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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)"

Cambridge Evening News article: outlines a "mystery" about the whereabouts of Fr Roy Gathercole. Fr Marsh, Newmarket is to give the congregation an explanation on Sunday.

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.

News cutting - undated; unattributed
2 columns; using text from press release for the article.

"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.

"For the third time in two months, the Pope has given permission for a former Anglican priest to be ordained as a Catholic priest." Comment from Peter Cornwall, one of the earlier priests referred to. Comment by the author on celibacy in the priesthood.

A short report on the permission to be ordained for married man as a Catholic priest.

A report on the permission to be ordained for a married man as a Catholic priest. Date not yet set for the ordination.

2 articles in on cutting

1. Description of the visit by Archbishop Barbarito to the region.
2. Use of laity for vital tasks because the diocese has too few priests. Bishop Clark called a special assembly to discuss the topic. Despite recent ordinations, there is going to be a shortfall of priests.

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.

Assembly at St Bede's School in Cambridge on July 18 wherein the laity and clergy of the diocese of East Anglia will "attempt to solve the problem of a shortage of priests..."

Describes the need for laity involvement in the diocese and the assembly called by the Bishop to consider and address the issue.

pg 1: Clerical appointments by Bishop Clark
pg 2: Appointment of Parish Priests; Appointment of Assistant Priests

This is a collection of documentation about Fr Baker during a period of his differences with his Bishops about the Church's approach to Latin Mass. This includes correspondence, newspaper clippings and published material.

Fr Baker served as a curate at Luton, High Wycombe and Wymondham, Norfolk, before going to Downham Market in 1949. When the New Mass came out in 1969, Fr. Baker refused to say it and continued to offer exclusively the Tridentine Latin Mass as codified by Pope St. Pius V in 1570.

In 1975 Father Baker was suspended by Bishop Charles Grant. Bishop Grant told Fr. Baker not to say Mass in his Church, so Fr. Baker said Mass in his Presbytery instead. With the help of donations a house was purchased for his presbytery and chapel, at 48 Bexwell Road, Downham Market, named the "St. Pius V Chapel". He said Mass there until his death in 2004.
In 1984 he explained that the present Pope was "no more a Catholic than Ian Paisley - and no more a pope than Billy Graham". He added that "the new Mass is a sacrilegious parody of the true Mass: it is sinful to take part in it."

Income 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.

Detailing the immediate consequences of the Decree sent on 20 November:

1. not entitled to live in the Parish house - must be vacated without delay - contact the Bishop for support arrangements
2. not entitled to use the Church - will not evict Fr Baker but will not tolerate him remaining
3. not entitled to administer parochial funds - make arrangements to settle up
4. not entitled to officiate at marriages - any married by you will be in an invalid marriage
5. if celebrating mass in disobedience must make this clear to those attending and handle monies appropriately

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.

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."