High Court Statement – Fr Kevin Reynolds
Read the full text of the statement that was read out in the High Court by Fr Kevin Reynolds’ barrister once the settlement had been agreed
High Court Statement (PDF, 3.6mb)
Read the full text of the statement that was read out in the High Court by Fr Kevin Reynolds’ barrister once the settlement had been agreed
High Court Statement (PDF, 3.6mb)
The Steering Group of the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI) reports on its review of the Regency Hotel launch of the ACI on 10 November. An ACI website is to be developed to facilitate communication within the association.
Sarah Mac Donald writes in the NCR about recent comments by Bishop Crispian Hollis, the retired bishop of Portsmouth, concerning the ordination of married men to the priesthood which he says “needs to be explored openly within the church in England and Wales at national and diocesan levels.”
With fewer than 40 students in the national seminary at Maynooth it is an issue that is crying out to be explored in Ireland as well.
Liamy McNally is quoted as saying “There is no priest shortage!” ….. “We have many priests, but they are married and so are not allowed to have a public ministry,” ….. “in the early church those with a vocation to priesthood were married, whereas today, those who feel called to priesthood must also have a vocation to celibacy.”
Tony Conry is a missionary priest working in Brazil. Tony suggests that we can and should be creative in making up our own homespun blessings because ‘the English language robbed us of our Celtic heritage and gave us all a sterile cold communications system bereft of all emotional warmth and spiritual nourishment.’
Tim Hazelwood, reflecting on his own experiences, questions the role and function of the ‘Council of Priests’ in dioceses.
Tim feels this is of particular relevance in light of the letter from the bishops to the ACP following a meeting last May.
Tim says that ‘My experience is that the Council of Priests does not want to deal with the concerns of priests…… For diocesan priests the council is irrelevant in our lives. We get on with it as best we can as the work and weight of expectation grows, dreading the next edict to come from the council or the diocesan office to add to our busy work schedule.’
This article provdes an interesting angle on the recent silencing and disciplining of priests by the Vatican. Sean is suggesting that, rather than strengthening Vatican authority, these actions are actually weakening it.
“This critical time is an opportunity for the Church to consider both a new and dynamic vision of priesthood and a seminary preparation in tune with present needs.”