Blog

Brendan Hoban reflects on five years of ACP.

“Now falls the evening on our assembly. It is the time when you willingly return home to find themselves at the same table, in the depth of affection, the good done and received, meetings that warm the heart and make it grow, the good wine which anticipates in the days of mankind the celebration without sunset.”
Padraig McCarthy

Redeeming Blood

On Sunday 14 September we heard the story of the fiery serpents, and the bronze serpent set up by Moses as instructed.
Pádraig McCarthy

Brendan Butler shares some concerns about the Synod on the family.

Brendan Hoban in his Western People column invites and challenges us to come up with realistic solutions to the ever growing shortage of priests in Ireland.

Mark Langham contends in the Tablet blogs that the notion that more senior figures might spend only part of their career in Rome would surely broaden the outlook of the Curia.

News on recent remarks by the Ombudsman for Children, and on a report from Australia. Pádraig McCarthy

Brian Eyre suggests a radical way of looking at parish, getting back to the roots of Christian community.

Invitation received to conference in Rome

Have we some keys to the discussion at Caesarea Philippi?
Pádraig McCarthy

Brendan Hoban tells us in his Western People column that bishop of Rome “Francis is 78, and might be dismissed as ‘an ageing, disillusioned priest’ – but he knows the score. I would argue that Francis and the ACP are singing out of the same hymn-sheet, even if others seem determined to drown out our voices.”

It is usually only a deep personal crisis of some kind that can – through heartfelt prayer – shake us free of the delusion that our value depends upon what others think of us

Brian Eyre, catholic married priest, Recife, Brazil, asks is it more important to demand that the Eucharist can only be celebrated by celibate priests or that it be made available to people frequently by allowing celibate or married priests celebrate it.

How can we respond to violence?

Launch of Mary T. Malone’s new book (published by Columba Press) by Gina Menzies

We appeal to the Irish Bishops to add their voice to the growing
chorus now accepting the need for a married as well as a celibate priesthood
in our Church.

Nathan Chase has posted an article in praytellblog.com commenting on a recent circular letter, dealing with the “sign of peace” at Mass, from The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
In light of the many crises facing the church would it be fair to apply the old cliche about deck chairs being moved on the Titanic to this circular letter?

Pope Francis has lifted the suspension of Maryknoll Fr. Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, who was ordered 29 years ago to stop exercising his priestly ministry because he refused to give up his political position in Nicaragua’s Sandinista government.

NCR editorial on the forthcoming Synod on the Family. Will it be something new or more of the same ?