Letters to the editor

Topic of the week – New ways to revive our cathedrals

Having recently published the first comparative academic empirical study of Catholic and Anglican cathedrals, I was struck how Ian Dunn (“Danse macabre”, 16 November) had got lost comparing them to nightclubs.

Salford will soon be the first net zero cathedral. Arundel still runs a wondrous flower festival, the Narthex at Norwich new hospitality, Brentwood the Migrants’ Mass. Relics, pilgrimages, huge multi-channel Catholic school Masses add to visitors nationally, alongside Leeds’ support of choirs across the north. Every cathedral serves the poor or facilitates justice and peace work.

At Liverpool Anglican Cathedral current research is revealing the thousands who leave prayers who “don’t believe” alongside those who do. The Cathedral has a new partnership with Liverpool Hope University and a canon for science, reflecting the nearby world-class cluster of research institutions for tropical health.

Dunn’s cathedral despair is regrettable given the empirical good news to be found.

(PROF.) FRANCIS DAVIS
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

I felt the condemnation of discos in cathedrals was rather discriminatory. Whilst not a fan of this amorphous style of dance, I do not see anything evil or pathetic about dancing in a consecrated place. At various times I have embraced ballroom, flamenco, raqs sharqi and sabar. I have often imagined doing the square tango round my church to a suitable hymn or mantra.

Yet the experience of dancing in church myself was slightly accidental. I was a member of the church choir for many years. Once at Christmas, during my raqs sharqi period, our choir had rehearsed the well-known folk rendition of Gaudete, Christus est natus. We decided to use a bit of percussion to add interest.

By Christmas morning there were reduced numbers. As we were fairly invisible, I decided to employ my swishy girdle of coins and finger cymbals for the percussion interest.

Anyone who has been a church musician knows that during Mass your mind is fully occupied by making sure you know what the priest is doing at any given moment and getting the next pieces of music ready.

I realised half-way up the aisle to Holy Communion (the choir went first) that the swishy girdle of coins was still around my hips – making that rhythmic tinkly sound in time to every step. In my oriental dancing class we had been taught how to do a walking step with swish – well, I did it. Nobody complained.

HELEN NATTRASS
CANTERBURY

US Catholic vote

Stephen Schneck’s article (“What happened to the Catholic vote”, 16 November) was excellent. While he doubts the existence of a distinct Catholic vote, I believe it’s real. Trump softened, but did not abandon his pro-life stance, with Melania in the wings appeasing some pro-choice voters.

Schneck correctly links a single-issue focus to polarisation, but abortion is the one topic that could impel an ordinary Democratic voter to switch sides. The recommendation by Pope Francis to choose the “lesser evil” was significant, helping to
legitimise reluctant Trump voters.

The Democrats’ relationship with Catholics goes beyond “lofty neglect”. It’s worse than that, as exemplified by Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan seeming to mock communion, and Vice-President Kamala Harris skipping the Al Smith dinner for Catholic charities, sending a jokey video instead.

The Wikileaks revelations helped Trump to win the Catholic vote in 2016 and the even higher Catholic vote share for Trump in 2024 must have disappointed President Biden. The irony is that Biden – the ultimate public Catholic – consistently advanced “progressive” policies in conflict with Catholic teaching, yet he was apparently unconcerned about the disconnect.

MICHAEL SANFEY
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE, FLORENCE, ITALY

Sixty years ago in the US adultery would have ended anyone’s political career, not racism. Today both adultery and racism propel one into the highest office of the land. The silence of the Catholic bishops of the US throughout the whole election cycle spoke volumes.

(FR) PAUL O’CONNELL
HINESVILLE, GEORGIA, USA

Inside for life

The Tablet has a fine record of publishing articles on the state of prisons and life therein. As an ex-prisoner, I congratulate The Tablet on its courage in publishing its latest article by David Shipley (“Lessons from inside”, 16 November). Courage because of its exceptional honesty in describing the deprivation, violence and squalor in which prisoners often live.

As a Listener (a prison Samaritan), I, all too often, encountered prisoners who were so desperate that suicide appeared to them to be their only remedy. Now, some years on, synthetic cannabinoids, known as Spice, have become so easily available in prison as to provide an alternative route to the relief from physical and emotional stress that unconscious oblivion (and sometimes death) brings.

But, while I rejoice that the present government has set up an inquiry under David Gauke to look into sentencing policy in the UK, I deplore that it has rejected the recommendations of the previous parliament’s Justice select committee. That committee submitted an excoriating report on the barbaric scandal of the plight of the nearly 3,000 IPP (Imprisonment for public protection) prisoners, detained indefinitely under legislation ended as inhumane in 2012.

Very many of those prisoners are already more than 10 years over tariff, with minimal hope of ever being released. IPP sentences bring to those who receive them the death of hope, just as surely as a terminal diagnosis.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Welby fall-out

Now that Justin Welby has resigned, albeit at the 11th hour and after considerable pressure, perhaps it is time for the Catholic Church to look at itself. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in 2020 seriously criticised Cardinal Vincent Nichols. It found more than 3,000 complaints of child sexual abuse against more than 900 individuals connected to the Church, though the scale of the abuse was likely much higher.

The report stated that the Cardinal did not always exercise the leadership expected of a senior member of the Church, at times preferring to protect the reputation of the Church. It added that Cardinal Nichols had shown no acknowledgement of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change. Nor did he demonstrate compassion towards victims in the recent cases examined.

It is true that Cardinal Nichols did offer his resignation to Pope Francis. But this is where matters are somewhat obscure. The Cardinal was obliged to offer his resignation to Pope Francis as he had reached the age of 75. As is quite usual, the Pope asked the Cardinal to stay on until a successor was found. What is not clear is whether the Cardinal informed the Pope of the very serious criticism that had been made against him.

It seems incredible in 2024, after so many cases of abuse and so many “apologies”, that church leaders have not been held to account. It would appear that the tipping point for Justin Welby came when the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle called for him to stand down. It is note-worthy that the Catholic bishops have stayed silent as regards Cardinal Nichols.

CHRIS WILCOCKS
GRAVESEND, KENT

The article on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s successor (“Succession”, 9 November) missed out the real elephant in the room. Why, in a modern, secular, diverse society, do we still have an “established Church”? This causes two major problems. First, ordinary taxpayers have to pay for the upkeep of the Church of England; and second, it is still run by the state.

It is surely absurd that the Church “suggests” the name of a new archbishop to the prime minister, who then advises the King. If the Church of Rome can elect its leader, why can’t the Church of England?

RUSSELL SPARKES
LONDON SW14

‘Assisted dying’

Father Peter Montgomery (Letters, 9 November) makes points worth pondering. Is it, however, the “moralising tone” of the Church that puts people off, or is it that the content of church teaching is sometimes difficult? In which case, it is not just the moral teaching, I would suggest, but some of the theological doctrines that are difficult. But perhaps they need to be, because they are.

In the case of assisted suicide, however, we don’t have to resort to church teaching to see that there is something wrong with the state sanctioning doctors to help patients to kill themselves. Father Montgomery talks of “the dread of pain and the loss of personal agency”, but this is to buy into the propaganda of those who want to change the law, who frequently speak of the current “horror show” that surrounds the “agony” of dying.

This is a very different story from the one that can be told by palliative care – a story that would be even more hopeful with increased funding and research. I’m afraid Father Montgomery is wrong to put his scare quotes around “suicide”. Suicide (self-killing) is what it is. “Assisted dying” is the euphemism.

(PROF.) JULIAN C. HUGHES
BRISTOL

Women won’t wait

Austen Ivereigh’s long report from the Synod (“The Church at a turning point”, 2 November), concludes that “questions relating to ministries, especially of women” have yet again been kicked into the long grass. He speaks of “the reality of women already exercising jurisdictions and ministries” – does that include flower arranging and polishing the brass?

Cardinal Fernandez says he is aware that women feel sidelined and not listened to because they are not part of the clergy, adding that women were not asking to be ordained, and that clerical status would be an encumbrance. I haven’t met a woman yet who would agree with that.

Not to lessen the generous gifts so many women already give without recognition, it is only ordination – at any level – that gives women true authority, credibility and equality with men in the Church. Listening to women is important, but discernment must be followed by action.

Ivereigh says that “change will come quietly, over time …” That says it all: the Church won’t change where women are concerned, because men like things the way they are.

HOLLY BALL
HEREFORD

Environmental cost

After the first Sunday of Advent existing lectionaries and Missals in the 3,000 or so parishes in England and Wales will be redundant. Have our bishops considered the environmental consequences of their decision?

JOHN BOLAND-LEE
NOTTINGHAM

Blair’s word salad

Re Catherine Pepinster’s highlighting of Tony Blair’s cringeworthy prose: “honey is better than vinegar, unless tossing a salad” (Speed reading, 2 November). Honey mixed with vinegar, chopped garlic and red chilli, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil does make a delicious dressing.

ANDREW DOUBT
LEICESTER