Month: January 2018

Pope orders new investigation into allegations against Bishop Barros

Gerard O’Connell reports in americamagazine.org that Pope Francis has sent “Msgr. Charles Scicluna, the archbishop of Malta and President of the College for the examination of appeals (“in materia delicta graviora,” “in matters of grave crimes”) in the Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to go to Chile to hear those who have expressed their wish to submit elements in their possession”.

Traditionalists could set up a schismatic church

Sarah McDonald reports in catholicireland.net on the talk given by Gabriel Daly at a recent ‘We Are Church’ function.
“Some powerful traditionalists in the Church are ‘dedicated to obstruction of all reform’ and could force ‘a severe division’ within the Church, even setting up ‘a schismatic Church’, a leading theologian has warned.”

Bishop Barros controversy in Chile

In a comment on another thread Iggy O Donovan asks
“Can anybody shed light on the reported comments of Francis in Chile regarding Bishop Barros Madrid. It appears to have offended abuse survivors and if true would definitely cast a negative cloud over his papacy. Also from the point of view of his Irish visit it would make itself felt and not in a positive way.”
To provide some information on this subject we carry a report from americamagazine and a statement issued by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley of Boston.

Return of the Servant Myth

John N. Collins, an Australian theologian, has devoted a great part for his life to studying the real meaning of ‘diakonia’. His thesis has serious implications for our understanding of ministry in church.
“I was confronted by the need to identify the nature of the ‘service’ of the Son of Man (Mk 10:45). Soon I came to recognise that the English ‘service’ words were totally inadequate to represent the range of meanings ancient Greek authors intended by their use of diakon- terms.”

Stressed-out priests turn to trade unions for support

Catherine Pepinster reports in Religion News Service, religionnews.com, on the fact that some Anglican priests are joining trade unions.
She quotes Rev. Peter Hobson, who is head of the priests’ Unite branch, Church of England Clergy Advocates; “vicars are turning to the union because they are under pressure from all sides — from the people in the pews and from their bishops…….. the bishop, while he is a pastoral figure, is also managerial. And the managerial approach is coming more and more to the fore …….. this more managerial approach makes relationships between clergy and bishops more difficult, and clergy consequently need more advice and someone ‘on their side,’ as it were, from outside the church .”

Priests – Ministers of Religion or Messengers of Joy?

Joe McVeigh ponders the future role of priests in the church.
“In Ireland, we are now in mission territory. We who have been ordained and who have survived this long are missionary priests in our own country. We are no longer maintenance priests in charge of maintaining churches, schools and parochial halls, …. We now need to adjust to the entirely new situation facing us and adopt new practices and a new ways of being church.”

ACP Information Card: Correspondence from and to the Kildare & Leighin Council of Priests

Correspondence from and to the Kildare & Leighin Council of Priests concerning the ACP information Card issued at the recent AGM.
The card outlines rights priests have in civil and canon law and are taken from “Guidelines for the Care and Management of Respondents (i.e. priests) Standard 4” as outlined by the National Board for Safeguarding Children.

Apologia pro vita sua: Once a Preacher always …..

Brian Fahy’s reflection on his own life’s journey certainly proves that ministry is not confined to ‘being a parish priest, or indeed a minster of religion, or a liturgical, sacramental operative.’
‘My time in the Redemptorists was rich even as it was also difficult…….. I am (now) learning how to be a good father and grandfather in these later years of my life. I am also learning how to be a widower at peace with the story of life that came to me.’

Mass is flabby and possibly obese

Seamus Ahearne reports of an interesting dialogue he had recently about the state of church and liturgy and sacraments.
“Much of Liturgy has evolved from the Monasteries. It has grown fat with the accretions of history. It has become something to endure or admire or look at. Despite all the changes of language; it can still be so passive as a Celebration. ……
The psychological reality is that there are too many words hurled at us. Any real psychology of praying is absent. There is no space for quiet; for sharing; for being still…..
Someone has to shout stop and strip off the accretions and reduce the Mass to its essentials and make space for God to speak and for us to be part of it. It is all noise and fuss and rush.”

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