised for their immediacy, expressive harmonies. nuance of these sacred texts. commitment, and their sensitive and The Tallis psalm-hymn Come Holy imaginative response to text. These Ghost, Eternal God (Veni Creator) will Stile Antico: Passion & qualities arise from the group’s be instantly familiar to many. It has the Resurrection - music collaborative working style: members simple, direct spiritual intensity of early rehearse and perform as chamber Lutheran compositions. inspired by Holy Week musicians, each contributing The contrastive William Byrd pieces (Harmonia Mundi HMU 807555, artistically to the musical results. are among his greatest works. www.stileantico.co.uk ) All the group’s recordings would Infelix ego is composed on a text by assist contemplation during Lent and the medieval Florentine preacher Easter, but here are two recordings Savonarola. Byrd shows his genius for that seem especially well matched to subtle musical nuance in this piece. this time of year. In his composition Vigilate (‘Stay awake, for ye know not when the Stile Antico: Heavenly Master of the house will come’) Byrd’s Harmonies - William Byrd, musically imitates a cock crowing in the middle of the night, by means of his Thomas Tallis surging, vigorous setting of the word (Harmonia Mundi HMU 807463, ‘gallicantu’ (cock-crow). In the magnificent motet Ne irascaris www.stileantico.co.uk) Domine, (‘Be not angry Lord, and remember not our iniquity for ever. Stile Antico’s 2012 recording presents Behold, see, we are all your people’), musical retellings of the profound events Byrd uses sweetly beautiful, gently of Holy Week. Twelve different pieces plaintive melodic phrases to plead with make up a programme of Easter God. The second part of this motet sets compositions from the greatest English, to astonishing music the words ‘Civitas Flemish and Spanish composers of the sancti tui facta est deserta. Sion deserta Renaissance. It begins with John facta est, Jerusalem desolata est’ (‘Your Skelton’s poem Woefully Arrayed set to holy city has become a wilderness. Zion music by William Cornysh. The words has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a offer a meditation on the Crucifixion. desolation’). For the words ‘Sion deserta The poem is revisited later in the est’, Byrd briefly but arrestingly switches programme in a contemporary setting of Awarded the Diapason d’or and the from the preceding richly-textured the same text by John McCabe Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, polyphonic style to a dark-toned (b.1939), the only modern piece on the Stile Antico’s 2007 recording ‘Heavenly homophony. It is a spine-tinglingly disc. Harmonies’ juxtaposes works by elegiac musical moment. And as Byrd The programme begins with Christ’s Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Tallis’s eases us back into silken, richly-layered enthusiastic reception into Jerusalem nine short, simple, English psalm tunes polyphony we hear the word ‘Jerusalem’ (Gibbons’s uplifting Hosanna to the Son (commissioned for the English sung repeatedly to a yearning, hopeful, of David), followed by the Last Supper Protestant Archbishop Parker’s Psalter) heart-breakingly beautiful musical (Tallis’s soaringly beautiful O Sacrum are alternated with a selection of phrase: only for that phrase to be Convivium), the episode on the Mount polyphonically lush, elaborate Latin completed by the words ‘desolata est’. of Olives (Lassus) and on until the motets and Mass Propers for Pentecost Byrd saw in the psalmist’s depiction of Resurrection. by William Byrd (composed for recusant the sufferings of the ancient, exiled It was also recorded in All Hallows’ English Roman Catholics, and taken people of Israel a clear pre-echo of the Church, creating the sublime, surround- from Byrd’s 1589 and 1591 Cantiones English Reformation’s separation of sound effect that you hear on the disc. sacrae). Both sets of music were English Catholics from Rome. composed to be performed by the Recorded in London’s All Hallows Paul Matheson

February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 21 Obituaries

Archbishop Philip accommodation for them in accordance The data suggested that there would be with their dignity and human rights. around 45 diocesan priests by 2034, and Tartaglia Philip Tartaglia was ordained a priest in an exercise was launched to ask parishes 1975 after attending the national junior how priests might be redeployed. Some (1951-2021) seminary at St Vincent’s, Langbank, St parishes thought the wrong question was Mary’s at Blairs in Aberdeen, and the being asked: the consultation included no Archbishop Philip Tartaglia died on 13th Scots College in Rome. He completed a reference to the role of lay people or the January, the feast of St Mungo, patron doctorate in Rome in 1980 and became possibility of new ways of being church. saint of Glasgow. He was 70 years old vice rector of the national seminary at In 2017, Archbishop Tartaglia caused a and had tested positive for Covid-19. Chesters College, Bearsden, in 1985. Two stir when he accused Scottish Catholics of He was one of nine children born into a years later he was appointed rector. He becoming ‘too wishy-washy’ in standing Scots-Italian family who owned and ran served in parish ministry in Dumbarton up for their faith. In an essay for Crux a fish and chicken shop on Alexandra and Duntocher before returning to magazine, he said that too many believers Parade in Denniston, in the east end Rome as rector of the Scots College in had submitted to ‘secular values’. When of the city. He will be remembered by 2004. The following year he became challenged by secularism, he said, many many for his compassionate response to Bishop of Paisley, and in 2012 succeeded Catholics avoid saying they really believe the city’s tragedies - the helicopter crash Archbishop Mario Conti as Archbishop in anything supernatural. at the Clutha Bar in 2013 and the bin of Glasgow. Archbishop Tartaglia will be lorry crash in George Square just before He was a man of the church. He remembered as a conservative churchman Christmas, 2014. He wept openly with was also, said Bishop Hugh Gilbert, who led the Archdiocese of Glasgow at a survivors and the bereaved. He also who preached at his funeral, a shy and time of great challenge, and as one who spoke out strongly against the forced sensitive man who had to deal with was more comfortable in the church than eviction of asylum seekers in 2019, many pressures. Among them was the the public square. He was, said Bishop saying it brought indignity and suffering growing shortage of priests. In January, Gilbert, someone of gravitas, in whom to the refugees and dismay to the citizens 2014, Archbishop Tartaglia circulated head and heart came together, possessed of Glasgow. He appealed to the Home data to parishes on mass attendance and of intellectual force and clarity and at the Secretary, Priti Patel, to provide decent the number of priests in the archdiocese. same time of great human warmth.

of the Sacred Heart in Craiglockhart the congress, the diocese adopted the Bishop Vincent Logan College of Education, especially his work American pastoral renewal programme, (1941-2021) with Mother McPherson, was a key Renew. Bishop Logan founded the factor in building up the skills of Catholic diocesan newspaper, the Dunkeld News, Vincent Logan, who was Bishop of the teachers at a time of Catholic expansion. and promoted involvement in local diocese of Dunkeld for almost 32 years Many teachers who went along to their radio. He chaired the board of governors before his retirement in June, 2012, well attended evening classes were at St Andrew’s College of Education, died on 14th January. He was 79 and inspired by their approach and the Bearsden, from 1987-1991. had been suffering from the effects of materials they produced. Hopes for the He was bishop of Dunkeld for almost Covid-19. development of a national RE syllabus 32 years, until his resignation in 2012 never materialised. Bishop Logan was born in Bathgate on following illness and mobility problems. In 1981, at the age of 39, Fr Logan 30th June 1941, one of four sons in a His successor, Bishop Steven Robson, was ordained by his former bishop, now said at his funeral that from his earliest committed Catholic family. He went to Cardinal Gray, as Bishop of Dunkeld. days, Vincent Logan wanted to be a St Mary’s College, Blairs and St Andrew’s He was one of the youngest bishops priest. He attended Mass with his mother College, Drygrange, and was ordained in the church. He succeeded Bishop and brothers after their dad went to a priest in March 1964 by Archbishop William Hart, who, after 26 years as work, and was a committed altar boy. Gordon Gray of St Andrews and bishop, was reluctant to hand over His first attempt to put himself forward Edinburgh. Archbishop Gray sent him to responsibility. Bishop Logan’s pastoral for the priesthood resulted in him ‘being undertake further studies in catechetics at priorities continued to be education and chased’ by Canon Davitt, the parish Corpus Christi College, London in 1966- pastoral development. He once said priest, because he was too young - he was 67, during the heady days of student that such pastoral concerns are far more only eleven. But a year later, he went to unrest and the theological ferment of important to the bishops’ ministry than Blairs, and his journey to the priesthood Vatican II. On his return to Edinburgh, management of the institution. began in earnest. Fr Logan was appointed archdiocesan His launched his pastoral programme Bishop Robson said: ‘On 26th February, advisor in Religious Education, where with a rally led by Cardinal Suenens Vincent Logan would have celebrated he led the development of the RE in 1981, in preparation for a diocesan the 40th anniversary of his episcopal programme for Catholic children. He congress held in the Caird Hall, Dundee, ordination and consecration. Forty years became Director of the RE Office in the at Pentecost, 1985. Bishop Logan aimed marks out in time a long pilgrimage with archdiocese, and was Vicar Episcopal for to bring the people of God together - lay Jesus, as a shepherd of souls’. Education from 1977-1981. and ordained - to celebrate discipleship His collaboration with the religious and ministry in the church. Following Mary Cullen

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February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 23 Moments in time OPEN HOUSE For our local walk, we tumbledown walls. The castle was Executive committee: leave Milngavie on the built in the late 14th century for the Jim McManus (chair); West Highland Way Graham family who later became Florence Boyle (Treasurer); through the woods Marquises of Montrose; the most Willy Slavin; Jennifer Stark. beside the Allander notable led the Scottish army which Water, sparkling in the supported Charles the First. A Editor: winter sunshine. After two miles, we mansion was built alongside the Mary Cullen turn right up a steep hill through castle but this burnt down in 1965 [email protected] Mugdock Wood. This is an ancient so most of the remains are of the woodland with gnarled oak trees, as original building. The tower is open Open House is published six times a well as other native trees such as to the public on summer weekends. year. We welcome letters and birch, hazel and rowan. We pause to This is a busy place as the Mugdock contributions, which should be sent to catch our breath and admire the old Country Park Centre is less than a the editor by the last Friday of the trees, many of which have amazing mile away and many people walk month before publication. Articles shapes; despite losing branches and this way. should be no more than 1200 words being blown over, they keep on After visiting the walled garden, we long, and reviews no more than 800 growing. make our way to the loch which words. Letters and articles may be The path passes the ruins of a used to be part of the defences. It woodman’s cottage. Although far edited or held over for future editions. was larger and had an island called from the nearest road, it was Moot Hill where the baronial court The opinions and ideas expressed by all inhabited until the 1950’s, a was held, from which some were our contributors are their own and not reminder that more people used to accepted as those of Open House. live in the countryside in days past. taken to the nearby Gallows Hill. Now it is peaceful and we sit on a It also reveals how valuable an old All correspondence about the content bench overlooking the loch; three wood can be if worked in a of Open House to the editor: swans and a cygnet appear hoping sustainable manner. We come to a Mary Cullen, level section where the path crosses to share our picnic, and in the Ramelton, a boggy area on a boardwalk, which distance we see four goldeneyes, 204 Cardross Rd, would otherwise be quite colourful ducks which have come Dumbarton, G82 5DH. impassable. The path climbs again for the winter. The drakes are Tel: 07909 594797 up uneven stone steps to a gap in a mostly white with green heads, with wall, which separates the wood a white patch and yellow eyes. We www.openhousescotland.co.uk from open parkland at the top. continue along the track through the We pass a grassy clearing which woods and return a different route was recently the site of a medieval past the scenic Mugdock reservoir, Letters and articles village constructed for the film which has supplied Glasgow with Letters and articles for the Outlaw King, about Robert the clean water since 1860. April/May edition should Bruce. We arrive at Mugdock Tim Rhead Castle, also used in the film; now a reach the editor by ruin but one large tower is intact Tim Rhead is a pastoral assistant Friday 26th March. and a gateway and extensive in the Episcopal Church.

Rise to the challenge. If we accept the great principle that there are rights born of our inalienable human dignity, we can rise to the challenge of envisaging a new humanity. We can aspire to a world that provides land, housing and work for all. Fratelli Tutti #127

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24 OPEN HOUSE February 2021