A CATHOLIC priest-editor who attended the fourth World Conference of Friends held recently at Guildford College, North Carolina. writes in a Quaker magazine of his astonishment at the "dazzling diversity" of views expressed. His impressions appear in the August 18 issue of the Friend, the weekly journal published in I.ondon. John B. Sheerin, C.S.P., editor of the Catholic World of New York, who attended the conference as an observer. writes: "I had previously thought of the Quakers as a sort of free church with liberal leanings, with a marvellous record of accomplishment in the abolition of slavery, prison reform and women's rights as well as in peace education; but I took it for granted that all this was anchored to a firm commitment to belief in the divinity of Christ." He says he was "jolted" to hear one speaker say that some of the deepest Quaker experiences were associated with the Holy Spirit and the figure of Jesus as the Son of God, but that both these terms were to other Quakers but "a colourful poetic depiction associated with the life and status of a man who differed from other men in degree. rather than in kind, and who was divine only in the sense that all men are divine."
"ECUMANIAC"
Sheerin continues: "This was particularly disappointing to me as an 'ecumaniac' because it revealed to me how difficult it will be for some Quakers to accept the World Council of Churches basis of membership which demands belief in the divine Christ." He added that as a Catholic he was "happy with the strong social-action orientation of the conference. For years I have admired the work of the American Friends Service Committee. "For these reasons I found myself very much at home with the 'liberal' Quakers rather than with the Fundamentalist Friends who put a heavy emphasis on the proclamation of the gospel of personal salvation. At the same time, did feel a kinship with the fundamentalists in their stress on the Word of God in Scripture . . "The wide diversity of beliefs expressed at the conference, ranging all the way from secular humanism to fundamentalism, mirrored the disunity of Quakerism underlying the cohesive togetherness of its fellowship , . I would hope that the Quakers, under pressure from the Holy Spirit in the ecumenical movement, might eventually clarify their beliefs and speak out loud and clear."
The adventure
PAMELA FRANKAU, the Catholic novelist, who died in June, aged 59, said in her will, published last week: "I give praise and thanks to Almighty God for the gift of life. I thank my loves, my friends, my acvaintances and my benefactors for helping to make it such a good adventure." She left £14.095 net.
Two successful Vocation Weeks, under the direction of Fr. Antonine Newman, were held recently at Walsingham House, Chingford, Essex, with boys coming from Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, London and Glasgow.
Walsingham House is the property of the Dominican Sisters who, in addition to school work, organise youth activities throughout the year. Overlooking Epping Forest, it makes an ideal place for Vocation Weeks, retreats and conferences.
This year a feature was a meeting of parents and
Cathedral colour brochure
AN illustrated brochure on the opening of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, last May is now obtainable from Mgr. Cyril Taylor, deputy chairman of the ways and means committee of the cathedral. Its title is "A Cathedral for Our Time."
Patrick O'Donovan, who described the opening ceremonies in the CATHOLIC HERA! n of May 19, has written the story of the cathedral, and the 20 colour photographs are by Aird Taylor. They include a twopage picture of the Solemn Consecration on Pentecost Sunday and many fine illustrations of the altars, statues, windows and exterior.
The brochure may be obtained from Mgr. Taylor at 32 Great Georges Road, Liverpool, 22, at 7s. 6d. (by post 8s.) or 1.50 American or Can, than dollars. (Six copies, £2 5s. or 8 dollars by post.) sponsors interested in fostering vocations.
Fr. Newman said that priests and religious—but especially priests—were the responsibility of those who needed their services.
Thirty-six teenage Catholic girls will take part in a Challenge Camp—aimed at helping to prepare them for adult life—at Mount St. Mary's Convent, Wonford Road, Exeter, starting on Tuesday.
Sister Constance of the Presentation of Mary nuns said: "While the camp has been prepared by the Vocation Sisters, Bassett Road,
S. London housing association
THE foundations were laid this week for a new South London housing association which may eventually provide three new flats every week for homeless families. A fiveman committee of businessmen decided to form the South London Family I lousing Association through a merger of five small existing associations in Croydon, Norhury,
Norwood, Peckham and Wandsworth.
The idea for the merger came from Fr. Eamonn Casey, Director of the Catholic Housing Aid Society. In the past three years he has encouraged the formation of more than 50 associations all over Britain—run by volunteers in their spaie time—to house homeless and overcrowded
families. •
"We plan to appoint fulltime professional staff as soon as possible", said Mr. Harold Connor, the Croydon tax official who is chairman-designate of the new association. "Their job will be to buy and convert suitable houses into flats as quickly as they can to meet the pressing need for family homes. They will also manage the 55 flats we will be taking over. Though it is Catholic in origin, the association will not be concerned with a family's faith or race."
London, W.10, it is not intended as an attempt to brainwash the girls into becoming nuns. "It's an attempt to show what is the real challenge for the modern girl by giving her a chance, quietly, to see what sort of life God wants her to live in the present-day world. Whether as a mother and wife, in a career, dedicated to Christ in the religious life, or in any other way as a useful members of the community and the Church."
Bishop Restiepx will celebrate Mass at the camp.
YCS hold study session in Canada
SIX students from England attended the study session in Montreal organised by International Young Christian Students. accompanied by two chaplains—Fr. Michael Collins and Fr. Peter Rudman. The theme was "The Student Vocation in the Face of Underdevelopment." At the opening ceremony the Church in Canada was represented by Mgr. Paul-Emile Charbonncau, Bishop of Hull, and the Quebec Government by Brother Jean-Guy Venue, Director General of Elementary and Secondary Education in the Quebec Ministry of Education. Mr. Pierre Brien welcomed the delegations from 40 countries in the name of the Canadian YCS, and Mr. Francisco del Campo, general secretary of International YCS, in the name of the international movement.
Mayor in march against hunger
COUNCILLOR Bernard
Bligh, the Catholic Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, will join 250 young people next Monday in the Twickenham "youth against hunger" walk. Organised by eight church youth groups of various denominations, the participants will cover 20 to 40 miles by the Thames between Richmond and Walton.