The effect of eucharistic exclusion on individuals cannot be underestimated. But whole communities also suffer from eucharistic exclusion due to lack of priests. The result is a slow spiritual starvation and death. We used to have a full church in the village of La Asomada, Lanzarote, 20 years ago. I would hurry there for the fortnightly Saturday Mass when the bell tolled. It tolls no more and though the community has grown in size, only a handful of people turn up. There is an ­apathy affecting the Church. The good bishop belongs to the old school and does not even ordain ­deacons. The parish priest in Tias has seven churches to care for including the very large seaside resort of Puerto del Carmen. Last Sunday he was in hospital, apparently exhausted; some 400 holidaymakers packe