Bishops’ Letter to the Association of Catholic Priests: Item for Agenda of AGM

Last May an ACP delegation raised some serious and urgent issues about the Irish Church with representatives of the Irish Bishops. We also looked for a process of continual dialogue in order to meet the challenges facing us.
Below is the response received from Ray Browne, bishop of Kerry.
This letter from the bishops will be discussed at the AGM. Until members can discuss it at that meeting the comments section is closed.
 
Dear Brendan,
Thank you for your letter, dated August 18th.
As bishops we found the exchange of views at the meeting positive. We reported back to the Episcopal Conference on our engagement during the June meeting and this was well received. We returned to the issues again at our October meeting.
The current challenging situation for the future life and mission of the Church in this country requires that all of us work together. As regards the voice of priests, the bishops emphasised that the strategic role of the diocesan Councils of Priests is particularly important. The Bishops’ Conference therefore renewed its commitment to meeting twice yearly with the chairpersons of Councils of Priests from around the country.
Concerning a National Synod, the bishops are anxious to learn from the experiences in recent years of local consultations and listening exercises at diocesan level. In a future bishops’ meeting, the bishops will hear from Bishop Leahy about the lessons learned from the recent Synod in Limerick.
Regarding the care of priests, specifically safeguarding issues, the new standards document, and the associated guidance published this summer, give genuine hope for creating a ‘one-Church’ approach that can win the confidence of all. This matter was also raised and discussed at the recent National Safeguarding Conference in Tullamore.
The bishops are committed to the ongoing implementation and discussion of Laudato Si at diocesan and national level. There has been some sharing of good practice in relation to diocesan initiatives and the bishops have set aside a dedicated time to focus on this in the early New Year. It will also form a key element of the catechesis in preparation for the World Meeting of Families to take place in Dublin in 2018.
Overall the Bishops are committed to working with priests at every level in ensuring that we are all wholeheartedly proclaiming the Gospel and serving the People of God.
With every good wish and blessing. 
Yours Sincerely,
+Ray Browne. (bishop of Kerry)