The closure of a pilgrimage centre at a Marian shrine in Scotland is a sad but seemingly inevitable sign of the times.
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition objecting to plans to close the centre at Carfin Grotto, North Lanarkshire, along with its gift shop and café.
The reaction has prompted a personal response from Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell, who explained at length why he believed he had no choice but to close the centre at the national shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes from September 30, with consequent redundancies.
