Open meeting of the ACI to coincide with ACP annual meeting
A joint event, involving the AGM of the ACP and an open meeting of the new lay group, the Association of Catholics of Ireland, will take place at the Regency Hotel, Dublin on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November.
Programme:
- Friday evening, Nov. 9th: 7.30pm: Open session: Talk by Peter McVerry on “Justice in the Church and in Society”, followed by open discussion.
- Saturday Morning: 9.15 to 10.30am: Business meeting of ACP (Clergy only). This meeting will look at a proposed new constitution for the association: there will be a financial report, and time for any other business.
- Saturday morning: 11.00 to 1.00: Open meeting of the ACI to approve of their aims and objectives, and chart the way forward. Everyone welcome to that, including clergy members of the ACP
A registering facility for the ACI meeting is available here.
Looking forward to the meetings of the ACI and the ACP. I sincerely hope that there will be a representative of the Irish Hierarchy in attendance. I presume all the bishops have been invited. Surely they will, at least, send one member as an “observer” or a “listener”.
The description “turbulent priest” has commonly been used of Thomas (à) Becket, whose death led to “repentance” by the king and his support for the Templars, who came and set up Templetown in Co Wexford.
Wikipedia has this: The king’s exact words are in doubt and several versions have been reported. The most commonly quoted, as handed down by “oral tradition”, is “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”, but according to historian Simon Schama this is incorrect: he accepts the account of the contemporary biographer Edward Grim, writing in Latin, who gives us “What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and brought up in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?”
Now, the challenge is: Is there some way we can entice half a dozen turbulent bishops?
The most hopeful developments in our Church in recent years have been the emergence of the ACP and the ACI and I continue to admire and applaud those who have had the courage to bring them about.
I was at the Assembly in the Clayton Hotel in Galway and have listened to all the talks at both it and the Southern Assembly several times since to keep my heart and spirit as alive as possible in these bleak times, so thank you one and all.
I had sincerely hoped to attend the ACI meeting on Saturday next in the Regency but, unfortunately, circumstances will not, now, allow me to do so.
However, I want to wish both the ACP nad ACI meetings next
week-end every success and to assure you of my firm support in every way possible into the future. I think our two organisations – which, I hope, will forge and continue to maintain the closest of links- are our only hope for serious renewal in our church and, echoing, Ned Quinn, I really hope some member of the Irish Hirearchy will take courage and attend, even as an observer.
May God bless both gatherings.