Pope Francis breathes new life into Cardinal Bernardin’s contested legacy
David Gibson sees reflections of the thinking of the late archbishop of Chicago visible in Pope Francis (first published on RNS Religion News Service)
Articles
St Mark has a message for people on the margins
Richard Rohr meditates on Mark’s gospel and finds there a model for ministry
‘Concerned Catholics’ meet in Tuam
A participant reports on the meeting of ‘Concerned Catholics’ which took place in Tuam on 12 October. It was organised by a few people who described themselves as ‘concerned Catholics’: from it may come a local branch of the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI).
Could Pope Francis make women cardinals?
Padraig McCarthy reflects on Pope Francis’ call for greater roles for women in the Catholic Church — and asks if he could take a giant step in that direction by appointing women to the College of Cardinals. (Reflection based on article in the NCR: read original article and comments here.)
Delegates from international reform groups meet in Austria
Tony Flannery reports on a meeting that took place in Bregenz, Austria in October. It was attended by representatives of reform groups from various parts of the world.
Pope Francis should restore Hans Kung’s credentials as a Catholic Teacher
Chris McDonnell reviews Hans Kung’s latest book ‘Can we save the Catholic Church?’, which he calls a painful but honest read.
A new structure and dynamic is unfolding in the Church
Timothy Radcliffe OP sees in Pope Francis’ interview ‘a new way of being Church’. This implies that the pope ceases to be a monarch and becomes again the Bishop of Rome (first published in America, 30 September 2013).
Is the Bishops of Ferns right? Is the ACP now ‘mainstream’?
Brendan Hoban reports on his recent discussion with the Priests’ Council of Ferns diocese, which centred on the difference Pope Francis is making to the Church (first published in the Western People).
ACP’s annual meeting is in a fortnight’s time
The ACP Leadership Team reminds members about the gatherings of the Association in the coming weeks, and other related events taking place this Autumn.
Has Pope Francis a major blind spot regarding the role of women in the Church?
Brendan Butler argues that by excommunicating an Australian priest for supporting the ordination of women, Pope Francis displays the same blind spot as his predecessors.
Pope Francis has taken on board what the ACP stands for
Tony Conry looks back at the three years of the existence of the ACP, and gives encouragement to continue the work into the future.
Pope Francis gives another interview …
Tony Flannery shares another Pope Francis interview, this time with the atheist editor of Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Eugenio Scalfari.
Pope Francis has given people permission to have doubts
Jo O’Sullivan shares her struggles with the Catholic Church. She dreams that, in the papacy of Francis, ex-Catholics might see that change is possible within this institution
The Irish Church refuses to face statistics on priesthood
Brendan Hoban shows that within 20 years a tiny cadre of aged priests
will be struggling to say Masses in a tiny complement of churches. He believes a fundamental re-think on priesthood is required (first published in the Western People)
This interview could be the Pope’s first real encyclical
Joe O’Leary praises ‘this stunning interview’ and hopes for more from Pope Francis. But he wonders whether Francis can implement structural changes that would enable his vision of church to become real.
Comprehensive interview with Pope Francis is published
America, the national American Jesuit magazine, has published an extensive interview with Pope Francis, conducted last month. You can read it here
‘A Question of Conscience’ is not about Tony Flannery but about the Vatican
Bill O’Herlihy, who describes himself as a committed Catholic, commends Tony Flannery’s book “A Question of Conscience” and finds in it an exposition of how the Vatican and its constituent bodies deal with people who challenge any of their views. (Given as a talk at the launch of the book at Royal Hibernian Academy on 12 Setpember 2013.)
Fr. Iggy O’Donovan says ‘goodbye’ to Drogheda
Iggy O’Donovan preached his last homily in the Augustinian Church in Drogheda on Sunday 15 September: this is an extract.
Have Veritas banned Fr Tony Flannery’s book?
Tony Flannery reports that Veritas bookshops have decided that his new book is too “controversial” to stock.
Neal Carlin’s mustard seed is already producing fruit in Ireland
Teresa Mee applauds Donegal priest Neal Carlin’s work for peace and reconciliation in Ireland, calling it ‘one of the mustard seeds planted in the soil and already producing fruit’.
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