The future of Catholicism?

How can Catholicism become more relevant in today’s world?

This is the fundamental question that will be addressed by Tony Flannery, the Galway priest who was silenced and forbidden to speak or celebrate the sacraments in any Church properties twelve years ago.

While Tony has often spoken on media outlets in his role as founding member of the Association of Catholic Priests, it is a number of years since he addressed any public gathering. However, he will do so in a Galway city hotel on the evening of Wednesday, March 27th.

Time outside the structure of the Church has allowed him the opportunity to develop his thoughts on official Church teaching, and the gap between this teaching and the lives of people today. In this talk he will reflect on how his own faith has developed and evolved over the past fifty years, and how he can now acknowledge that what he presently believes is quite different to what he believed at the time of his ordination to the priesthood. He suspects many others have gone through somewhat similar changes.

“The health of our faith is in serious trouble. Churches are emptying or are being frequented only by the older generation. Seminaries are closing down, and priest numbers are declining rapidly. There appear to be few, if any signs of new growth. 

“But that’s not the full story. We are living in interesting times since the arrival of the papacy of Francis, who has freed up discussion, areas of study and the search for the truth in the Church,” he says.

Following his presentation there will be time for questions and discussion, which will give people an opportunity to share some of their own experiences in living out their faith.

The talk starts at 7.30pm in The Clayton Hotel in Briarhill on Wednesday, March 27.

All are welcome.

FURTHER INFORMATION FROM:

Bernie Ní Fhlatharta at 087-2646625

Tony Flannery at 061-546651 or 087-6814699