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Diocesan Protection Officer
The Trustees of the Diocese, for financial reasons, have decided not to renew the three-year contract of Julie Courtney after 31 August as salaried Diocesan Protection Officer.
Unanimously, as members of the Diocesan Protection Commission, we wish to express our regret that this is seen as necessary. We wish Julie every success in the future. We record our sincere thanks to her for the exemplary way in which she discharged her duties, so often in difficult and troubling circumstances, in a determined but unfailingly sensitive manner. The people of the Diocese owe her a debt of gratitude.
Meanwhile we wish to assure them that we are working hard to establish the new structures which we have been required to put in place. Our aim is now, as it always has been, to provide protection for children, young people and vulnerable adults as required by the Nolan Report and the Guidelines and Procedures prescribed by C.O.P.C.A., the Church's National supervisory body.
We hope that everyone will give to Julie's successor the unstinting help, support and co-operation she enjoyed in all parts of the Diocese. We know that the forms can be tiresome but if all the paperwork involved saves even one child from abuse, then we hope you would agree with us, that it will all have been worthwhile. We know that this has already been proved to work. With deep thanks to you all.
Bill Fetherstone [ Chairman ]
Diocesan Protection Commission
By Email

Advancing Backwards
Jim Ahern (Letters - Voice August 2005) fears that 'Unless we put the brakes on Renewal' and 'take speedy steps of Restoration, the Roman Catholic Faith may cease to exist on these islands'. In the same issue, Bishop Patrick says he has appointed a priest rather than a lay person to lead the diocesan education and formation team in order to strengthen the catechetical links between parishes and schools. He is 'very nervous' about losing an 'authentic Catholicity'. The Instrumentum Laboris for the October Synod of Bishops apparently wonders 'whether the removal of the Tabernacle from the centre of the sanctuary...........has contributed in some way to a decrease in faith in the Real Presence'.
It all reminds me of the people of Israel wailing against Moses and Aaron. 'Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place? It is a place unfit for sowing, it has no figs, no vines, no pomegranates, and there is not even water to drink!' (Numbers 20:5) This people also wanted to return to what they had known in the past. 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up and there is nothing but this manna to look at!' (Numbers 11:5)
Did God respond by revising the plan so as to take the people back to Egypt? Not at all. In fact, God gave them quails to eat and water from the rock to drink. God demanded trust in the face of uncertainty and fear. God led the pilgrim people into a future they could not determine or control. No going back. As it was with them, so it is with us. I think a good prayer for us all would be in the words of Eucharistic Prayer III - Lord, 'strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth'."
Edward Gannon
St. Gregory’s, Workington

Thank You
Just wish to say thank you to the Bishop of your diocese for speaking up on Radio 4 about Social Justice issues. On that particular day I was facilitating a Justice & Peace meeting in our own diocese and those present who herd your Bishop were delighted and heartened. It helps us as lay faithful to explain to people that “fairness” Social Justice and Peace are central to the “Body of Christ” and to the implementation of Christ’s teaching.
I also want to thank those of your diocese who make visitors welcome in the many holiday places in the diocese. In July 2004 we were at Grasmere (I think) and remember the hospitality and the love in action.
Oswald Field
Moseley,
Birmingham

Fellowship
Mine is the status of a Welsh convert, still enthusiastic as to his religion after forty years and more. It is as well the English are a forbearing and tolerant people. When misfortune strikes among my acquaintances, those affected are assured of its place on my daily prayer list. More often than not, it is a case of illness in the family. Thus your dyed in the wool atheist is lent hope, whilst those of the Faith can sometimes neglect telling me, when matters have improved more than somewhat! The chronically ill remain on the list. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the province of the priesthood. Their charitable service in prayer is additional, not a substitute for our own responsibility. Such a "them" and "us" mentality has no place in the Church of today, if it ever had one at all.
(Mr.) Gwilym Bowen
Morecambe

St. Winefride’s
From a letter in the July issue of the 'Voice' it would seem that an impression might have been given, that because members of the original friends of St. Winefrides committee have retired, it has disbanded. This is not the case. The new committee is also conscious of and grateful for the past service and it is our intention to build on that and provide the same care and support as become necessary in the future.
One of our tasks is to organise the Mass in honour of Edward Bamber, our local Martyr who lived and worked on the Moor round and about the area of St.Winefride's House. This year it was on July 7th and we were blessed with a beautiful warm sunny evening. About a 100 people attended the celebration together with the Bishop and several priests. We would like to thank all who came along to support the event.
M. Gilmartin
For Friends of St.Winefrides.

St. Augustine's Church (now demolished)
I am only a lay person and do not know the 'ins and cuts' of accountancy, but am disturbed by the number of people who do understand and are greatly distrurbed by the 25% cut being asked by the Finance Committee. Can you please print a publication of the revenue to be collected from the 60 years ground rent, for the ground which originally housed St. Augustine's Church, Preston. How is this money going to be distributed? Can you also inform me what has happened to all the bones of presumably past parishioners of St. Augustine's, which were dug out of the foundations of the new building and shovelled into black bin liners? The contractors did not even know they were there until they uncovered them. They were certainly 'lost souls'. This is not hearsay. I have proof.
Mrs. M. E. Hunter
Blackpool
P.S. I am not talking about the graves to the left of the original building.