Florida bishop reports on the results of the Synod Survey
Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida made a big effort to consult his people on the Vatican survey. This is his summary of the responses.
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Presider’s Page for Ordinary Time 5 (Sun 9 Feb)
In today’s liturgy, we hear that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Rejoicing in this calling, we praise God who sustains us all our days.
It’s time for the bishops and the ACP to talk
Tony Flannery reflects on the remarkable exchange between the Austrian bishops and Pope Francis, in which the the bishops were challenged to stay in close contact with their priests. He calls for the Irish bishops to do likewise.
German and Swiss churches publish their Synod questionnaire results
Cindy Wooden, Catholic New Services, reports in the NCR on the publication of the synod questionnaires of Swiss and German Catholics (first published in the National Catholic Reporter on 4 February 2014).
Supervision for clergy: how it works in an Australian Anglican diocese
Bryan Dunn reports on the system for supervision being implements for clergy in the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle in Australia — a possible model for Irish dioceses?
Atonement: why do Irish clergy avoid this issue?
Sean O’Conaill notes comments on the atoning quality of Christ’s sacrifice found on this site, and wonders why the issue is never broached by clergy — and a more nuanced position advanced.
Clogher priests acknowledge the fragility of priesthood
Jimmy McPhillips reports on the January meeting of ACP priests in Clogher Diocese, where the matter of priests off-duty because of ill-health was discussed.
Presider’s Page for Candlemas (Sun. 2 Feb)
It’s forty days since Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas. On 2 February, we remember his Presentation in the Temple. This feast is also called Candlemas; candles are blessed because today Jesus was revealed in the Temple as the light of all peoples.
Responses to Synod questionnaire on ACP website published
The ACP Leadership Team publish the results of the Synod questionnaire published on the ACP website before Christmas. Exactly 1,562 replied to the questionnaire, the results of which are being shared with the Synod organisers in Rome.
Synod Survey results published
The ACP Leadership Team publishes the results of the Synod survey completed by suubscribers to the ACP website before Christmas: 1,562 priests, religious, lay people, parents and teachers participated.
Can this low moment in church life become an opportunity?
Seamus Ahearne draws inspiration from the Jews at Terezin and asks if we can emerge from ‘all that freezes and destroys the Joy of the Gospel in our lives’.
ACP Leadership decries Ruairi Quinn’s ‘unreflective comments’
The ACP Leadership Team responds to comments made by the Minister for Education, in which he suggested that time spent at religious instruction would more profitably be given over to core curriculum subjects.They call his comments “unhelpful, unwarranted and unacceptable”.
Presider’s Page for Ordinary Time 3 (Sun. 26 Jan.)
Opening Comment (for Presiders) The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light: Jesus, the light of the world, walks among us, preaching a message of repentance. We…
Religion shouldn’t make people miserable
Brendan Hoban reflects on unhappy bishops and scrupulous priests — and invites people to re-discover the wonder of God’s love, following the example of Pope Francis (first published in the Western People).
Devise a 2014 Plan for your parish
Bernard Cotter suggests that parish pastoral groups take on topic a month for 2014, as a way of planning the year. (First published in The Tablet of 4 January 2014 and reproduced here with permission of the Publisher: www.thetablet.co.uk)
Tony Flannery’s lectures in Galway and Athenry spark vigourous debate
Tony Flannery reports on the first two events of his planned speaking engagements, under the title “Repairing a Damaged Church”.
Dublin priests’ responses to the Murphy Report are published
Pádraig McCarthy welcomes the publication of a survey of Dublin priests’ responses to the Murphy report, which was compiled by Alan Hilliard and published under the title ‘A Window on Murphy‘.
Pope’s G8 group member criticises CDF chief
Tom Heneghan, the Reuters ‘Religion Editor’, reports on the comments of Cardinal Maradiaga, a member of Pope Francis’ kitchen cabinet’ of advisers: first published on Reuters, under the heading ‘Top papal ally urges Vatican doctrine chief Müller to loosen up‘ (read original article here).
Presider’s Page for Ordinary Time 2 (Sun. 19 Jan)
The Christmas Season ended last Sunday, and the season of Lent begins quite late this year, on 5 March. During the time between the two seasons, we celebrate the Sundays of Ordinary Time, learning a little more each week about the life of Jesus. On this Sunday, we reflect on the Lamb of God, our Redeemer.
Here’s my summary of Pope Francis: “I am Vatican II”
Eugene Cullen Kennedy presents Pope Francis as the personification of the Second Vatican Council, following in John XXIII’s footsteps (first published in the National Catholic Reporter on 16 Jan 2014).
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