Charles, who spent the day meeting and greeting locals with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has made a "substantial" donation to the damaged Christ Church Cathedral.

He drew a laugh, saying: "Hopefully I'll be alive when it's completed."

Bishop Peter Carrell said they were "thrilled" at the "substantial donation" and the royal patronage would boost the multimillion-dollar project. Continue reading

In the age when he lived, Newman stood for the life of the spirit against the forces that would debase human dignity and human destiny.

In the age in which he attains sainthood, his example is needed more than ever - for the manner in which, at his best, he could advocate without accusation, could disagree without disrespect and, perhaps most of all, could see differences as places of encounter rather than exclusion.

At a time when faith was being questioned as never before, Newman, one of the greatest theologians of the nineteenth century, applied his intellect to one of the most pressing questions of our era: what should be the relationship of faith to a sceptical, secular age?

His engagement first with Anglican theology, and then, after his conversion, Catholic theology, impressed even his opponents with its fearless honesty, its unsparing rigour and its originality of thought.

Whatever our own beliefs, and no matter what our own tradition may be, we can only be grateful to Newman for the gifts, rooted in his Catholic faith, which he shared with wider society: his intense and moving spiritual autobiography and his deeply-felt poetry in ‘The Dream of Gerontius' which, set to music by Sir Edward Elgar - another Catholic of whom all Britons can be proud - gave the musical world one of its most enduring choral masterpieces.

Harmony requires difference

At the climax of ‘The Dream of Gerontius' the soul, approaching heaven, perceives something of the divine vision:

• a grand mysterious harmony:
• It floods me, like the deep and solemn sound
• Of many waters.

Harmony requires difference. The concept rests at the very heart of Christian theology in the concept of the Trinity. In the same poem, Gerontius says:

• Firmly I believe and truly
• God is three, and God is One;

As such, difference is not to be feared. Newman not only proved this in his theology and illustrated it in his poetry, but he also demonstrated it in his life. Under his leadership, Catholics became fully part of the wider society, which itself thereby became all the richer as a community of communities.

Newman engaged not merely with the church, but with the world.

While wholeheartedly committed to the Church to which he came through so many intellectual and spiritual trials, he nonetheless initiated open debate between Catholics and other Christians, paving the way for later ecumenical dialogues.

On his elevation to the Cardinalate in 1879, he took as his motto Cor ad cor loquitor ('heart speaks to heart'), and his conversations across confessional, cultural, social and economic divides, were rooted in that intimate friendship with God.

His faith was truly catholic in that it embraced all aspects of life.

Immense influence

It is in that same spirit that we, whether we are Catholics or not, can, in the tradition of the Christian Church throughout the ages, embrace the unique perspective, the particular wisdom and insight, brought to our universal experience by this one individual soul.

We can draw inspiration from his writings and his life even as we recognise that, like all human lives, it was inevitably flawed.

Newman himself was aware of his failings, such as pride and defensiveness which fell short of his own ideals, but which, ultimately, left him only more grateful for the mercy of God.

His influence was immense.

As a theologian, his work on the development of doctrine showed that our understanding of God can grow over time, and had a profound impact on later thinkers.

Individual Christians have found their personal devotion challenged and strengthened by the importance he attached to the voice of conscience.

Those of all traditions who seek to define and defend Christianity have found themselves grateful for the way he reconciled faith and reason.

Those who seek the divine in what can seem like an increasingly hostile intellectual environment find in him a powerful ally who championed the individual conscience against an overwhelming relativism.

And perhaps most relevantly of all at this time, when we have witnessed too many grievous assaults by the forces of intolerance on communities and individuals, including many Catholics, because of their beliefs, he is a figure who stood for his convictions despite the disadvantages of belonging to a religion whose adherents were denied full participation in public life.

Through the whole process of Catholic emancipation and the restoration of the Catholic Church hierarchy, he was the leader his people, his church and his times needed.

His capacity for personal warmth and generous friendship is shown in his correspondence.

There exist over 30 collected volumes of his letters, many of which, tellingly, are not addressed to the fellow intellectuals and prominent leaders but to family, friends and parishioners who sought out his wisdom.

His example has left a lasting legacy.

As an educator, his work was profoundly influential in Oxford, Dublin and beyond, while his treatise, The Idea of a University, remains a defining text to this day.

His often overlooked labours on behalf of children's education are testimony to his commitment to ensuring those of all backgrounds shared the opportunities learning can bring.

Laity

As an Anglican, he guided that church back to its Catholic roots, and as a Catholic he was ready to learn from the Anglican tradition, such as in his promoting the role of the laity.

He gave the Catholic Church renewed confidence as it re-established itself in a land in which it had once been uprooted.

The Catholic community in Britain today owes an incalculable debt to his tireless work, even as British society has cause for gratitude to that community for its immeasurably valuable contribution to our country's life. Continue reading

• Image: BBC

He should rank alongside early Christianity's great thinkers, Cardinal Marc Ouellet says.

Ouellet, who is the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and a respected theologian, told the 20,000-strong crowd at the canonistaion that Newman is eligible for the title "Doctor".

This is because of his contribution to developing Christian teaching.

Doctors of the Church are saints who have helped deepen understanding of the faith.

Only 36 people (32 men and four women) have been granted this title in Christian history.

"It seems to me that the English master [Newman] ranks among such Doctors of the Faith as Athanasius and Augustine, whose lives were confessions of faith at the cost of great sacrifice, and who provided decisive insights on either its content or its act," Oullet said.

"The depth of this man of God and the place he now occupies in Catholicity, make us aware of the void his absence would have left if he had not been."

Oullet told the crowd Newman's legacy encourages the unity of Christians, in an "ecumenical impetus towards reconciliation".

A conversion is required "from all confessions, starting from the Roman Church, which must be open to eventual transformations that can clear the path towards unity, so desired by the Lord," he said.

Newman spent years as an Anglican priest and theologian where he became the leader of the Oxford movement, which sought to return the Church of England to its patristic sources.

"It is not a question of using Newman's figure to depict the return to the fold," Oullet said.

"Rather, his life and his theology challenge us to carefully examine the internal difficulties of reconciliation."

Newman saw faith as being an emotional "personal encounter," as well as "a rational adherence which involves a unique certainty as well as a non-delegable responsibility," Oullet said.

As a theeologian, scholar and poet, he was regarded as one of the most influential figures of the Victorian age.

He is still highly regarded in Rome for his prophetic theology which paved the way for the Second Vatican Council, in 1962-65.

His work on how the Church's understanding of divine revelation deepens over time and call for greater involvement of the laity saw him run into opposition in Rome during his lifetime. Today, his ideas are part of the Church's mainstream.

Prince Charles also spoke at the canonisation ceremony. He described Newman as a "fearless defender of the truth".

Source

• The Tablet
• The Guardian
• Image: The Irish Times

The IICSA says there was a serious failure of leadership by the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey (1991-2002) in the church's handling of the case of a bishop who eventually went to prison, an official inquiry has concluded.

It also found that Prince Charles and other members of the establishment were misguided in their expressions of support of Peter Ball as he battled the accusations.

Ball, a former bishop, was jailed in 2015, more than 20 years after allegations were made against him.

The allegations were mainly ignored or downplayed by the church.

He had been cautioned by the police in 1993 and resigned as bishop at that time.

However, he was allowed to continue officiating in the church.

The IICSA's 250-page report says Ball "seemed to relish contact with prominent and influential people".

He "sought to use his relationship with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to further his campaign to return to unrestricted ministry".

The prince and his private secretary spoke about Ball to Carey and arranged for the Duchy of Cornwall to buy a property he could rent after he resigned as a bishop.

The prince had been "misguided" and his actions "could have been interpreted as expressions of support for Peter Ball and, given the Prince of Wales's future role within the Church of England, had the potential to influence the actions of the church", the report says.

Prince Charles says it's a "deep regret" he was "deceived" by Ball in the course of their long friendship, which included sending money to him and Ball speaking at the Duchess of Cornwall's father's funeral.

The report also notes Carey showed compassion to Ball that was not extended to Ball's victims. It says Carey displayed overt support for Ball's innocence despite having no justification.

Furthermore, the report says the church's response to allegations of Ball's abuse and to others in the diocese of Chichester was marked by secrecy, prevarication and avoidance of reporting alleged crimes.

Disclosures of abuse were handled inadequately by the church, and responses failed to display an appropriate level of urgency or appreciation of the seriousness of allegations made.

Source

• The Daily Mail
• The Guardian
• New York Times
• Image: Daily Star

Source

The Inquiry, set up in 2014, is investigating whether prominent figures in the establishment attempted to interfere in the criminal justice process. Victims have accused the Church of England of covering up the bishop's crimes which stretched over 30 years.

In a voluntarily-provided written statement to the Inquiry, Charles explained why he kept in touch with Peter Ball for more than two decades after Ball was cautioned for gross indecency in 1993.

Ball resigned after the caution, but told the Prince the caution was a result of someone with a grudge 'persecuting' him.

Charles's statement says he gave Ball 'small gifts and money as I do for many people in need.'

He explained he remained friends with Ball because he did not understand the Police caution relating to Ball's gross indecency was an admission of guilt. He thought Ball had only been caught in an "indiscretion."

His statement says he was in contact with Ball for more than 20 years until he was convicted in 2015 for further sexual abuse offences.

The statement, which will be formally published this week, says Charles has 'deep personal regret' that Ball, who was finally jailed for 32 months in October 2015, had deceived him.

Ball, who is now 86, was released in February last year after serving half his jail sentence.

He often spoke of his links with the Royal family and was invited to give communion at the Prince's home in Highgrove.

He also spoke at the funeral for the Duchess of Cornwall's father Bruce Shand in 2006 and lived on Duchy of Cornwall land from 1997 to 2011.

Source

• Time
• Daily Mail
• Independent
• The Guardian
• Image: The Sun