ARCHBISHOP Marcinkus is a highly principled person, an individual who prizes his personal integrity. Recently a torrent of abuse has been ladled on the Archibishop. Certain Catholics and Anglicans, clergy as well as lay people have gleefully joined this adventure.
These doubtless honourable people need reminding that they are abusing a trusted representative of the Holy Father.
Acting in this capacity, his primary objective is that the tour of Britain will be successful and a happy occasion for all; that the oposed_plans_will have -a regard for the strength and physical resources of the Pope. Accustomed to vetting timetables, he is ideally equipped to pass judgment On the issues and pitfalls, even at Canterbury.
It was his right and duty to indicate that the Holy Father must not be scheduled like a robot, a kind of eight day figure that is wound and allowed to run down.
While carrying out these responsibilities, I consider it an intolerable impertinence to describe this man as "the unacceptable face of Catholicism, arrogant, highhanded arid dictatorial". That you thought this worthy of pu-blic at ion --surprises me. Alongside these grotesque remarks a quotation appears
from some anonymous senior Anglican official whose modesty needs the cloak of anonymity. I must say, with regret that this whole affair clearly and unmistakeably exposes the ugly and petulant face of Anglicanism. Certain journalists will squeal with delight at the prospect of a good wallow in the trough.
The author of this unpardonable garbage is no credit to The Catholic Herald, or to his profession. This short and shabby account of the Canterbury flare-up will assuredly not enhance the good name of the paper.
Mgr Peter W hitty St Dominic's Liverpool L14 8UL