Heart condition - Fr McCormick was in hospital for a few days following a suspect coronary, which turned out to be an erratic heartbeat.
The Administrator of The Child Protection and Welfare Society requires professional people to be paid at an appropriate level and will incur significant travel and subsistence expenses. He suggests that the Bishop should consider these issues for this post and therefore Fr McCormick submits his resignation being neither trained nor experienced in this subject area. He requests a parochial position instead.
The Bishop will be aware that there is a DHSS (Department of Health and Social Security) investigation into the Society over allegations made against members of staff.
Sending the Bishop a list of the Travelling Mission's commitments. Also has engagements for his illustrated talk on the work of the Mission. Requests reasonable notice for any changes pending.
Attached are three pages listing dates, times, venues for the TM visits.
Good news that the eye surgery date is fixed for the Bishop.
Item 3 in the Ad Clerum 7/75 - Travelling Mission (TM) - an example of why there was cynicism in the Deanery meeting, decisions are made without consultation. The small committee to discuss this matter was to have its first meeting on 18 November. The next paragraph discusses the value of the TM for small parishes in the time of a priest shortage.
The blunt statement in the Ad Clerum about the TM makes it more difficult to take future consultation seriously.
Second matter is about the doxology of the Eucharistic Prayers - how can one stop the congregation from spontaneously joining in, as they have been doing so for many years? More the spirit of the law than the letter of the law.
Off to USA for his annual holiday but hopes the Bishop won't take a rigid line on the second matter and put priests in a very embarrassing sitiuation with their congregations.
Suprise to learn from the Ad Clerum that the decision [to close the Travelling Mission] had already been taken. Copy of letter to Bishop [Grant] enclosed. "Who is going to write the book on CONSULTATION?" The other item in his letter to Charles is another prize example.
Taylor, Paul Aloysius Rev DD MA ( -2002)