This article by the late Sean Fagan appeared in ‘Doctrine and Life’ in March 2001.
Sincere thanks to Bernard Treacy OP, Director, Dominican Publications, 42 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 for permission to publish this article by the late Sean Fagan. www.dominicanpublications.com
Thanks to Sean O’Conaill for the suggestion to publish the article as a tribute to Sean and for providing an electronic version of the article.
Brendan Hoban, writing in the Irish Times, offers some initial thoughts in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Fr. Jacques Hamel.
We extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Fr. Jacques Hamel, to the parishioners in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray and to the people of the Diocese of Rouen.
Nous adressons nos sincères condoléances à la famille du père Jacques Hamel, les paroissiens de Saint -Étienne- du- Rouvray et à la population du diocèse de Rouen.
Chris McDonnell writes in The Catholic Times about the shortage of priests and states that “It will soon be too late to consider a possible resolution to the problems we face unless we take active steps now to address our difficulties.”
“there is a now a clear necessity for Commissions to be set up both in the UK and Ireland by the respective bishops’ conferences to examine the whole issue before the model we are currently struggling to manage breaks and we are left to pick up the pieces.”
Brendan Hoban’s weekly column in the Western People takes a look at the ‘noxious weed’ of clericalism.
Clericalism, Brendan describes, is when “In simple terms the priest was given to believe that he knew best, was in full charge of everything and should feel superior to mere lay-people. To give this clericalist mentality substance it was wrapped in black soutanes and Roman collars and placed in a context of status, deference and privilege. Priests became part of an exclusive, hierarchical and authoritarian elite.”
Brendan Hoban in the Western People suggests it’s time that Cardinals who are obstructing the reforms of Pope Francis should be called to order.
“Francis has very publicly told members of the Roman Curia that they often suffered from ‘the pathology of power’ which produced ‘ a superiority complex’ “
It was with great sadness that the ACP learned of the death of Fr. Sean Fagan.
May the Lord grant him peace.
Tony Flannery penned a brief appreciation on learning of Sean’s death.
‘The Judas Iscariot Lunch’ , a documentary, features 13 former Columban missionary priests including Joe O Grady from Cloonacool, County Sligo.
It is is a story about faith, religion, love and life after the priesthood.
This documentary, often funny, sometimes sad, is beautiful, raw and thought-provoking.
Praytellblog and http://aleteia.org are reporting that Pope Francis summoned Cardinal Sarah to a meeting last Saturday following the latter’s call for priests to face east while celebrating Mass from next Advent.
A statement was issued by Press Office of the Holy See, 11/07/2016.
“There are not, therefore, any new liturgical directives beginning next Advent” and “it is best to avoid using the expression ‘reform of the reform’, referring to the liturgy, as sometimes it has been a source of misunderstanding “
Tony Flannery reports on the the third International Conference of Reform Movements which is scheduled for Chicago next October.
“we aim to enter into deep dialogue, understanding our similarities and our differences, enjoying our diversity and finding common ground leading to common action. In this way we hope to strengthen our commitment, and energise our work, for Church reform.”
Sarah Mac Donald writes in NCR about the experience of Gerry Moloney at the hands of the CDF.
“You are tried, found guilty and sentenced, before you even know you were on trial. And yet the gospel tells us that people will ‘know we are Christians by our love.’ “
Cardinal Sarah asks priests to start celebrating Mass facing east this Advent ……. Really, he did!
Brendan Hoban writing in the Western People continues to question when the bishops will find the courage and imagination to face the ‘vocation crisis’ in the Church in Ireland.
“The simple truth is that the problem with vocations to the priesthood is that young Irish men are no longer saying YES to a celibate vocation, their parents are encouraging them to say No and the vast majority of priests in parishes know that prioritising celibacy over the Eucharist is not just bad theology, it isn’t working.”
Brendan Hoban reviews Michael Paul Gallagher’s “Into Extra Time.”
‘Michael Paul worried that publishing such a personal narrative would seem to inflate his own experience or appear too self-centred and pious and he found writing a book that would be read only when he was dead a strange moment in his life. But he need not have worried. It is, I believe, the most important book he has written.’
A monthly celebration of Sunday Mass in Avila Carmelite Centre, Bloomfield Avenue (off Morehampton Road), Donnybrook, Dublin 4, at which all are welcome, with a particular welcome for lgbt (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) people, their parents, family members, and friends.
Celebrants have included Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and diocesan and religious priests.
Pope Francis gave his customary press conference on his return flight following his trip to Armenia.
America magazine and the Catholic News Agency (CNA) among other news outlets are carrying reports of his comments.
At the request of the Leadership Team of the American Association of Catholic Priests (AUSCP), Jim Schexnayder, of Oakland Diocese, extended an invitation to Archbishop John Wester, Archdiocese of Santa…
Pádraig McCarthy reminds us, and the bishops, that St. John Paul II said “among the many activities of a parish, none is as vital or as community-forming as the Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist”.
John Paul also underlined the importance of “ensuring that parish assemblies are not without the necessary ministry of priests”, but according to Padraig ‘the Church is not ensuring this.’
Time has run out for action to be taken but we wait, and wait, and wait……
Soline Humbert brings to our attention a presentation by Sr Jeannine Gramick from 2000 about a document, relevant to the issue of silencing, that was produced by the Second General Assembly of the 1971 Synod of Bishops. Entitled Justice in the World . . .It says: “The Church recognizes everyone’s right to suitable freedom of expression and thought. This includes the right of everyone to be heard in a spirit of dialogue which preserves a legitimate diversity within the Church” (JW 44).
Soline says ‘the importance of this document exceeds the importance of any document produced by a Vatican dicastery because it bears the weight of the world’s bishops in communion with the Bishop of Rome. This fact should be noted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [CDF], which has silenced theologians and pastoral workers even after Vatican II. A higher authority than the CDF has validated free expression and public debate on controversial theological issues.”
Tony Flannery has written an article, published in The Irish Times and on his own website, about the attempted stifling of the debate about the ordination of women.
“The efforts made by the Vatican to silence discussion on the ordination of women over the past 50 years have been both unsuccessful and unwise.”
“Though Pope Francis has said that this door is closed, his consistent call for open discussion and dialogue, and indeed for open doors, has created a climate where the whole issue of women’s place in the church is now centre stage.”
“The effort by the Vatican to stifle debate, often by using methods that should never be part of the Christian community, is doing enormous damage to the church.”
Brendan Hoban in his weekly Western People column reflects on the recent atrocity in Orlando.
Wondering about the influence religion may have in encouraging acts of homophobic violence he writes;
“A Florida bishop, Robert Lynch, lamented the role religion has played in breeding contempt for the LGBT community: ‘Sadly it is religion, including our own, which targets, mostly verbally, and also often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people,’ he wrote ‘attacks today on LGBT men and women often plant the seed of contempt, then hatred, which can ultimately lead to violence.”
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