Mass and, as needed, a place to take a man who has just been informed of the death of his – mother, wife, child. A screen conceals all when the room is put to other uses. A happy outcome, but only at the end of a mighty scrap. My point is that local chaplains are left much


exposed. If each does not fight his own cor- ner, Catholic prisoners will not get their entitlement of worship and pastoral care. And even then the governor may say: you are sur- plus to our staffing levels. (Fr) Quentin Jackson OFM Nottingham


Crisis of Old Europe Stephen Wall (“If the euro falls, what price peace?”, 24 September”) is quite wrong about Eastern Europe in three cases. It is not the New, Eastern Europe but the Old Europe that has caused this current crisis, it is Greece and Italy, the dear old members of the European Union. Secondly, Eastern European immi- gration would have happened slowly over the years anyway just like it happened with the other Old European countries, had these coun- tries been free. Also, very many people from the ex-colonies have come to live in Britain over many years. Western Europe and Britain were already “full” when Eastern Europe was liberated by 1991. Thirdly, Stephen Wall suggests that cosy little


Western Europe has had its happy little structures messed up because Eastern Europe became free and joined, and there was sud- denly no need for this kind of union, a union against the threat. And don’t even mention the generosity of the Western members towards the Eastern members when in coun- tries such as Estonia the living standard has dropped dramatically since they joined the euro earlier this year. Would Mr Wall prefer these countries to be still brutally occupied? Would Western Europe be a cosier place for him? I don’t think so, because you’d still have Greece among you. It would be a good idea to stop blaming long-suffering Eastern Europeans. They have done nothing wrong, but great his- torical wrong has been done to them. Elo Allik-Schunemann London SE21


Fair access to university The Government’s White Paper, “Students at the Heart of the System”, proposes major changes for higher education (HE). As university chaplains, we are deeply concerned about the likely consequences of these changes – for the students of the future, for


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those whom we work alongside and for the institutions which we serve. The White Paper sees the benefits of HE in highly individual terms. University education is said to bring economic benefits, equip indi- viduals for work and raise their expected income. Whilst these aims are good in them- selves, in our understanding HE includes much more. Universities also serve the common good – they help to build societies where there is greater mutual respect, understanding and tol- erance; they deepen understanding; and question commonly held assumptions. The university experience is about self-discovery and personal formation as much as it is about improving employment prospects. In encour- aging students towards a richer, more rounded life, as Christian chaplains we find a common purpose with others who seek life in all its full- ness. We deeply regret the omission from the White Paper of these wider and more fundamental aims for HE. The complex new system of student finance, which will soon come into place, will increase the level of student debt dramatically. We fear that the proposed assistance to students from less prosperous backgrounds is not properly safeguarded and will be all too easily eroded by the pressure to cut costs. The new system puts students with the high-


est A level grades outside the normal allocation of student numbers to universities. High- performing students are likely to be drawn into a small number of universities, creating a two- tier system of HE. Students with potential but who have not had the opportunity to fulfil this at A level will be disadvantaged, as will uni- versities which work hard to encourage students from non-traditional backgrounds. We are seriously concerned about issues of social justice and fair access which could arise from the new system. We are grateful for the support we receive from the Churches in our work as chaplains, and call on the Churches to reflect carefully and prayerfully on the future of HE and the distinctive contribution which the Christian community can bring to this. (The Revd) Stan Brown and 47 others


Lay voices I am sorry that Una Kroll (“Power and per- versity”, 24 September) feels that she cannot “share in decision-making, nor can (she) exer- cise influence in a structure that does not have any official way of listening to the laity”. While recognising that parish pastoral councils operate in different ways in different places, they are an “official way of listening to the laity”. It is a wise priest who will work collaboratively with parishioners, using their skills in finance, music, premises issues etc. to the advantage of the whole church. Andy Bebington Croydon, Surrey


The living Spirit


Joy, humour and laughter show one’s faith in God. For Christians, an essentially hope- ful outlook shows people that you believe in the Resurrection, in the power of life over death, and in the power of love over hatred. Don’t you think that after the Resurrection Jesus’ disciples were joyful? ... Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, a nineteenth-century Redemptorist priest, spoke of “holy hilarity” as a tool for spreading the Gospel. Joy draws others to God. To paraphrase St Teresa, why hide it? James Martin SJ


Between Heaven and Mirth (Harper Collins, 2011)


To be a Christian is not to be a mere imi- tator of Christ. Jesus is not a hero to be set on a pedestal for admiration from afar. He is our friend, our brother, and we are called to share in his life individually and as a community. That sharing is not a fan- ciful notion, empty of content. We are bound to him in love and his love is dis- played for us and has its effect on us through these sacramental acts. They draw us into a deeper share in his life, death and Resurrection. They make us Christian, they make us Church.


Roderick Strange The Catholic Faith


(Darton, Longman and Todd, 1996)


Let us also love our neighbours as our- selves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and pru- dent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God’s sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father’s children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ. St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)


Tuesday 4 October is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi


1 October 2011 | THE TABLET | 19


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