Diary Date: ACP AGM Wed 6 Nov 2024 – 2.00-5.00pm Radisson Hotel, Athlone.

Pope Leo XIV opens the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals and recalls that Christ draws us to follow Him, warning that division in the Church scatters the faithful. By Deborah Castellano…

Apparently the new liturgical texts were introduced prematurely in South Africa in 2008. This article is interesting, in that it gives some idea of how they were received in that…

Tony Flannery, in his own blog, cites the fact that scripture scholars are now saying much, and more, of what he was silenced for ten years ago. The difference is that there is now no problem with scholars expressing their thoughts and opinions and engaging in a healthy discussion of the topics involved.

Finian Connaughton expresses his opinions about the recent coverage by Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE, of the World Meeting of Families and the visit of Pope Francis. He hopes to start a debate about RTE’s coverage of church related matters and if it is balanced. He says “Are we priests happy to see our profession, vocation, however we name what we do, ridiculed day after day and say nothing about it? 
Our silence is deafening and dangerous.”

Brendan Hoban writing in the Western People argues that as long as Bishops don’t listen to people and priests “we (as church) relegate ourselves to the sidelines because we present ourselves as controlling and demanding, refusing to listen or engage with the issue.”
Brendan also suggests that there is a crying need for competent church people to be used to communicate effectively with media and public. “Not every bishop is blessed with the ability to think on his feet or to manage the combination of words that does justice to what he wants to say.”