"..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)Page 1: Statement by Bishop Clark made to the editor of The Catholic Herald (instead of the answers given in page 2).
Page 2: Written questions for Bishop Clark - manuscript answers
Requesting that he attends in Northampton to discuss the situation in Downham Market and that of Fr Baker. Having put the Bishop off at the last moment, the Bishop says that he expects Fr Baker to attend next week.
Grant, Charles Alexander Rev LCL BA (1906-1989)Compliments slip: Bishop Secretary: "Tony Sketch will arrange to deliver the enclosed - less the carbon - to all Downham Market parishioners when he distributes his invitations to the real Mass."
Page 1: letter to the congregation at Downham Market - explaining, now that the legal procedure is over, the sorrow he feels in acting against Fr Baker. Obedience to the Holy Father means accepting the changes away from the Tridentine Mass. Expects support for Fr Sketch. Notes of explanation included.
Page 2-3: Notes headed: "1. Your present position"; "2. The Missal of Pope Paul VI"; "3. The Bishop's dealings with Fr Baker"
Expectation that priests and laity obey and respect the Pope and Bishops and celebrate Mass and Sacraments in the Church's way. Warning against attending an unofficial Latin Mass. Establishes that Archbishop Lefebvre and supporters are opposed to Vatican II and are operating outside the orders of the Pope and Bishops. To attend their Mass is to risk parting company with the Pope and the Catholic Church.
Lindsay, Hugh Rev (1927-2009)Invited to offer the traditional Mass at Newcastle on 8 August. Telling the Bishop through courtesy following his admonition in the Catholic Press. Questions whether his reasoning can be found by the Bishop to be at fault. Offers Fr Wathen's "The Great Sacrilege" as an non-refutable authority. Fr Baker is trying to do God's Will - not defiant to authority but does not agree with the requirement for blind and unquestioning obedience.
Baker, Oswald Charles Rev (1915-2004)The proposed Mass has no ecclesiastical authority - Fr Baker has not sought leave to offer Mass. Despite Fr Baker's defence of following his conscience he has overlooked the duty to educate his conscience - cites a few examples. Bishop says the Fr Baker is neglecting the guidance of Vatican II, the Pope, Bishop Grant and Bishop Clark. Even if you cannot accept these, consider deeply before leaving Downham Market to share your personal difficulties in other dioceses.
Lindsay, Hugh Rev (1927-2009)Fr Baker celebrated Mass without approval in the old rite without permission, preached without faculties and heard confession in an unsatisfactory conditions. He is reported as saying "Since the Vatican Council there have been two churches, one of which is the modern one with new doctrines, new morality, and new liturgy. They can't excommunicate me for that Church because I have never been a member of it. But I intend to remain loyal to the real Church." He has been on radio and television and has caused us considerable embarrassment. Can you persuade him to remain in Downham Market; he intends to return in the next month?
Lindsay, Hugh Rev (1927-2009)Photocopies of local press coverage about Fr Baker inaugurating a Tridentine Mass centre in Newcastle.
page 1: Article: Rebel priest to celebrate Latin Mass; Article: Booted out but unrepentant; letter: Oath of Loyalty
page 2/3: article: Old faith alive in the North
page 3: article: A choice of Masses today
page 4: article: North Catholics defy their Bishop
Asks Fr Baker not to make another public trip to Newcastle. Fr Baker has broken Church laws. If Fr Baker has trouble with the Novus Ordo Mass then he can say it in the former rite "sine populo" [without the people] - do this and no more. Better to stay in Downham Market
Lindsay, Hugh Rev (1927-2009)"The following letter will be sent to Fr X in the unlikely event of his becoming a Bishop".
Headings:
No excuse for Their Lordships
Time-serving opportunists
Orthodoxy not enough
Men wanted
The significance of Cardinal Beaton
Episcopal Virtues
Masonry's Influence - Yesterday and Today
The Bishop's Cross
What the Cross Implies
Clericalism before Vatican 2...
...And After
The "Renewalist" Thesis
Episcopal Naivete
Pluralising the Sin of Adam
An article by Fr Bryan Houghton
"This article is not written to prolong the needless controversy but to bring out the real issue which lies behind the differences between Father Baker and his Bishop...."
Presumable produced as an educational document.
A commentary, with examples from the media, of a media story relating to Bishop Roderick Wright (d. 2005) of Argyll and the Isles. The story was triggered by his disappearance at the same time as a woman from his parish. The media followed the story relating it to clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church and produced a number of headlines and cartoons.
"Nearly 80 priests and 500 young people will join the Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, Rt Rev Alan Clark, at St John's Cathedral, Norwich, on Monday, February 11th to celebrate his 40 years in the priesthood."
Short biography of Bishop Alan Clark. Fr Philpot to give the address.
3 columns plus image of Bishop Clark seated at a desk, pen in hand. The article is based on the press release.
Eastern Evening News (1882-)Parishioners from around the Diocese will converge on St John's Cathedral for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Bishop Clark's 49 years in the priesthood.
Mention of his role as co-chair of the Anglican/Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).
2 columns of text; 1 image. The article is based on the press release.
Eastern Daily Pressvery short note about Bishop Clark's message for Lent
Eastern Evening News (1882-)[undated; unattributed]
Image of Bishop Clark with Bishop Escaler of the Philippines visiting Norfolk to say thanks for the diocese's support for CAFOD.
Image of Bishop Clark with Bishop Escaler of the Philippines visiting Norfolk on the 25th anniversary of CAFOD. Said Mass at St John the Baptist, preached at Thetford, held a question and answer session.
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