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).
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)
Tony Flannery reflects on the remarkable exchange between the Austrian bishops and Pope Francis, in which the the bishops were challenged to stay in close contact with their priests. He calls for the Irish bishops to do likewise.
The ACP Leadership Team responds to comments made by the Minister for Education, in which he suggested that time spent at religious instruction would more profitably be given over to core curriculum subjects.They call his comments “unhelpful, unwarranted and unacceptable”.
Tony Flannery reports on the first two events of his planned speaking engagements, under the title “Repairing a Damaged Church”.
Pádraig McCarthy welcomes the publication of a survey of Dublin priests’ responses to the Murphy report, which was compiled by Alan Hilliard and published under the title ‘A Window on Murphy‘.
Seamus Ahearne reflects on his parish experience of the Christmas and Epiphany liturgies and muses on the liturgical texts he had to use, the Francis effect, the ACP’s role and how the language and ritual of the Church affect people — or don’t.
Tony Flannery announces a series of talks on church reform — and is open to groups wishing to organise such gatherings in March and April,
Brendan Hoban delights in Pope Francis’ efforts to control careerism in the clergy, seen most recently in his decision to restrict the creation of new monsignori. He suggests those currently holding the title should also resign it. (Article first published in the Western People).
Reacting to the news of the unexpected death of Fr Joseph McGuane, Sean O’Conaill commends Fr McGuane’s article in the 2008 Furrow, entitled THE PROFESSIONAL CLERIC (reprinted here).
Sean M O’Connail assesses the progress in the ten-year plan of implementing the National Directory for Catechesis and finds that, three years in, it has come to a standstill. He calls on the Irish Bishops to acknowledge the state of emergency in the Irish Church, given the crisis facing clerical manpower and morale.
The ACP Leadership Team reports that the German Bishops are taking the Pope at his word, and acting accordingly — and they ask: “what are the chances that Irish Church authorities might do the same?”
Sean O’Conaill gives a layman’s response to Evangelii gaudium. He hopes that the decentralisation that Pope Francis encourages might overcome ‘deeply embedded Irish clericalism’
Brendan Hoban takes issue with Breda O’Brien and David Quinn’s praise for Pope Benedict and dismissal of Pope Francis. He finds their evidence of green shoots in the Irish Church unconvincing (first published in the Western People, 18 November 2013).
Brendan Hoban lists sources of disenchantment in the Irish diocesan clergy — and suggests what might enchant them (first published in The Furrow, November 2013).
Presenting: a brief profile of the three new members of the ACP Leadership Team, and an update on the original team members.
Gerry O’Hanlon SJ reviews the ACP’s first three years and suggests future directions (this is the text of his talk at the start of the AGM).
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).
The Leadership Team of our association report on the AGM — which takes place in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on Tuesday, Oct. 29th at 2.00pm. This event marks three years of the ACP.
The ACP Leadership Team reminds members about the gatherings of the Association in the coming weeks, and other related events taking place this Autumn.
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