By CHAD
Ever since the printing dispute started our little corner Li of the north country has been without the weekly local paper. This has not, of course, prevented us from keeping abreast with the national news.
Even if there were no della papers, the radio and TV would bring us items of country-wide interest. But none of the dailies has any room for news about local politics except, perhaps, where councils banned reporters from their meetings.
So we have been experiencing the novelty of not knowing what is happening in the council chambers around us. I suppose one or two members brave or sensible or outrageous or affected the behaviour of the Councillors may be, the electorate as a whole will for the moment know nothing about it.
I find myself wondering, cynically, if the knowledge that they are bereft of any sort of audience will restrain some who love to see themselves featured in the reports in the weekly "rag." Perhaps my curiosity might even lead me to go and see for myself ...
Impact
WAVING accompanied him abroad rhyself on one occasion, I find myself envying those fortunate souls who will be joiningFr. Basset in America for the Sodality World Con grHis probable impact on the
Americans Was summarised neatly by an American priest I met a few months ago. After expressing a hope that Fr. Basset would find time to visit the priest's parents, he said, with a meditative chuckle: "They'll sure wonder what hit them if he does!"
Fr. Basset was at Stonyhurst. For a time he was stationed at Loyola Hall, Rainhill. He has given numerous retreats, missions and training days all over the north. He would be well qualified himself to write "Northern Notebook," for his knowledge of the northern counties_ .j. amazing. Fr. Basset's best north country story is of the Yorkshire priest who heard that Father was about to visit Lancashire. "The Lancashire people are all right, Father," said the priest, "but they're a bit giddy!"
Alarming Alarming
6NE of the most alarming things which came out of the controversy about the Family Planning Association broadcast appeal was an allegation in a letter written by an official of that Association and printed in a daily paper.
He said that many thousands of Catholic-s are numbered amongst those who visit the family planning clinics. If there has been any denial of this, I have not seen it. To many this will revive memories of a correspondence in the letter columns of the "Catholic Herald" some years ago.
At that time, if I remember correctly, it was said that if Catholics could not obtain guidance at Catholic clinics some at least of them would turn to the Family Planning Association for guidance.
It would be interesting to hear informed comment on the desirability or otherwise of trying to provide Catholic clinics where Catholics could obtain Catholic advice on problems which in certain cases affect them no less than Protestants.