NEWS IN BRIEF

Suenens' visit
CARDINAL Leon Josef Suenens, retired Archbishop of Malines-Brussels, arrived in England today to take part in the Diamond Jubilee of the Legion of Mary in England and the centenary of the birth of its founder, Frank Duff. The cardinal will also be attending events of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary of which he is patron.
THE survival of the Gregorian Chant in Scotland has been ensured by the formation of the Scottish Gregorian Chant Group which meets each week in Glasgow to rehearse and sing the monastic offices. Those interested in joining in should contact John Di Mambro on 0698 373247.
CHESTER Catholic High School's under-16 football team has won the English Schools FA Cup Final, an achievement that has earned them the Nabisco Trophy. 2,500 schools entered the competition and this is the first time a Cheshire school has won the competition, Chester Catholic High School beat Emerson Park School, Hornchurch, Essex 1-0 with the winning goal a penalty.
THE National Association of Ovulation Method Instructors has announced that its Chief Instructor, Kathleen Green of Bournemouth, is to be presented with the Rene Merenti medal for her work in teaching the Billings Method of Natural Family Planning.
A NEW course written by eight Christian denominations aimed at training volunteer youth leaders was officially launched this week by Cardinal Hume. Speaking about "Spectrum", as the new course is called, the cardinal said "I welcome this inter-church venture in youth work. 11 shows the churches' commitment to ecumenism and demonstrates how important it is to help young people to understand their faith. . ."
CHURCH Action on Poverty is supporting the Charter for Fair Local Tax launched this week by the Poll Tax Forum, an organisation of churches, charities and voluntary agencies opposed to the new tax. The charter recommends that the Poll Tax be based on ability to pay, that the level of local tax should be determined by locally elected representatives, and that the operation of the tax should not discourage people from voting.
THE Catholic Third World charity CAFOD and the Catholic Women's League Relief and Refugee Committee are among the organisations backing the British Refugee Council Refugee Manifesto launched this week. The manifesto calls on European governments to give refugees a fair deal in the new Europe post 1992.
A CHURCHES Support Group which is trying to organise food and shelter for the recent influx of Kurdish refugees into north east London (see report opposite) is asking for practical and financial aid from concerned Catholics. Information may be obtained from; Mr Michael Feeney, Social and Pastoral Action, 73 St Charles Square, London SW10, telephone 01 969 9073.