A letter from Donald Bryant in the Catholic Herald of March 16 asks whether any steps have been taken towards the beatification and cananisation of BishopRichard Challoner the double centenary of whosc death falls on January 12. 1981.
On reading the article in the Catholic Herald by Fr B. C. Scantlebury of Basingstoke, I wrote to him and learnt that only half-a-dozen others had done so. I also discovered IC) my surprise that no official steps had yet been taken to introduce the venerable bishop's cause.
However, in company with my friends, Tony Hilton (of "North West Catholic History") and Bernard Pickering, who is writing a thesis on some of Challoner's works, we have founded a Challoner Society to work for the cause.
This was announced in "London Recusant", Vol 7. Number 1, ca 1911, and new information on where he lived appeared in the same journal. Vol 6, Number I. of 1976, aS "The Good Bishop's Castle — The Residences of the London Vicars Apostolic."
When such a beatification cause is introduced it is necessary to send to Rome copies of the candidates writings, and I have undertaken to trace and to have transcribed all Challoner's letters, some of which were gathered by his biographer, Canon Burton.
We have also produced two Challoner newsletters which may be had from Tony Hilton (282 Whelley, Wigan, Lancashire). and we would be glad of assistance from those v-iho are interested in the cause — their number should be legion, it they are aware of the great ;.:•..tit owed to Richard Challoner.
A pilgrimage to Milt on, Berkshire, will be part of the conference at Oxford in July on "Post-Reformation Catholic History", arranged by the Catholic Record Society.
There should be a daily pilgrimage to Challoner's new burial place in Westminster Cathedral to say the prayer for his canonisation publisher',1 by the Catholic Truth Society awl indulgenced by Cardinal Griffin. Edw. S. Werra!! Merryhills Drive
Enfield Middlesex
Stag-hunts
In the Sunday Telegraph Magazine of February 18, there appeared an illustrated article on stag-hunting in France, and I was astounded to read that on November 6 each year, the huntsman and their hounds are "blessed" by a priest before setting off to hunt the stags. It was stated that November 6 is the Day of St Hubert, patron of hunts men.
Surely the Church does not give its blessing to the hunting down and deliberate killing of wild animals, for sport and pleasure?
This disclosure is horrifying to those of us who thought that the (...'nurch would wish to protect all living creatures and would not condone or bless the training of hounds to hunt and attack other animals.
For the Holy House of God to be used in sanctifying people about to hunt and kill animals, seems an act of blasphemy against the Creator. Is it really true that the Church acts in this way?
(Miss) S. Fairbrass Southend-on-Sea, Essex.