ACP statement on Bishop Alan McGuckian’s comments on female diaconate (plus additional information in response to a query from the Irish Catholic)
21 March 2026
It is reported (Irish Catholic, 19 March 2026) that Bishop Alan McGuckian ‘thinks the door to female diaconate is shut and that his fellow Jesuit Pope Francis should have said so’.
We respectfully disagree.
Bishop Alan has spoken boldly. But has he listened to the ‘sense of faith’ of the overwhelming majority of Irish Catholics on this issue? To the latest authoritative papal magisterium arising out of the Synod on Synodality, to which he contributed by his participation? To the Final Report of the Study Group on Women in the Church which notes the discomfort of many women when ecclesial realities are compared with the civil societies of many of the countries in which they live, which sees the ‘question of women’, including that of access to the sacrament of Holy Orders, as a ‘sign of the times’, which notes that an increasing number of women, of every age group in different parts of the world, no longer feel ‘at home’ in the house of the Lord, to the point of leaving it altogether? To the voices of women who feel called to ordained ministry?
Bishop McGuckian’s main argument is from the ‘Catholic dispensation…the sacramental nature of things…the bridegroom and the bride’. But this argument is problematic. The rich biblical symbolism of bride and groom needs to be freshly understood in a modern context, now accepted by Church teaching, which sees marriage as a reciprocal relationship between equals, and not one of hierarchical subordination. Are not women, made in the image and likeness of God, capable of representing Jesus Christ as effectively as men? Is not the humanity of Christ of more basic significance than his male biological sex or his masculine gender?
We welcome the fact that Bishop Alan has spoken in the public forum and in such a patently honest way. Too often Bishops take refuge in a kind of inscrutable silence when it comes to controversial matters. In a healthy organization public debate, even when it involves conflict, is a help towards truth. We have surely learned in the Church universally and in Ireland that silence is not a good strategy. A synodal Church is one where unity is not identical with uniformity, but can admit of diversity.
In this spirit the ball is surely in the court of the other Irish bishops. Will some feel called to voice their own honest thoughts and feelings? Will the overwhelming majority of the Catholic faithful in Ireland find some public episcopal support for their instinct on this issue?
And can the Irish Synodal Assembly, next October, issue a strong statement on the role of women, including a call for a reconsideration of the teaching on female ordination?
End of statement
Following the publication of the ACP statement above a Press Query was submitted to the ACP by the Editor of the Irish Catholic, Garry O’Sullivan:
Press QUERY-
The statement issued says “public episcopal support for their instinct on this issue? And can the Irish Synodal Assembly, next October, issue a strong statement on the role of women, including a call for a reconsideration of the teaching on female ordination?”
Did the leadership of the ACP consult its membership before it issued this call and does it have a clear mandate from that membership to call for female ordination?
The ACP’s reply to the Irish Catholic is as follows:
The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) wishes to respond to the recent media query concerning our statement following the interview with Bishop Alan McGuckian.
As is always the case, the ACP adhered fully to its established Association protocols in the preparation and issuing of that statement. Our processes are designed to ensure that our communications reflect the considered perspectives of our membership while remaining faithful to our role within the wider Church.
We would encourage The Irish Catholic to engage more broadly with the views of ACP members, particularly on the question of the role of women in the Church. These perspectives have been shared openly and consistently at our public Annual General Meetings and in our Zoom gatherings. Such forums provide a valuable and transparent insight into the range and depth of opinion within our association.
There was a time when The Irish Catholic regularly sent reporters to cover ACP AGMs. It may be helpful for the publication to revisit those engagements, including consulting with staff reporters who previously attended, so that they can offer a more informed briefing to Garry O’Sullivan on the views of ACP members.
As in any organisation, it is neither expected nor realistic that there would be complete unanimity on every issue. However, there is a strong and widely shared conviction among ACP members that the question of the role of women in the Church deserves open and honest discussion, particularly within the context of the Irish Synodal Assembly. Furthermore, should there be significant support for a reconsideration of Church teaching on female ordination, it is essential that this voice be allowed to speak and be heard.
The ACP remains committed to constructive dialogue and to contributing meaningfully to the ongoing synodal process in the Irish Church.
What an excellent response to Bishop Alan.
But, you know, I am beginning to wonder what is it about my home diocese of Raphoe that has this kind of affect on our bishops.
And, yes, indeed, the ball is now in the court of the other Irish bishops.
Shall we be hearing from Bishops Niall soon?
Very well said, ACP.
Ordination is not a sex-linked inherited characteristic.
It’s not genetic.
It’s an ordered service.
Well done on calling out episcopal ignorance.
Some bishops are not keeping up.
Tell the truth, how many priests are really into this bridal imagery?
It is worrying that so many are happy with this Irish Catholic headline.
We are light years away from being a synodal Church.
There are some people who don’t accept Papal Infallibility and ex Cathedra Teaching as taught in Pastor Aeternus. This document was promulgated by Vatican I in 1870. I accept it unreservedly.
When Pius XII promulgated the Dogma of the Assumption of our Most Blessed Lady in 1950, ex Cathedra, I never heard any ensuing arguments against this Dogma. That is because the Supreme Pontiff has the Keys, and he can turn them to teach a Dogma ex Cathedra, thus binding all the Faithful to accept it.
The best Solution to the situation regarding the female Diaconate would be for Pope Leo XIV to use the Keys he has, as Supreme Pontiff, to issue an ex Cathedra Document, confirming what Canon Law (1917 or 1983 or both) says regarding who validly receives Holy Orders.
People are weary of this Debate. Let us put an end to it and concentrate on saving our Souls.
Salus Animarum Suprema Lex.
It is good to see that Pope Francis asked episcopal conferences to come to an agreement on celibacy and to submit their request to Rome for approval. The Belgian bishops seem to be doing this. The amount of foot-dragging and obstructionism on this (frustrating Paul VI at the 1971 synod and Pope Francis at the Amazonian synod) has been so terrific that one fears nothing will happen again. Only Pope Benedict did anything effective in welcoming married Anglican priests. Diehard defenders of the celibacy system seem to be losing steam, aided by the phenomenon of empty seminaries. The issue is merely disciplinary and gives no grounds for theological controversy, so we can expect to see some sensible adjustments going forward.
I can assure you, Dermot, Leo XIV will never do that.
The Irish Catholic would love the opportunity to speak with your members on this and thank you for the opportunity. Please ask them to contact editor@irishcatholic.ie As for attendance at ACP meetings we have received no press invites to any events organised by the ACP in the last two years since Garry O’Sullivan stepped in as Editor and again we’d love the opportunity to attend so please send invites to the same email as above. Attempts to contact your leadership team on the numbers provided in your press release have met with silence, the same silence ironically you complain is typical of the bishops. I think we can all benefit from open and respectful communications for the sake of the synodal process and the good of the Church. Thank you.
A few years back the movement to have women ordained wasn’t espoused by the pontiff of the time but his demeanour could have given the impression that he may have supported the ordination of women. As the years pass the realisation of that change in Church teaching has become less probable. Two Vatican commissions have found themselves unable to support it.
It is possible to argue that the Holy Spirit saw no reason to inspire the ordination of women within the period of the development of the New Testament. The reasons commonly given to support the notion imply that there was no reason to postpone that inspiration for 2000 years. By the same token if the Holy Spirit desires it now there is no reason to postpone it further. The probability is that the present Pope or his successor will, as suggested in no. 3 above, confirm what Canon Law (1917 or 1983 or both) say regarding who validly receives Holy Orders. Waiting around indefinitely as noted in no. 4 is not a good idea, irrespective of the outcome of the decision.
Many Catholics tend to believe that they have a formula to “fix” the Church. The primary responsibility of the individual Catholic is to seek to be “fixed” in fact by the Church. Why remain otherwise?
ENGLISH: International Press Release
SUBJECT: Appeal from the Married Priests Movement to Pope Leo: “Reconciliation and Readmission, the Panikkar Model to overcome the Parish Emergency.”
TURIN/VATICAN CITY, March 25, 2026 – The International Movement of Married Priests, coordinated by Don Giuseppe Serrone, announces a strategic shift: the goal is not a “duel” with local authorities, but a direct appeal to the only authority capable of normative and sacramental reform: Pope Leo.
The Priority is the readmission to active ministry of those priests who, having obtained a regular dispensation and entered into a religious marriage, wish to serve the People of God.
“We do not seek conflict with the Bishops, whom we ask instead to be spokespersons to the Holy Father for this request for reconciliation,” says Don Giuseppe Serrone. “We cite the model of Raimon Panikkar, readmitted to public celebration with the tacit consent of Rome. If the Church could embrace Panikkar’s prophetic complexity, it can do so today for those ready to fill the void in the parishes.”