Fr John C Foulkes - St Kentigern's, Blackpool

Recent developments in our Diocese have set many people wondering what is to be done. Here, one of our most experienced and highly regarded senior priests argues that we need not panic, but we must act, all of us. The points out that the answer is here all the time.

As a priest in this diocese of Lancaster for the past 45 years, I feel that the time has come to stand up and to be counted. I have been prompted by the Editorial in the May edition of the ‘Voice’ and the great concern that there is about the 25% reduction in all central diocesan services. These services have been carefully built up over the years and are a wonderful help to the mission of the Church. Sadly many of them will now be destroyed and others dismantled bit by bit before our eyes. I even have concern over the future of our Catholic schools, which are such a valuable part of our catholic community and through which many adults and children have been brought to hear the Good News of Jesus.

I should like to go back to the Pastoral Review of 1996* of which I was a member. It was a short review of 4 pages. It began by asking the fundamental question of ‘what is the purpose of the Church?’ or ‘for whom does the Church exist?’ The answer given is that it exists to bring the Good News into all the strata of society. If we fail to do this, we might as well cease to exist. It also states, ‘What we can expect to see in the future is a church with smaller numbers, less concerned about money and material resources, and more in touch with the Gospel. Like salt in the food and yeast in the dough, a strong and effective Christian presence in the world does not necessarily require quantity in order to give taste to society.’ One of the principles it advances is ‘Sharing of responsibilities at every level between priest and people must become the norm rather than the exception. This requires changes of attitudes on all sides.’

There has been no sort of sharing between priests and people of the recent financial review. People have just been informed of the necessity to cut 25% from all budgets regardless of what they are about. They have not even been able to have a sight of the review. Over the years in this diocese there has been a real growth of collaboration and sharing in all aspects of parish and diocesan life. Such sharing culminated in the diocesan assembly ‘A New Start With Jesus’. It offered us all great hope and a pastoral plan for the future. This now seems to have gone into reverse gear because certain clergy did not approve of such collaboration and consultation. I quote the ‘Pastoral Review’ again, ‘The priest should call forth, enable and affirm lay people for their mission in the world. It is necessary for priests to let go of areas which have been seen as theirs in the past and work towards parish communities which can, if need be, continue without a priest. There is no room in the Church for cynicism or negative approaches to new ideas and new practices. Spirituality based on a humble openness to Christ and acceptance of new possibilities for the Gospel and the Kingdom, must become the hallmark of every priest. Attitudes of clericalism in which priests place themselves in a clerical caste above the people are damaging the Church in its mission…the task of the priest is to serve people, not rule over them.’

We have a wonderful diocese here in Lancaster which has pioneered many initiatives which have been imitated and followed in other dioceses of the country. There now seems to be a death wish among the decision makers of the diocese and a feeling that all the good work of past years was to no avail. Well I don’t want to be a member of Lancaster diocese plc. I want to be an apostle of Jesus Christ and for this I was ordained a priest. I see my role as priest summed up in four simple words: Mass, sacraments, preaching and prayer. For the other roles that are necessary even the apostles appointed others. I have some practical suggestions:

1. Reprint, distribute widely and study the ‘Pastoral Review of 17th April 1996.
2. Keep the diocesan levies for schools and retired priests as they are. Such funds should not be tampered with.
3. Re-focus on the spiritual potential of our Catholic High schools. They too are communities of faith.
4. Be completely open, transparent and frank about the present state of the diocese with everyone. People will genuinely support a concern if they are aware it is essential. Share the responsibility in a real way. This could be done by pastoral letters and discussion papers.
5. Make the Bishop’s Administration Fund into a levy for all the Central needs of the diocese. Be honest, open and realistic about a budget that is needed to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus.
6. Tap into the goodwill and expertise of the past, especially the Diocesan Assembly and the ‘New Start with Jesus’ programme.

* PLEASE NOTE: The Pastoral Review to which Fr.Foulkes refers, can be read in full here: Pastoral Review