Statement concerning the reported lifting of sanctions on Fr. Sean Fagan
The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) welcomes reports emanating from Rome that all restrictions have been lifted from Marist priest, Fr Sean Fagan.
ACP News
Comment on Irish Times Cartoon
The leadership of the ACP protests in the strongest possible terms at a cartoon in the Irish Times that they perceive to be gratuitously insulting to Irish Catholic priests
Statement of the Association of Catholic Priests – Pope Francis and the ordination of married men.
The ACP calls on the Irish bishops to respond with courage and conviction to the direct challenge presented to them by Pope Francis
Latest news on Tony Flannery’s talks
After a very pleasant and enjoyable series of talks in various parts of the country, my ‘caravan’ is now coming to the capital. I am talking in the Stillorgan Park…
Irish bishops have reverted to regime of ‘secrecy, aloofness and unaccountability’
Sean O’Connaill deplores the bishops’ lack of transparency on the funding and independence of the national body for child protection that they set up (the NSBCCC), and hopes for the day when bishops will be accountable to their people.
ACP welcomes bishops’ publication of survey results
The ACP Leadership Team welcome the publication by the Irish Bishops of a summary of the responses they received to the Synod survey, and note the similarity with the results produced by a similar survey on this website: all reveal a gap between church teaching and practice.
Pope Francis has opened a door – let us enter
Gerry O’Hanlon SJ reviews Pope Francis’ first year and flags developments to watch out for. And he asks believers not simply to sit back and admire, but use the opportunities for dialogue Francis provides (first published in Irish Jesuit News).
Shared governance of the Church by pope and bishops needs to be restored
Mary McAleese argues for the ‘imperative of collegiality’ in the Church, suggesting a reinvigoration of the Synod of Bishops as the way forward. (Delivered at the Von Hugel Institute, a Roman Catholic research institute of St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge.)
Pope Francis must meet with victims of abuse
The editors of America’s National Catholic Reporter share their open letter to Pope Francis, appealing to him to meet victims of clergy sex abuse.
What Dublin Catholics think about marriage, divorce and re-marriage
Seamus Ahearne osa describes a dialogue that happened during Mass after the Gospel of Mark (10:1-12) was read last Friday morning
Murphy report is reviewed in latest ‘Studies’
The ACP Leadership Team recommends the latest edition of the Irish Jesuits’ magazine Studies, which is entirely taken up with the Murpny Report into abuse in Dublin diocese (www.studiesirishreview.ie)
ACP Leadership meet with reps of 75% of Irish dioceses
The ACP Leadership Team report on their meeting with representatives of ACP members in Irish dioceses on 25 February
Latest schedule of talks by Tony Flannery published
Tony Flannery announces the schedule of talks being given by him for the next month or so, as part of his speaking tour
Why won’t the Pope treat his faithful like adults?
Michael W. Higgins comments on the Vatican’s discouragement of the publication of the Synod survey results and fears Pope Francis may be losing his nerve (first pubished in the Globe and Mail, Toronto on 20 February 2014).
International church reform groups seek meeting with Pope Francis
Tony Flannery reports that a letter has been sent to Pope Francis on behalf of reform movements in many countries, the ACP included.
Have the Iona Institute won a battle — and lost the war?
Brendan Hoban is saddened at the Iona Institute’s rush to the lawyers on being called ‘homophobic’, and contrasts it with the Institute’s earlier comments on the ACP, which did not lead to a legal remedy being sought (first published in the Western People).
ACP leadership to meet diocesan reps
The ACP Leadership Team announces a meeting between them and representatives of each diocese on Tuesday, February 25th at 2.30pm in the Hodson Bay Hotel.
ACP Leadership calls for transparency in the Irish Church
The ACP Leadership Team believes the Irish Bishops’ decision not to publish the results of the Synod Survey runs contrary to the spirit of openness being promoted by Pope Francis. (Contact details of Leadership Team are here)
Is the New Evangelisation a crusade of fear?
Frank Gregg reacts to an EWTN discussion on Sister Faustina and asks how the loving God could have made the hell they discussed
Is there room for two clergy organisations in Ireland?
Eddie Finnegan reflects on the recent launch of the Irish Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and, in his inimitable tongue-in-cheek style, considers the prospects for success of two movements of Irish clergy.
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