Annual General Meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests

Green Isle Hotel (near Newlands Cross)
Theme: Priesthood in a Time of Crisis
Tuesday October 4th a Public Session:
7. 30 to 9.30pmSpeaker: Fr. Kevin Hegarty – Priestly Ministry Today, An insider’s view.
T his will be followed by a Presentation to Fr. Seán Fagan SM for his years of service to Irish Theology
Wednesday October 5th 9.00- 10.30 am. Business Meeting for members.
11.00 to 12.30 – Dr. Marie Keenan – Challenges for Priestly Ministry in Ireland Today.
Accommodation available at the Green Isle, and also just down the road at Bewley’s, Newlands Cross

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3rd International Conference of Church Reform Network; Chicago, October 2016

ACP News, Reform of the Irish Church
9 Comments

Tony Flannery reports from Chicago on the recent 3rd International Conference of Church Reform Network.
” A wide range of issues were discussed and worked on. The one I myself was most involved with had to do with the need for some type of Declaration of Rights in the Church. We believe that at all levels in the Church there is a lack of accountability in the exercise of authority, and little or no means of appeal or redress. A group, of which I am a member, was set up to work on this over the next year.”

8 Comments

  1. Paul Burns says:

    Are members of the laity able to attend?

    Reply

  3. The threat of Austrian priests going into schism if they do not get what they want is not dissimilar to the young man who threatens suicide if his girlfriend leaves him. Both are emotionally immature and manipulative.
    There is a widespread apostasy in the Church and all that is left is for it to be formalised by an official schism. Whilst greatly to be regretted and wept over, such things have happened before, and will happen again. Though the Lord prayed that they be one, sadly human free will means division is inevitable and Christ’s body is torn through the sins of men, all 400 of them in this case.
    One other thing, obvious though it is, could easily be forgotten: once you go into schism, one is no longer Catholic.

    Reply
  4. Paul Burns says:

    Martha, that’s a very simplistic analysis. What is required is a deeper understanding of why these brave Austrian priests and their colleagues in Ireland and elsewhere are trying to save the church from negative forces within itself. They share our suffering and are determined to ensure a future for our mission to promote the ideals of Jesus Christ. They want to shake off the last trappings of the historic Holy Roman Empire and offer a truly Christian experience to God’s people. They are among the first to acknowledge that the emperor has no clothes. They deserve our full respect and support.

    Reply

  5. Paul, the Gospel, that ‘truly Christian experience’, has been available from the beginning of the Church. I’m probably just an ignoramus, but I always assumed that Christ appeared at the time He did precisely because of the Roman Empire. With the excellent transport links to spread His Gospel, and a ready made administrative system that His Apostles could co-opt, it was a master plan.

    Reply
  6. Eamonn Keane says:

    Paul,
    I think it is your own dismissive response to Martha that is “simplistic”. She has summed up more cogently and accurately the reality of what the rebellious Austrian priests are about than anyone else I have read commenting on this regretable situation.
    Eamonn Keane

    Reply

  7. Paul,
    Regarding your question ( unanswered ) if lay people could attend the ACP’s AGM,it seems to me that the ACP are as much about clericalism as any of the manifestations if it they are opposing. They simply want a greater slice of the clerical cake for themselves. The Lay Faithful remain for them as for their episcopal oppressors ( as they view it) mere pew fodder !

    Reply
  8. Paul Burns says:

    Pew View – to be fair Tony Flannery answered me by email to say the first session on the Tuesday evening is open to all. The later sessions are for members only ie priests. I suspect there will be media coverage to give the ACP the platform it deserves. I might see you there on the Tuesday tho I’ve to come down from Belfast.

    Reply

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