Brendan Hoban in his Western People column argues that for the Catholic Church the result of the referendum on same-sex marriage will matter less than the fall-out afterwards.
“Looking back on previous debates (on contraception, divorce, abortion) that divided the nation, neither side was prepared to take a long and respectful approach to the issues. Debates around difficult subjects and competing rights were marked by an absence of generosity on both sides.”
Pope Francis on the meaning and importance of the nativity scene.
Séamus Ahearne: “Enrico, didn’t you like the pasta? Why aren’t you happy?” “Certainly I liked it. And of course I am happy.” “Then why aren’t you crying?” (The Umbrian Thursday Night…
Brendan Hoban in the current edition of Studies gives an honest assessment of the current state of the Church in Ireland and says “that ongoing change is now a permanent reality for the Catholic Church”. Brendan also posits a possible way forward based on the reality of the situation but reminds us that by rejecting the reality of change we are “by extension, rejecting the possibility of reshaping a different church.”
Our thanks to the Editor of Studies, Bruce Bradley SJ, for permission to publish this article on our website.
As Pope Leo XIV accepts the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and appoints Archbishop Ronald Hicks to shepherd the Archdiocese of New York, Archbishop Hicks tells Vatican News that the…
An Invitation and Proposal: Brendan Hoban has written a book – A Priest’s Diary. It is now into its second printing. Many have bought the book and presumably some have read…
An interesting article from Robert Mickens in La Croix (link below):
Catholic women are still relegated to second class Musings on the pope’s “motu proprio” on female readers and altar servers
Read more at: https://international.la-croix.com/news/letter-from-rome/catholic-women-are-still-relegated-to-second-class/13639
The People of God lead – and Pope follows belatedly
13 January 2021 We welcome the recent announcement by Pope Francis that women will now officially be allowed to act as Acolytes and Lectors.
For more than 50 years women have been carrying out these roles. Now rather belatedly Pope Francis makes it official. Real change comes from the People of God at the grassroots and not from the curia in the Vatican.
Women remain officially excluded from:
• Reading the gospel at mass
• Preaching at mass
• Presiding at the Eucharist
• All ordained ministries
• Decision making at all levels
For centuries women have been treated as inferior to men by the patriarchal leaders in the Catholic Church. The full equality of women in the Catholic Church is still officially being denied, but the People of God know it is a reality in our church all around the world.
Sadly, the announcement by Pope Francis did not include any apology to women for having officially been denied these roles for decades.
Colm Holmes
Chair, We Are Church International
E colmholmes2020@gmail.com
M +353 86 606 3636
W http://www.we-are-church.org
We Are Church International (WAC) founded in Rome in 1996, is a global coalition of national church reform groups. It is committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church based on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it.