Gerry O’Connor CSsR and ACP leadership Weekly Homily – Sunday 16 Feb 2025

Fr Peter Daly wrote recently in the National Catholic Reporter about problems he sees that arise as a result of the church’s position on mandatory celibacy for priests of the Latin Rite.

“Celibacy is not essential to Catholic priesthood. It is only mandated in two of the 24 “autonomous churches” in communion with Rome; the Latin Rite and the Ethiopian Rite….. At least seven popes were married…..There was even a father and son pope combination, Pope Hormisdas (514-523) who was father to Pope Silverius, (536-537)…..Today we have many married priests in the Roman (Latin) Rite who have come to us from the Anglican or Lutheran traditions. ….. If they can be married, why not others?
The practice and teaching of the church on priestly celibacy has been inconsistent and incoherent. But, most important of all, Jesus did not mandate celibacy.” 

Pádraig McCarthy writes: Today by the Department of Health published the reported terminations of pregnancy in 2020. A review of the legislation is due this year. Termination of Pregnancy Report…

Eating Together, Becoming One by Thomas O’Loughlin has won First Place in the “Ecumenism or Interfaith Relations” category in the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada’s 2020 Book Awards. We extend our congratulations to Tom.

Pope Francis called on theologians to explore whether Catholic practice should be changed to allow Christians, belonging to other churches, to share fully at the table when they take part in a eucharist celebrated by Catholics. Thomas O’Loughlin argues that the various ways of thinking about what we are doing in the liturgy should lead us to see intercommunion as enhancing our participation in the mystery of the church and the mystery we celebrate.

When honesty comes at a price Chris McDonnell  We happen to live in a time when honesty is lacking. Maybe that has always been the case but in our own…

In a letter to the cardinals who will take part in the meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the end of June, Cardinal Re outlines the themes of the four…

REMINDER!Where OUR Church is Going Fr. Derek ReeveFriday 19th June,  20.00 – 21.30 London time On 2nd June, 2012, Fr Derek Reeve, along with six other priests, wrote a letter to…