More on The Tablet, Reinvented

In recent weeks, two different sources have said the same thing: "Before he became Pope, Ratzinger read The Tablet. Who knows, he might still...."

To think: the Fluffiness might be getting part of his feed on what's doing in the US church from me. Wow.

That said, The Independent speaks today with our fearless leader, Catherine Pepinster, and sings the praises of The World's Best Catholic Paper, now in reinvigorated form:

If there is a new Catholic power nexus in the UK, The Tablet has positioned itself as the main forum for debate. Contributors include well-known journalists such as Mark Lawson and The Daily Telegraph's Christopher Howse as well as leading academics, while Mrs Blair has also written for the weekly. Illustrious contributors from previous decades included Evelyn Waugh and Graham Greene. Nor is the readership confined to the Catholic Church. The title is popular with Anglicans, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and his wife, Jane, who has written a Lenten reflection in the latest issue....

Despite friends in high places, the journal, owned by an independent charitable trust (the Independent News and Media owner Tony O'Reilly is a trustee), has invoked the wrath of some clerics for its coverage of controversial issues including the use of condoms in the prevention of Aids, sex-abuse scandals and contraception. Some parish priests have even banned the title, which has traditionally been sold through churches as well as by subscription. "They think it's a bad influence on their flocks," says Pepinster. "It is particularly annoying when a priest has a subscription and is keeping tabs on us himself, but won't allow it in his church."

Just like the darlings who seethe, seethe and (just in case you didn't get it already) seethe at these Whispers but can't bring themselves to, you know, just stop reading them already.

I find said addiction-denial cycle amusing, actually. Quite the allegory for, er, other things....

One of the that reasons leading Anglicans are attracted to The Tablet may be the lack of an equivalent publication in their own church.

And because, as The Tablet recently reported, they like our vestments.

-30-