FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
BY its disobedience to recent episcopal orders, the Dutch Students Parish in Amsterdam has manoeuvred itself into a position isolated from the 'bishops and the Dutch Catholic Church. This situation has been confirmed by Bishop Theo Zwartkruis, of Haarlem, who has definitely CUL all ties with the Amsterdam Students' Parish by withdrawing his representative from the parish board.
Provincial Jan van Deemen of the Jesuit Order also withdrew his representative from the board.
The measures follow upon the September statement of Bishop Zwartkruis, in which he said that the four students' pastors no longer worked under his responsibility. This statement, formulated in a mild terminology, came on the same day that Huub Oosterhuis„ a former Jesuit and married 'last Spring, celebrated Mass after the Students' Parish Community had voted he could do so.
Bishop Zwartkruis' attitude towards the Amsterdam Students' Parish has been well received by the majority of the Dutch Catholics, who on several occasions have expressed their full confidence in their bishops' leadership, but demanded a clear course.
Well informed observers have noted remarkable changes in the attitude of the Catholic Community of the Netherlands. According to them Dutch Catholics have not changed their thoughts about the necessity of renewal, but their open attitude is more and more marked by a strong loyalty to their bishops. This has been confirmed by recent Opinion Polls, which have shown that the Dutch Catholics do not wish to go arbitrarily their own way, but want to stay loyal within the Universal church.
ACTION GROUP Typical of this development is the foundation last year of the Action Group Universal Church, which follows a moderately progressive course and claims the support of about 70 per cent-or even moreof Dutch Catholics.
Observers also believe that there is a clear psychological change in their attitude towards experiments. Formerly experimenters could calculate in advance on their sympathy. Now Catholics are inclined towards a more wait-and-see attitude, and the progressives have been pushed on to the defensive.
Eucharistic centre for Liverpool
THE Blessed Sacrament . Fathers have agreed to take over responsibility for St. Augustine's, Great Howard Street, and will shortly be establishing there a centre for eucbaristic devotion. The priests who are coming will be: Fr. R. Huot (superior), Fr, T. McNevin and Fr. P. Roothaan.