COLUMNS

5 CATHERINE P E P I NSTER

‘The risk with Soft Atheism is that Christians might become smug’

1 1 CHRISTOPHER JAMISON

‘The Games are coming and we need to make the most of this unique opportunity’

1 3 PARISH PRACTICE 1 4 NOTEBOOK 1 5 L ETTERS 1 6 THE L I V I NG S P I R I T 1 7 PUZZLES

BOOKS

1 8 MARK ALLEN

Heaven on Earth: a journey through shari’a law Sadakat Kadri

J OHN McEWEN Bernini: his life and his Rome Franco Mormando

J ONATHAN WRIGHT Philip of Spain, King of England: the forgotten sovereign Harry Kelsey

SUZI F EAY The Revelations Alex Preston

ARTS

2 1 F EATURE

Laura Gascoigne Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam

T E L EV I S I ON John Morrish Protecting Our Children

RADIO D.J. Taylor Vic Oliver: The First Castaway Remembered

OPERA Robert Thicknesse Giulio Cesare

CONTENTS

4 F EBRUARY 2 0 1 2

F EATURES

COVER STORY 4 Jewel in the Crown Peter Hennessy

Early claims of a New Elizabethan Age may have missed the mark in the 1950s, but in Diamond Jubilee Britain they seem spot on 6 Back to basics Abigail Frymann

A dozen dioceses across Europe are finalising plans for Lenten missions ordered by Rome as part of the new evangelisation 8 Lifetimes of service Sam Adams and Christopher Lamb

Like the Queen, a small number of priests celebrate 60 years of duty and devotion. The Tablet speaks to five of them 1 0 Faith and unity through diversity Kim Knott

Religion, says a paper to be given at next week’s Westminster Faith Debates, is more often the solution than the problem 1 2 Holy hearts that know how to adore Daniel O’Leary

Those with Down’s receive the sacrament with utmost reverence, says a priest whose brother had the syndrome

■ EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT: 1 2 - PAGE PULL-OUT

s 1 Bring on Catholic academies Mike Craven

Primaries and secondaries can benefit from the schools revolution s 2 The teacher who inspired me Catherine Pepinster

Sr Bernadette Hunston s 3 Teaching peace and trust Duncan MacLaren

Higher education for young refugees on the Thai-Burma border s 4 How alliances can be divisive Peter Kavanagh

Controversy over an attempt to combat homophobia

S 6 Another government, another change Jeremy Sutcliffe

The latest curriculum overhaul: yet more political meddling?

S 8 What’s in a name? Paul Richardson

Why Oxford’s shake-up of theology should be embraced

S 1 0 Eternity begins in the classroom Brian Morton

The teacher of the year’s distinctive approach to learning

S 1 1 When daddy doesn’t come home Frank McDermott

Special support for children who lose a parent

S 1 2 School report Sam Adams

Spotlight on ‘outstanding’ St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School

2 4 THE CHURCH I N THE WORLD

Vatican threatens legal action over corruption exposé 2 7 L ETTER FROM ROME 2 8 NEWS FROM BRITAIN AND I RELAND

Fees hike hits applications to Church-affiliated universities

COVER ILLUSTRATION: ALBERTO VAZQUEZ

4 February 2012 | THE TABLET | 3