The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has written to the Irish bishops urging them to convene a national assembly to address the crisis in the Irish Church and to discuss reform.
In an open letter posted on its website, the ACP, which represents more than 1,000 Irish priests, warned that the Church in Ireland’s “downward momentum” underscores how a shift to a post-Catholic Ireland is under way.
Fr Brendan Hoban, who wrote the letter on behalf of the ACP leadership, said that the key question was whether the Irish Church would become a “culturally irrelevant minority” or take the road of renewal and reform that Pope Francis pointed towards. A synodal approach would provide the space for open debate and consultation, he wrote.
The ACP leadership explained that its letter was prompted by August’s papal visit. It highlighted how many were surprised and upset by the “virulence of the negative commentary” and the lack of engagement of so many Catholics with the visit.
Stressing that the bishops “can’t afford” to do nothing, the priests suggested that a national assembly to discuss “Reform and Renewal of the Catholic Church in Ireland” could embrace representatives from all groups, including the disaffected and the young.
In preparation for such a national event, individual dioceses could convene diocesan and parish assemblies.
“This is not a time for wringing our hands in frustration. We need to talk. We need to work together, to stop deferring decisions that need to be made now. We need to focus our resources and personnel on dealing with the reality of unease, discouragement and disenchantment on the ground in parishes and dioceses,” the ACP letter underlined.
Loading ...
