THE
P RTAL
February 2019
Page 24
Is all well
at the Vatican?
Geoffrey Kirk asks some hard questions
T rue, the
tone it aspires to is less ethereal, less other-worldly than that
of King’s College Cambridge, but the Sistine Chapel Choir – the oldest in
the world – still commands respect (and more importantly) a significant revenue
accruing from tours and concerts world-wide.
It is, then, almost a sacrament of this pontificate that
These are not trivial matters, but far worse is the
the choir is mired in financial scandal. Apparently, a growing perception of the development of a ‘Fortress
misappropriation of concert fees has been identified Vatican’ mentality at the very top. Openness is the
and heads have rolled.
precursor to reform; but this Pope seems eager to
shroud all in silence. While tinkering with minor
I have lost count of the number of similar articles administration - the press corps here, the Swiss Guard
I have read about Vatican institutions which have there – the big issues are swept under the carpet or
fallen foul of similar allegations or discoveries. Not to covered in a blanket of silence.
mention clerics with dubious moral reputations who
have been ‘rescued’ and given significant curial jobs.
The question to be asked is whether absolute
One could be forgiven for concluding that the Augean monarchy, facilitated by a subservient bureaucracy, is
Stables were overdue for a spring clean.
the best way to govern a large international corporation
in the modern world. For a moment it looked as if
The paradox is that this Holy Father – elected, it was Francis had grasped the nettle by the appointment
said, on a reform agenda – has achieved nothing (or of the C9 group of cardinals – the beginnings of
next to nothing) by way of active reform. Cardinal Pell’s what we would call cabinet government. But even
spirited restructuring of the finances is suspended for that has foundered as it merged that five out of the
the duration of his trial in Australia; and undesirable ten were subject to accusations of sexual or financial
practices are creeping back. And now, for heaven’s improprieties.
sake, a story about the Sistine Choir. The last thing the
Vatican needed was a media outburst which included
The Future is not rosy.
the words ‘fraud’ and ‘choirboys’ in the same headline.
Dowry Tour of Our Lady of Walsingham
to the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
in Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory, Warwick Street, London
12 noon Angelus and High Mass in the Extraordinary
Friday 29th March
Form: Celebrant: Fr Mark Elliot-Smith
3pm
Arrive from Walsingham to set up Holy House and exhibition
2.15pm
Stations of the Cross
5pm
Shrine and exhibition open
5.30pm Rosary of Intercession and Litany of English Saints and Martyrs 3.30pm Solemn Evensong & Benediction followed by refreshments
6pm
Angelus & Vigil Mass of Sunday
6.30pm Angelus and opening Mass with solemn Crowning of Our
7pm
Talk on the Dowry of Mary by Mgr John Armitage
Lady of Walsingham: Celebrant: Mgr Keith Newton
7.40pm
Sung Litany of Our Lady ending with Ave Regina Caelorum
8pm
Talk on the Dowry of Mary by Mgr John Armitage
9pm
Shrine and exhibition close
8.40pm Sung Litany of Our Lady ending with Ave Regina Caelorum
9pm
Shrine closes
Sunday 31st March
9.30am Rosary and Litany of the English Saints and Martyrs
Saturday 30th March
10.30am Solemn Pontifical High Mass with Act of Consecration
8.15am Rosary for the Conversion of England
of England and Wales to Our Lady of Walsingham, the
9am
Mass: Celebrant: Mgr John Armitage
Immaculate Heart of Mary, ending with sung Angelus
9.30am Led Holy Hour (Opportunity for Sacrament of Confession)
12.15pm Shrine and exhibition close
11am Talk on the Dowry of Mary by Mgr John Armitage
Opportunity for the Sacrament of Confession will be made available throughout the Dowry Tour visitation of Our Lady of Walsingham.