A model which could help the Assembly of the Irish Church?

There is not a great deal of lived experience of widespread consultation among the body of baptised Catholics in Ireland.
While church structures have their own organisation, and in many ways are dissimilar to civil society in Ireland, a possible model we might learn from is the process used by the “We the Citizens” movement (http://www.wethecitizens.ie/index.php). Their exercise was to encourage deliberative and participatory democracy in Ireland.
They recently produced a report which they presented to the government. It’s available (PDF) on line:
Click here to download the report
Pádraig McCarthy

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5 Comments

  1. CONGRATULATIONS…..YOU ARE NOW BEGINNING TO “PEEL THE ONION”. THIS WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS. WHEN YOU GET THROUGH WITH THE “LUST” ISSUE, GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS, PRIDE….DEAL OPENLY WITH ECCLESIASTICAL NARCISSISM, THEN TO THE SECOND..COVETOUSNESS…DEAL OPENLY WITH THE VAST REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS OF THE CHURCH. ENOUGH SAID. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY.THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE ON YOUR SIDE. THEN THE DELAYED REFORMATION WILL BEGIN.

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  2. The Anglicans accept the majority vote on what the truth is by reference to contemporary morals. What a pity that the Apostles and the early Church didn’t discover this way of doing business, the media would have always loved us, Oliver Plunkett would have died in his bed, etc. etc. Thank goodness that the ACP came along. Free at last!

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  3. Mary Burke says:

    Yes, Spencer, it’s called the sensus fidelium. The Bishop of Rome himself is elected by counting heads.

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  4. Mike Waring says:

    Looking at this in Australia
    We have had our share of troubled priests including one that truly shocked me…..
    It appears a greater tightening of selection process(personality) needs to be looked at throughout Christian World…no matter the shortage of priests….as consequences of other sins such as divorce abortion and child abuse continue a sorry time for all good Catholics

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  5. L O'Sullivan says:

    I write after reading Patsy McGarry’s article in todays Irish Times. I am not surprised by the actions of Rome, but I am further discouraged.
    I am a lay woman ( young- 40s!) and have been a practicing catholic and committed to the Catholic Church, in different parts of the world over the last 20 years….in more recent times that committment has waned – due to the Hierarchy’s lack( limited) of vision, justice and humanity.
    The new word changes in the English Mass are a small but significant example of how those in power are so removed from the reality of what it is to be a practicing Catholic in the world today, and I’m sure very removed from the life realities of you the ordained ministers. The language further excludes me from participating to my fullest potential ( and I am very well educated ) I would have thought that a ‘Plain English Text’ would have been more inclusive, helped to give more meaning and understanding to all those that are present.
    I currently live in Portland OR and ‘the state funding of abortions’ is the key justice issue being tackled by the diocese here, despite the chronic and obvious issues of Homelessness and Poverty which are very visable on the streets and of course will require a redistribution of wealth if they are to be resolved….Oh to have a more egalatarian church and society….
    I support you. I encourage you to keep going despite the oppression that you face from The Institution. Keep searching, dialoguing and praying and you will be further guided in the right path- Some day your light will shine through the darkness….it’s shining already! Thank you-
    Sincerely
    Liz O’Sullivan

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