Brendan Butler on the topic that ‘shall not be mentioned’!
At the risk of being labelled a ‘heretic’ or ‘schismatic’ Brendan Butler of We Are Church takes up the issue of the ordination of women
Blog
-
-
16th Sunday Ordinary Time
OPENING COMMENT FOR MASS: Our God is like a shepherd who always looks after the flock: the Lord cares for us in all our needs.
-
Killala diocese may have only eight priests by 2032
Brendan Hoban reflects on the implications of declining clergy numbers in his west-of-Ireland diocese and sees clustering of parishes as only a short-term solution.
-
Communion from the Chalice should be given at every Mass
Bernard Cotter argues that Communion from the chalice should be universally available in Ireland, given the high number of coeliacs in its population
-
15th Sunday Ordinary Time
OPENING COMMENT FOR MASS: God has blessed us in very many ways: God has showered grace upon us. During today’s gathering, we give thanks to the Lord for all we have received.
-
14th Sunday Ordinary Time
OPENING COMMENT FOR MASS: As weak and sinful people, we gather to ask the Lord’s mercy. We know his grace is sufficient for us. Together, we praise and thank our God for the constant care we receive.
-
ACP meets Steering Group of new lay association
The ACP Leadership Team reports on a meeting between its representative and three members of those establishing an umbrella body for the lay Catholics of Ireland
-
‘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
-
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’.
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts