Mgr G R Leonard (PA to Cardinal Hume) writing to ask if Bishop Clark will be able to meet with a delegation from Catholic University of Lublin on 14th May 1983. Denis Corbishley and Cormac Murphy-O'Connor have been asked too. Lists the delegation members; 2 speak English most speak French & German.

Catholic Education - new Bill requires the State to provide a secular education for all those between 5 and 13. This would be obtained by a local board from local rates. The lack of a religious education in these schools is a lost opportunity. A number of noblemen and gentlemen have subscribed nearly £50,000 [calculated as equivalent to £7,614,481.70 today - 18-8-2023]. This is for the erection of schools or hire of rooms. An Educational Committee has been appointed.

List of roles:
Chairman of ECEW
Member of Theological Commission
Chairman of CTS (suspended - but David [Norris?] is pressing me not to make this final)
Walsingham commitments
ARCIC - still rolling on

Enclose accounts for trip to Denmark - fares, conference fees, lodging and food

Suggesting that an individual should go to Oscott or Innsbruck for "deepening". manuscript annotation by Bishop Grant - "I think Oscott - as a convert he still has a lot to learn about the Church in England"). Long explanation about why Bishop Clark circumvented his own processes to spend money on a strip of land which joins up Elmham House to the boundary of the Church and which came up a short notice. He and Fr Connelly paid for it out of income.
All this makes it more desirable to establish a management committee at Walsingham:
himself; Roland [Connelly]; Michael Ward (Solicitor, King's Lynn); Col. Cary-Elwes (Thurton); Philip Browning (Poringland); Mr Jameson (N. Elmham).
Turnover at Walsingham is too large for one man. Expenditure must include an annual repayment to the Diocese to offset the debt.

BCC [British Council of Churches) Working Party's work is independent of the Pope's visit. Its constitution [composition?] to be an Archbishop, diocesan Bishop and an Auxiliary. We are committed to exploring a way ahead with the BCC. WP needs to listen with integrity to measured arguments. Clark suggests himself as secretariat to the group of three - names he suggests are Archbishop Worlock, Bishop Lindsay, Bishop Henderson.

The Joint Working Group WCC/RCC plenary in Rome will have been concluded in time for the Ad Limina on 16 March.
A week just spent in West country and then going for a 2 week cruise round Britain.

Cannot duck the new Joint Working Group's first plenary [re dates for Ad Limina].
Assures the Cardinal he has been consistently fit until the virus came along - spent a week in "Hope House" in Cambridge and apart from catarrh is back on form.

An issue the Bishop has been alerted to by Fr Harry Wace after a letter from a parishioner. Matter involves the decisions made by the Beccles Committee - diocesan needs must be judged by diocesan criteria.

Following their conversation today, Mgr McBride will be getting in touch. Three points:

1. The Executive's decision regarding the Blessed Sacrament is "ad experimentum" for this season. They will re-think if needed.
2. Walsingham Statue Honour Guard - see Mgr Stark's letter - decision remains with the Executive.
3. Will discuss audit with Fr Wilson

For clarity: the Bishop is not a member of the Executive; he thought he'd made that clear from the beginning. Mgr McBride as Vicar General acts in the Bishop's name and that of Fr Peter Wilson. All efforts are to raise funds and channel them into the basic building and basic equipment for the Chapel of Reconciliation. There is no money to finance any other project e.g. the railway track and the organ - we are in a "poverty trap" to some extent.
This should not undermine morale - lesser items come later, if we can't pay for them and consequently lose them, so be it. It is not too late to send an appeal reminder to parish priests.

Mgr Tony Hulme approached the Bishop about being an honorary member of Shrine Council. Need to consult Fr Birch, the Council, the two other Bishops. Already spoken to Canon McBride. Feels there is an obligation to acceded to this.

1. Changes to standard letter head - not quite
2. Many demands in the year hence a gap in replacing Fr Tony Sketch
3. Muriel Phillips as a member of the Shrine Council - fine
4. Eucharistic ministers - Sr Eileen easy to re-commission. Cannot recall Peter Whitlock but there is a wider problem in the Diocese about management of Eucharistic minsters - a register must be kept as in recent Ad Clerums

Acknowledges that Fr Birch is disappointed and irritated, and, the correction to his history. However, there are [outlined] sensitivities in ecumenism, which the bishop as a seasoned ecumenist is aware of, but he cannot agreed to "institutionalise this in the way you wished". Need to trust one another and find joy in that.
Bishop has drafted a preliminary paper for the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Conference (who decide on the agenda for the Low Week Conference)
p.s. Would Fr Birch serve on the Liturgical Commission's Music Committee?

Writing as Chairman of the Executive Committee, having read the report form Tony Snelling of Dunlop Heywood. The Shrine should operate within its means and not get into a position of indebtedness to the Diocese in the foreseeable future. This proposal would cost at least £300,000m, which would have to be borrowed and paid for. He recalls saying that funds should be built up for maintenance and hopes his position is clear and that he carries the Administrator and the Shrine Executive with him.

Does not rule out the twinning idea but emphasises that Walsingham is the National Shrine. No decision until the Shrine Council is consulted and perhaps the Hierarchy Meeting. It is an excellent idea but the Bishop has reservations unconnected with a shrine in the Holy Land.

Confirmation of invitation for post and your acceptance of it. The Executive Council will consult with you over the responsibilities and powers as well as salary. You known expertise will be required to halt the alarming drift into insolvency and you will have commensurate authority.

pg 1& 2: Pastoral Letter
pg 3: Letter to Clergy: Rev John Bell RIP; Application format for Mixed Marriages; Committee for the relief of Wives and Children of Soldiers going East.

From the committee, Bishop Guazzellli, Chairman.
Pope Paul's appeal to world governments to make the Holy Year a general year of amnesty. This committee will get the message to the Government. During 1975 the committee hopes to aid clergy and laity and asks Bishops to recommend their service to those in the diocese.

Covering letter for notes on the proposed Commission for World Religions. Asking Bishop Clark to review and comment (sent to others: Canon Stewart, Bishop Alexander, Bishops of the Mission Commission). Also suggesting that a member of the BCC Inter-Faith Committee be invited to join the commission ex-officio - ecumenical aspect needs greater stress. Will be thinking about the possible members.

Write on his behalf to the correspondent asking about an Education Committee decision relating to her daughter who after a means test must pay all fees. Bishop p.s.: Pity to bother the Bishop - Fr Brookes should have written to her.