a certain type Church today who bad of us. He is very. very worri His behaviour is characterised more by a blind and frantic zeal than love. And his conversation is a symptom of this —it rattles with such words as
"disloyalty," "repudiate," "false prophets," "neo-Protestantism" and may sometimes even descend to abuse.
I felt a grinding pity for the blustering bewildered Canon who told me that it was all the fault of the Second Vatican Council. My heart goes out to all such sorry souls, who in their terror only add to their own unhappy unease.
Have they not heard the news?
"With God on our side, who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give." (Rom. 8, 31f.) "I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem . . . here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God. His name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone." (Rev. 21, 2-4.) "Know that I am with you always: yes, to the end of time." (Matt. 28, 20.) "I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever . . the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you. Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14, 16 and 26f.) Newman wrote, "I adore Thee 0 my Lord. the Third Person of the All-Blessed Trinity, that Thou hast set up in this world of sin a great light upon the hill. Thou bast founded the Church. Thou hast established and maintained it." (Med. & Dev.) Let all of us really believe in God's promises to the Only, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. With God on our side, who can be against us?
Simon Bryden-Brook, Chairman, Catholic Renewal Movement Birmingham.
Trendy priest
I WAS at an early weekday Mass. The celebrant arrived late and conspicuous in polo neck and smart pearl grey suit (two slits in jacket). Was he, I mused, detained by a road accident. and did a harassed policeman, shooing onlookers from the scene of carnage. refuse to believe his assertion that he was a priest and move him on? Distinctive clerical garb has practical, as well as ascetic. value.
John Biggs-Davison, M.P. House of Commons. of Catholic in our changing ly needs the help of the rest ed.