An order of Benedictine nuns based in Marble Arch, London, will this month officially open the childhood home of their foundress as a chapel and a centre of pilgrimage. Maison Garnier in Grancey-le-Cha^teau, Burgundy, France, will be formally opened during a Mass on 15 August – 180 years to the day after Mother Marie-Ade`le Garnier, the foundress of the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre, often known as the Tyburn Nuns, was born. The order purchased the French property just months after Bishop Joseph de Metz-Noblat of Langres, France, placed Mother Marie-Ade`le on the road to sainthood.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was due to produce its report on Ampleforth Abbey and Downside Abbey as The Tablet went to press. In June, lawyers acting on behalf of sexual abuse survivors called on the inquiry’s chair, Professor Alexis Jay, to produce urgently an interim report on the Catholic Church, saying it is “structurally, culturally and doctrinally incapable of implementing and enforcing the minimum standards of safeguarding”. Lawyers said that following a three-week hearing into the English Benedictine Congregation last December, the inquiry had “heard enough” to issue a report.
The Church needs to confront its teachings on issues such as celibacy, female ordination, its theology on sexuality and its hierarchical structure, otherwise it will continue to decline into irrelevance, Fr Kevin Hegarty has warned.
In an address to the annual Magill Summer School in Co. Donegal, the Co. Mayo priest said that the Church’s ban on female ordination “is misogyny, parading as theological abstraction”. Speaking to The Tablet, Fr Hegarty said he and other priests were prepared to flout the Vatican’s attempt to close down the discussion on the matter.
The popular Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has confirmed he will perform at the Festival of Families in Dublin for Pope Francis and 70,000 pilgrims on 25 August.
The renowned singer joins a host of national and international musicians and performers at the Croke Park event, which is one of the highlights of the Ninth World Meeting of Families, taking place from 21-26 August.
Bocelli, a devout Catholic, said it was “a joy to be able to offer my most modest contribution on the occasion of this grand meeting and moment of reflection about the family. The family remains the strongest building block of society, a cluster of affection, and a privileged space in which one can teach and learn – in every action – how to choose a life that leads towards the greater good.” Other performers already announced for the event include Riverdance, Daniel O’Donnell, The Priests, The Holy Family Deaf Choir and the DeafTones, and Moya Brennan, as well as a 1,000-strong choir and 100 community groups. Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Ireland will take place over the last two days of the World Meeting of Families.
A Scottish Catholic headteacher has been appointed the chief commissioner for Scouts Scotland, the first time a Catholic has taken on the role. Andrew Sharkey is headteacher of St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian. Following his installation at the Blair Atholl Jamborette last week, Mr Sharkey said he was looking forward to his role and to helping Scouts Scotland “better reflect the diversity of our communities and getting Scout groups started in areas that currently don’t have Scouting, particularly in our more deprived communities”. He emphasised the inclusivity of Scouting, saying that “we support our members to engage with spirituality in an exciting and meaningful way. Scouts Scotland is open to people of all faith backgrounds and none.”
A Church of Scotland minister has urged the home secretary to visit his parish and “look desperate asylum seekers in the eye and start to care”. The Revd Brian Casey extended the invitation to Sajid Javid after Serco, the company contracted by the Home Office to provide housing, announced plans to evict more than 300 people in Glasgow who have been denied asylum by the UK government.
In a letter to Mr Javid, he wrote: “It would be absolutely unconscionable to think that human beings, no matter what legal status they may have, are tossed out on the street, children included, to live an uncertain future in a city they regard as home.” He continued: “The people of Glasgow care and I would ask that you and your department start to care too.”
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