-
Brian Eyre keeps the question of married priests before us for consideration.
His is a timely reminder in a week where we see the appointment of three priests to “united parishes” in Tuam Archdiocese, i.e. they are to assume the responsibility of a neighbouring parish along with their current one due to the retirement of priests who have reached the retirement age of Seventy Five years, even though these men are still to provide sacramental and pastoral ministry. How long is this situation sustainable in dioceses throughout Ireland?
It was also the week when an Irish Bishop put his toe gingerly in the waters stirred up by Pope Francis and called for discussion about the possibility of ordaining married men.
-
Bernard Cotter, who supplies the Liturgy Preparation notes on our website, writes of the recent death of his father, Denis Cotter RIP
-
Chris McDonnell, using the example of the Marriage referendum result, questions how the voice of the people and the ‘Sensus Fidelium’ can be accommodated at the Synod on the Family.
“We can only hope that the voice of the people is recognised in their debate and reflection, for if the outcome of the Synod is to be accepted within the body of the Church, it has to be accepted by the pilgrim people to whom it seeks to offer support and guidance. “
-
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.”
-
Not much hope of a ‘reality check’ concerning the current English language version of the Roman Missal if the quote from Cardinal Sarah in the ‘Vox Clara’ press release is accurate.
” Cardinal Sarah reported that the Holy Father was quick to state that “Vox Clara must remain because its work is very precious for the English-speaking Conferences in the world. So tell them they must continue the work.”
The press release is carried in full for your information.
-
Edward Pentin reports in the National Catholic Register about a meeting that took place at the Pontifical Gregorian University on Monday 25 May with the aim of urging “pastoral innovations” at the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Family in October.
-
Gerry O’ Hanlon S.J. writes in an article about the recent referendum on marriage and its aftermath
It was first published on
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/.
“The atmosphere among the crowd in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland was carnival like – rainbow flags flying, people smiling and embracing, a sense of delight. This, on the Vigil of the Feast of the Holy Spirit, was a kind of secular Pentecost, a communal experience of movement from fear to peace and joy.”
He quotes Archbishop Diarmud Martin in saying that the church ‘has to find a new language to get its message across, particularly to young people, and that if teaching isn’t expressed in terms of love then the Church has got it wrong.’
Gerry concludes that ‘Archbishop Martin and his colleagues here in Ireland – and further afield – need to take up with energy and enthusiasm the challenge of Pope Francis for a more collegial and dialogical church, in which the voice of all is heard. Then perhaps we can hope for an ecclesial Pentecost to correspond to the secular celebration last Saturday in Dublin, a joyful re-birth of our badly damaged church.’
-
Seamus Ahearne, from his seaside retreat, reflects on recent happenings in Ireland and in Church and is not alarmed.
“Wherever I have worked, the church and the culture were not synonymous. We were never that important in the scheme of things and that was and is much better. I don’t think that the coincidence of culture and religion was ever good or right as it has been in Ireland. But the world of God is not shattered when people vote against the view of the Bishops. God and Faith goes on.”
“I am blessed. My church is a happy, noisy, argumentative place. No Referendum changes that one.”
-
Press Release by the Association of Catholics in Ireland concerning the forthcoming Synod on Family .
” a synod without the significant involvement of married laity will lack authority.”
-
Brendan Hoban in his weekly Western People column offers his thoughts on the outcome of the marriage referendum.
“A clear message for the Church is that the bishops’ view was roundly rejected not just by the gay community, or those sympathetic to its views, but by tens of thousands of ‘ordinary’ Catholics.”
“There’s a massive change taking place in Ireland and, once again, the Catholic Church finds itself out-thought and out-manoeuvred, too influenced by the conservative right, ….
Trying to keep out the tide is always a failed enterprise. When will we learn that simple truth?”
-
Seamus Ahearne gives his thoughts in the aftermath of the debate, discussion and decision of the marriage referendum.
” The sun still shines. The rain still comes. We all go about our business. We make our arguments and then accept what has happened. No one has died. It isn’t the death of life or family or marriage as we know it. “
-
Lester Feder reports for buzzfeed on the referendum ‘that is testing the limits of progressives’ hope for change under Pope Francis’.
-
In his weekly Western People column Brendan Hoban ponders the question that many are asking themselves this week, ‘how will I vote’, because “come Friday, there’s no middle ground between Yes and No.”
-
Brendan Hoban in his weekly Western People column questions the wisdom of bishops threatening to have priests withdraw from the civil aspect of Catholic marriages in advance of the marriage referendum.
“Let me say, first of all, that in my opinion (for what it’s worth) Archbishop Martin (and other bishops) are unwise to even suggest that priests solemnising marriages in Catholic Churches would, in the event of a YES vote being carried, no longer agree to act in a civil capacity.”
Request: Comments on the substantive issue of the referendum should be directed to the thread ‘The Marriage Referendum: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin explains why he is voting No; Fr. Pádraig Standún explains why he will be voting Yes’
-
As a result of the 2nd international meeting of priest associations and lay reform groups that recently took place in Limerick an open letter has been sent to Pope Francis.
“Pope Francis, we – priests and deacons, ministers and Church citizens, women and men – need you! We appeal to you to clear the way for new forms of parish life, their ministry and management. Let us open the priestly office to everyone who has the charism. Let us develop new management models and forms of pastoral ministry so that parishioners can participate according to their charisms. Let us establish a new culture of co-responsibility and joint decision-making in all structures of our Church. Let us remember how Jesus understood and lived community. God’s spirit compels us. Let us be courageous and tackle this together!”
-
Chris McDonnell reminds us that if the Jubilee Year of mercy is to mean anything then there is a need for people to feel and experience having mercy shown them.
He asks, “How will the Church be a sign of mercy in the Jubilee year? It will not be enough to declare a Jubilee without our showing mercy in a real and recognisable manner”.
-
Fr. Pádraig Standún, writing in this week’s column, Standún’s Station, in The Connaught Telegraph explains why he will vote for the marriage referendum.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, in an address to Diocesan Communications Officers explains why he is voting against the marriage referendum.
-
Brendan Hoban, in his Western People column, tells us we have to face reality when considering the future for our Church, even if in our circumstances that denial is understandable. However he is adamant that “Fantasy is no help to the Irish Catholic Church.”
-
Sean McDonagh keeps us informed about the forthcoming encyclical that deals with ecological issues. He includes a quote from Neil Thorns, the head of advocacy at England’s Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), as saying that “the anticipation around Pope Francis’s forthcoming encyclical is unprecedented. We have seen thousands of our supporters commit to making sure their MPs know climate change is affecting the poorest communities.”
What will be the response of the church in Ireland and its bishops?
-
Seamus Ahearne, in his usual style, anchors us in the reality that is church in Ireland in 2015; a church where the hot button issue/culture/liturgical wars so beloved by some are just irrelevant to many people.
“Evangelisation happens on the streets, in the shops, in the schools, at the door, in the community and especially in the homes. We are interpreting experiences. We are the learners. We are the outsiders. Evangelisation is about humility. When we realise how little we know and how fragile we are now in a culture that doesn’t know our God or our Church; we can relax and learn. The God we used to preach/celebrate really wasn’t always a loving, real and immediate God either. We were in control. Now we are at a loss. But that too is alright. We are old but aren’t dead yet; we can learn if we are prepared to.”
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
