Our Priesthood - we are called to rise up with our new Bishop, state of priesthood in Ireland, evolving role of the priest; settlement with Inland Revenue, we should all pay our taxes, all expenditure requires a receipt, "I could seldom be content in what we were and always longed for shared vision of what we should be. I don't think we have done too badly"
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)The Great Triduum; Walsingham and Easter TV Mass, parish participation in Diocesan Pilgrimage; The Permanent Deacon - guidance of Mgr J Drury and Mgr Tony Philpot, 3 year training programme being established; The Place of Women in the Church - promotion of women in the life of the Diocese and parishes, woman priests a last straw for our anglican brothers; Anglican Reconciliation - not easy for either side; New Financial Responsibilities; We, the Priests - brutal attack on Fr Michael Clothier in Beccles, Paul Hypher ordination in 1994, Mgr Michael Cassidu as Emeritus Chancellor; The Diocesan 'Team' - next Bishop will be reassured by the 'service to the Diocese'; More? - Bill Mason to be ordained as our second former anglican priest
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)The Lenten Letter - from the Holy Father, fear that events may impose a yet mopre rigorous call to fidelity; This Lent 1994 - not so an"awful" Lent as some think, concious of distress and pain of living true to our vocation; 14th May 1994 - 50th anniversary for the Diocese, 50 years of priesthood; Our Priests - Harry Wace, Peter Cansdale, ordinations at OLEM Cambridge, currently no candidates for the priesthood; Maundy Thursday Letter - Eucharist is the heart of the priestly life
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)EA 1994 - the disciplining of our own, a need for wisdom, ingenuity and vision; You? - ; "Hurting" - would not say "he is hurting with Christ", need to re-order the geography of our parishes, response from the laity is overwhelming; Me - I have had to drive you hard, you have been kind to me; Death; Present Difficulties - new priests come next year, refer matters of serious child abuse to Philip Shryane; Postlude, St Nicholas Day - death of Fr Charles Howarth SM in a road accident, pray for Fr Tony Seely who slipped and tore a ligament
Inserted page: "Strictly Confidential to the Priests of East Anglia" - provision to cover legal fees for good lawyers and Accountants
Bishop Clark 's pastoral letter for Sunday 2 March 1986 appeals for men to offer themselves for the priesthood. Currently, 125 priests serve in the diocese with 11 in training. More priests are needed as numbers of priests decline and the Catholic congregation increases - from 65,000 ten years ago to 80,000 now.
Dowsey, Gary Rev (1955-)Fr baker had issued detailed directives about what women could wear. The Bishop thought that a general directive might be more adequate - he had no idea of the lead up which horrifies him. "In many ways this miserable affair has only just begun" but your bishops are trying to find a solution compatible with Catholic faith - likely to be firm action.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Acknowledges that he had read the Downham Market article and advised others to read it. The holiness of Fr Baker is for God to judge but his ministry leaves a lot to be desired; have tried to contain this because of the hurt and scandal its disclosure would cause; this assumption of holiness hurts other priests in the area. "It is appalling that Downham Market has associated itself with the Abbe of Nantes."
Short discussion of Apostolicae Curae; leave off the offensive "final decision" from the front cover.
The proceedings of Oxford was kept completely confidential but the last sentence of the press release is a "humble and abiding confidence in what we are doing."
"..It is only just to you to hear from me the extent of the reasons why this change in the status of Downham Market has been judged imperative by both the Bishop and myself."
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Detailing the immediate consequences of the Decree sent on 20 November:
- not entitled to live in the Parish house - must be vacated without delay - contact the Bishop for support arrangements
- not entitled to use the Church - will not evict Fr Baker but will not tolerate him remaining
- not entitled to administer parochial funds - make arrangements to settle up
- not entitled to officiate at marriages - any married by you will be in an invalid marriage
- if celebrating mass in disobedience must make this clear to those attending and handle monies appropriately
"The Vatican has granted permission for another former Anglican clergyman, a married man, to be ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church." Mr. John Heley was CofE vicar at St Edmund's Hunstanton.
Permission had also been given for two other former Anglican ministers earlier in the year.
2 versions on the same press release
pg 1 for non-weeklies e.g. EDP, Anglia TV - first paragraph: " Roman Catholics from three counties are meeting next month for the biggest ever assembly to be staged by the Diocese of East Anglia."
pg 2 for "weeklies"; first paragraph: "Wisbech [this word to be changed to suit locality] Roman Catholics are joining parishioners from three counties at the biggest ever assembly..."
Describes the need to develop a five-year strategy to alleviate the impact of the falling number of priests by inviting the laity to undertake particular roles. Mgr Paul Hypher is the assembly's coordinator.
pg 1: Clerical appointments by Bishop Clark
pg 2: Appointment of Parish Priests; Appointment of Assistant Priests
Went to Downham for the Mass and stayed a week. Why do you persecute a priest because he refuses to be a heretic? 5 years ago deviant behaviours (pop masses, dancing masses...) would have resulted in excommunication on the spot. Who is right Fr Baker, or those in a free for all.
Copied to Cardinal Heenan, Apostolic Delegate, Bishop Grant
Concerned about the saga concerning Downham Market. Great respect for Fr Sketch in the short time he has been with the parish he has cone a great deal. There are many who feel that Fr Sketch is well able to tackle the problem.
CorrespondentIncome in the parish has increased - so, not living on a "pittance". Willing to accept position as a curate so that the parish priest from Swaffham does not have to travel to Downham. His weekly visit to the convent in Swaffham means he could easily report to the PP. Changes would be detrimental to this parish. Suggest that any priest free to officiate do so at Oxburgh instead. Not impelled to move; willing to stay.
Baker, Oswald Charles Rev (1915-2004)On 16 December 2018 Fr Pat Clearly marked 40 years since his ordination. He was also installed as Parish priest at Our Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury in Wymondham.
The Catholic Universe (1860-2021)1 email; 3 URLs; 1 attachment
"A Roman Catholic priest from March has voluntarily stepped down while he is investigated for historic child sex abuse claims relating to his former ministry in Peru." story continues.
[NB. RCDEA statement is here: https://www.rcdea.org.uk/safeguarding-statement-regarding-rev-michael-ryan/ accessed 24-9-2022]
Given by Fr Dowsey: The assistant priest at Newmarket is now on indefinite leave from the diocese after discussions with Bishop Clark.
manuscript annotation: "Statement issued for the 'News of the World' (Wed April 17 1985)"