Memorial Service for Sir Michael Quinlan: Provincial's tribute

The British Jesuit Provincial has paid tribute to Sir Michael Quinlan, an alumnus and former governor of Wimbledon College, who died in February.  Father Michael Holman SJ was preaching at a Thanksgiving Mass for Sir Michael, that was celebrated in Westminster Cathedral this week.

Sir Michael Quinlan was considered one of the country's foremost authorities on defence, having been Permanent Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Defence between 1988 and 1992.  His roles in the Civil Service included the UK delegation to NATO, posts in the Cabinet Office (1974-77), the Treasury (1981-82) and the Department of Employment (1983-88).

However, in his homily, Fr Holman focused more on Sir Michael's humanity and his faith than on his role as a top civil service defence expert who advocated 'just war' and nuclear deterrent.  He referred to an article in The Tablet last year, in which Sir Michael spoke of the opportunities which participation in public life gives the convinced Catholic. "He wrote that our faith and its moral standards equip us to bring to bear in public service a sense of values to run through all we do," said the Provincial. "Values like straight dealing, committed effort with the gifts God has given, fairness to all, obedience to the law, proper stewardship of the natural world and the special concern for the poor, both at home and abroad, or those otherwise disadvantaged."

He said he also took exception to one obituary that had been published after Sir Michael's death on 26 February 2009. "He prefaced a paragraph on Michael's religious commitment with the words 'in addition'.  There was no 'in addition' about Michael's faith," said Fr Holman, who went on to quote from Sir Michael Palliser's tribute in the journal of the Institute for Strategic Studies: "His whole life was inspired by a profound Christian faith… His faith was fundamental to all that he did."

For the full text of the British Provincial's homily at the Memorial Service at Westminster Cathedral, click on the link above.