COLUMN

Christopher Howse’s

Notebook ‘Should Catholics read Kipling? The question would have sounded silly a generation ago’ / 9

REGULARS

Word from the Cloisters 14 Puzzles 14 Letters 15

The Living Spirit 16

Ethical Kitchen 30

Glimpses of Eden 30

14 MAY 2022 // VOL 276 NO. 9452

FEATURES

4 / In the footsteps of a saint

Charles de Foucauld’s message that the Gospel is best ‘shown’ rather than ‘told’ has inspired an increasing number of followers / BY KATHLEEN MCKEE

6 / Court in the crossfire

The legitimacy of the Supreme Court is under threat as the perception grows that the justices are ‘politicians in robes’ / BY MICHAEL MCGOUGH

7 / A nation divided

The Catholic Church will have a vital role if the struggle over abortion moves to the state level after the Supreme Court’s ruling / BY MICHAEL SEAN WINTERS

8 / The Tablet Interview: Rachel Billington

At the age of 80, the novelist, journalist and screenwriter explains why her fiction writing has come to a stop for now / BY PETER STANFORD

10 / Macron’s tough choices

The winner of the French presidential election has to decide whether to reform or unite his country. He cannot do both / BY PATRICK MARNHAM

12 / Breach of trust

The clouds over Westminster are darkening – for the economy, the credibility of the government and the future of the party leaders / BY JULIA LANGDON

NEWS

23 / The Church in the World / News briefing 24 / Pope under fire for criticism of Nato

26 / View from Rome

27 / News from Britain and Ireland / News briefing

28 / Laity make voices heard on direction of Church

COVER: MONSTER CHETWYND’S ST CUTHBERT DIORAMA. PHOTO: DAVID WOOD FOR SUNDERLAND CULTURE

BOOKS / PAGE 17

Michael Walsh

The Jesuits:

A History

MARKUS FRIEDRICH

Catherine

Pepinster

The Palace Papers:

Inside the House

of Windsor –

the Truth and

the Turmoil

TINA BROWN

Julian George

Memories of

Starobielsk: Essays

Between Art and

History

JÓZEF CZAPSKI

Alexander

Lucie-Smith

The Young

Pretender

MICHAEL ARDITTI

ARTS / PAGE 20

Exhibition

Glass Exchange

LAURA GASCOIGNE

Theatre

Middle; Marys Seacole

MARK LAWSON

Cinema

The Quiet Girl

ISABELLE GREY

Television

The Essex Serpent

LUCY LETHBRIDGE