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)
Massimo Faggioli reports on the outcome of the synod in http://www.globalpulsemagazine.com/news/life-begins-at-50/2070
“Yet the final document, which received the quorum of the two thirds for all its paragraphs, is more cautious than the text of 2014.
It is also silent on some important issues, namely the attitude of the Church towards gay people (except a weak passage on families with gay members).”
“But in this sense the final relatio of 2015 is a document that gives us a picture of the Church – more accurately, of its bishops – that is closer to reality,”
“The Synod also showed that much of the Catholic debate today is the expression of a debate between American bishops. The fact that they disagreed in public … is in itself surprising. It is the symptom of the extremism and sectarianism of some … but also the sign of Francis’ breakthrough in the American Catholic hierarchy.”
“The Synod’s final document is important, but it says less about the future direction of the Church than Francis’ great speeches of October 17 (a new ecclesiological framework for a synodal Church) and October 24 (against the ideologues in the Church). This is why the Synod of 2015 will disappoint some liberals, but it is clearly a victory for Francis.”
Mike O’Maera reports in the NCR of the Kenyan Bishops’ Conference celebrating Lent and the Year of Mercy in a very practical way. Could it be an example for European and U.S. Bishops’ Conferences to copy and lessen their use of the year as a drive to get people back into the confessional?
Phyllis Zagano in an article in the National Catholic Reporter gives a very interesting analysis of recent developments concerning the questions of re-admitting women to the order of deacon and that of ordaining married men to the order of priest.
Could it be that two Irish Bishops may give a lead to the universal church on these issues?
Seán O Conaill argues that clergy-inspired shame over the phenomenon of sexuality has brought about the magisterium’s blindness to the effects of clerical abuse of children.
ACP Member Jimmy McPhillips from Clogher Diocese admits to feeling shock anger and fear at what is happening to Tony Flannery. And he adds a northern perspective to the controversy.
Tim Hazlewood asks “What is the official Church policy concerning anonymous allegations?” Despite repeated attempts in the past to get an answer to this question Tim says “I failed to secure a tangible answer. All I got was vagueness.” But in a recent meeting he was told “that the policy is to inform the relevant authorities following an anonymous allegation against a priest. There it was at last in no uncertain terms. No ambiguity this time.” But as he asks, “what are the implications?”