‘Kevin’s’ posting on sexual abuse needs answer from Irish Church
Seán O Conaill believes ‘Kevin’s posting needs an urgent reply from church authorities. ‘Abuse by priests csauses spiritual wounds’ was published on 23 June
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Clogher ACP branch discusses support structures for priests
A Clogher priest reports on the meeting of Clogher ACP which took place in Clones on Wednesday 27 June.
Liturgy suggestions for Summer Sundays
Bidding prayers etc for the Sundays of July are given below, beginning with next Sunday. After the suggestions for Sunday 29 July, you’ll find texts to help you welcome summer visitors from abroad.
13th Sunday Ordinary Time
OPENING COMMENT FOR MASS: On this first Sunday of July, we give thanks to God for all the gifts we enjoy. We rejoice in God’s saving power: death itself is in his hand and all the living depend on God alone.
Steering Group reports back on the new lay ‘umbrella organisation’
The Steering Group which is developing an umbralla group for lay people reports on its work since the All Hallows meeting on 30 May. In a statement, the ACP Leadership Team stated that they ‘are delighted to see this initiative progressing, and forward to having a very fruitful alliance with it’.
Munster Assembly to be planned at meeting this Wednesday
A meeting to plan a regional assembly for Munster is being held this Wednesday in the Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown. All are welcome!
Birth of St John the Baptist — Bidding prayers etc
Just three birthdays are celebrated by the Church in the Liturgy each year – that of Jesus at the winter solstice, his mother’s on 8th September and that of his cousin John the Baptist near midsummer’s day. John’s birthday comes just after the longest day of the year, when the light begins to decline — just as Jesus’ birthday is after the shortest day, when days begin to lengthen. The placing of these two feasts summarises John the Baptist’s mission: ‘I must decrease, he must increase.’
Abuse by priests causes spiritual wounds
A man who suffered sexual abuse from a priest asks the Church to dispense victims of abuse from needing priests to encounter Christ in the sacraments. He shows a minimum of anger, a lot of compassion and immense struggle as he reflects on his complicated relationship with the Church. (Name and address with leadership team of the ACP.)
What it is to be a Catholic — Maura Adshead
Maura Adshead wrote on what being a Catholic means to her. This article appeared in the Irish Examiner of 21 June 21 under the heading ‘Why we need to tackle question of what it is to be a Catholic’. Maura Adshead is Senior Lecturer in Politics and Public Administration and Head of the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Limerick.
Are church investigation procedures really just? — Ladislas Órsy
Ladislas Orsy SJ, visiting professor of philosophy of law and canon law at Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington DC, is a graduate in law of Oxford and holds a doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University, Rome. This article was first published, in German, in Stimmen der Zeit, in June 1998. This version appeared in Ireland’s Doctrine and Life in October 1998.
The ACP Leadership team believe it is very apt today, in view of the difficulties some priests are having with the Vatican.
ACP calls for repudiation of Dolan report on the Irish College, Rome
The ACP Leadership call the Dolan Report on the Irish College in Rome “disturbing” and “incompetent”, saying it has effectively destroyed the reputation of priests, without giving them the right of reply. This Press Statement was issued on Friday, 15 June at 3.40pm
Getting dialogue going in a parish community
An anonymous parishioner in an Irish parish describes the frustrating experience of attempting to get dialogue going in her local parish. The author, who is known to the ACP leadership team, asked for anonymity in case her parish would be identified. She would be interested to know if others have had similar experiences and if there is an answer to her predicament.
The Church has to find new ways of being present in a new Irish society
In his address to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin speaks on the theme of ‘The Church in the Modern World’. He gives us further insights into his understanding of the notion of ‘dialogue’ , both within the Church and with the ‘world’.
Archbishop Martin criticised by ACP for avoiding dialogue
The ACP Leadership Team has criticised Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin for speaking of dialogue but not pursuing it
Thirty five Kilmore priests attend ACP information meeting
Brendan Hoban and Tony Flannery from the ACP leadership team both attended the recent information meeting held in Cavan for Kilmore priests, a new departure for the ACP. They found what they call “a remarkably positive attitude towards the Association” among Kilmore priests.
Catholics frustrated with their Church should ask God’s help
Fr James Martin SJ posted this ‘Prayer for Frustrated Catholics’ on 6 June 2012 on the group blog of America magazine:
http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=5169
(posted here by Pádraig McCarthy)
Irish Times series ‘Catholicism Now’ attracts mixed reviews
Pádraig McCarthy collates comments on the Irish Times series on ‘Catholicism Now’ in the week beginning 2 June.
He writes: ‘So far, I’ve found nothing surprising, except where they’ve got it wrong. Here are a few comments, maybe useful if it comes up in discussion. The Irish Times is not good at accepting and publishing corrections. Your relevant comments welcome. — Pádraig McCarthy.
Meeting supports ‘umbrella organisation’ for laity
This is a report of the ‘umbrella group’ meeting in All Hallows on Wednesday, May 30th, submitted by Noel McCann. The ACP Leadership Team adds: ‘We in the ACP are delighted with this development, and look forward to working closely with the new association.’
The new ‘Umbrella Group’ needs to focus on laity, bishops and priests
Three groups in the Church need specific attention from the new “umbrella group” formed at the All Hallows meeting: the general laity, the herarchy and the priests (via the ACP), writes Martin Murray. He reflects on the meetings in the Regency Hotel and All Hallows, and suggests some ways forward.
Trinity Sunday — Bidding prayers etc
We celebrate Trinity Sunday today. The feast gives us an opportunity to reflect on the mystery of God, who creates, redeems and makes us holy.
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