Articles

We carry an extract from an exchange between Justice McClellan, Chief Commissioner Australian Royal Commission on Sex abuse of children, and retired Bishop of Parramatta, Bede Heather.
This exchange shows the dangers of bishops being disconnected from society and living at a remove from the lives of the people they minister to. Would they be elected by their community?

Kevin Hegarty writing recently in the Mayo News about the refusal of the Papal Nuncio to meet the ACP touched on the Nuncio’s role in ‘creating’ bishops and its implications for the future of church in Ireland.

Since 1990, 52 priests have been killed, according to a report by Mexico’s Catholic Multimedia Centre.
Harry Farley writes in Christian Today about the recent murders of three priests in Mexico and quotes Roberto Blancharte, a scholar at the Colegio de Mexico, as saying that “there was a deep divide between the Church’s hierarchy who tend to live in luxury and mix with corrupt politicians, and its clergy, who rub shoulders with the country’s poorest”
Farley says ‘The belief church leaders have cowed to pressure is widespread among parishes and the silence over murdered priests only fuels this perception. “When a priest gets killed, it should be a rallying cry,” said David Shirk, director of the Justice in Mexico Project at the University of San Diego is quoted . “We should know his name. He should be a martyr.”

Seamus Ahearne sees hope in the world and people about him, in the 40th anniversary celebration of priesthood, in each person’s ‘magnificat’.
“magnificat?’
Mary (Our lady) thanked God – by saying ‘He that is mighty has done great things for me; holy is his name.’
Seamus challenges us; “(we) are searching for words and whispers of God always. And God is always talking and always letting us know something new if we listen. It is an exciting life; a frustrating life and an infuriating life but wonderful, which means of course full of wonder. God is forever a teasing, taunting, torment. Is there a better life? Is there a more fulfilling life? For some of us – it is the right one. Why has God been so good to you and to us? Give us your magnficat. Don’t give us a weary God or shout about problems. There is always more.”

Following the release of ‘The ethics of using contraceptives’ by the Wijngaards Institute another group of academics has released their own statement affirming Humanae Vitae during a press conference at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Dialogue and debate can only be good and informative.

Brendan Hoban writing in the Western People wonders if any lessons have been learned from the Maynooth debacle.

Maynooth seminary is still grabbing headlines.
Tony Flannery, on his own website, gives a frank opinion of the most recent proposals put forward by the trustees. “Are these men serious? Do they expect this effort at very traditional regimentation, and equally traditional spirituality, to solve the problems they believe existed?”
Brian Eyre, commenting from the remove of Brazil, sees merit in a proposal that “a subcommittee of lay people, families and “especially the presence of women” will be introduced as part of priestly formation”.
Meanwhile Cindy Wooden, writing in America Magazine, reports on Pope Francis speaking in Krakow about the training of seminarians. Pope Francis is reported as saying “too many seminaries teach students a rigid list of rules that make it difficult or impossible for them as priests to respond to the real-life situation of those who come to them seeking guidance.” and “”We need to truly understand this: in life not all is black on white or white on black,” he said. “The shades of grey prevail in life. We must them teach to discern in this gray area.”
Perhaps Maynooth’s trustees should consult Pope Francis?

John Shea, like many others, is seeking explanations about the church’s stance on the ordination of women. He continues to request bishops and others to engage in discussion on the topic.
For newer readers we again carry copies of his letters in the hope of stimulating further discussion.
“Is it already too late to talk about the search for truth? Is skewed patriarchal thinking the best we can bring? Are historical explanations the same as theological explanations? Is a folk theory of gender the essence of revelation? Was Jesus wonderfully patriarchal? Is the past prologue or is it meant to be an endless present of male superiority and privilege?”

Paddy O’Kane writes a personal appreciation of the late Edward Daly, bishop of Derry from 1974 to 1993. Paddy refers to Edward Daly’s outspoken views on the topic on mandatory celibacy for priests. He quotes Edward Daly from his book ‘A Troubled See.’
“I ask myself, more and more why celibacy should be the great sacred and unyielding arbiter, the paradigm of the diocesan priesthood. Why not prayerfulness, conviction in the faith, knowledge of the faith, ability to communicate in the modern age, honesty, integrity, humility, a commitment to social justice, a work ethic, respect for others, compassion and caring?
Surely many of these qualities are as at least as important in a diocesan priest as celibacy – yet celibacy seems to be perceived as the predominant obligation …”

Soline Humbert, writing in the Irish Times, states that the problems of Maynooth, and all seminaries, go far beyond what has been spoken of in recent times and in a challenging article argues that “Seminaries perpetuate the unjust rule of men over women in the church”.
However as “patriarchal hierarchical structures die, new communities and ministries are born, witnesses that, in the risen Christ, there is no longer male and female. We are one.”

Brendan Hoban, writing in the Western People, feels that many have missed the true historic significance of the commission, established by Pope Francis, to examine the issue of the ordination of women as deacons .
“Leaving aside the ordination issue it has been obvious for years that women could have been involved at a much higher level in church affairs but that they were systematically excluded by an unapologetic sexist mentality in the Vatican.”

“The cat is out of the bag. By establishing the commission and outlining its remit, Francis has effectively opened up the issue of women’s ordination for discussion, even though a few short years ago his two predecessors tried ‘definitively’ to close that discussion down. A few short years ago we weren’t even allowed to think about women’s ordination. Now the Catholic Church is officially considering the ordination of women deacons.
August 2, 2016 may well be remembered as a crucial day in the history of Catholicism.”