Bishops in every diocese are to begin meeting with members of the
Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), while the Dublin meeting has
already taken place.Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin met with members of the ACP last week.
This comes after the group which represents a thousand Irish priests last year said it was “disappointed and saddened” by an apparent refusal by the Irish hierarchy to meet the association on a national level.
Archbishop Martin later indicated, however, he was willing to meet with members of the ACP but had not received a response to his invitation.
Solution
Meanwhile, the Irish Bishops’ Conference proposed that one solution would be for the ACP to meet with members of the priests’ council in each diocese.
The meeting with Archbishop Martin and members of the Dublin Council of Priests last week confirms this was the resolution agreed.
According to a spokesperson for the archbishop, “it’s expected that bishops in every diocese will be meeting and listening with the ACP and that the Dublin meeting was chronologically the first in this process.”
Although the agenda for the meeting was used as a guide, the ACP noted “the discussion brought much interweaving of items”, including procedures for dealing with allegations against priests, the renewal of the Church and the vocations crisis.
Difference
According to the ACP, Archbishop Martin “welcomed the opportunity for listening, with respect for difference, out of a shared love for the Church”.
“The meeting covered a lot of ground and was a good initial contact, in a cordial and honest atmosphere,” it said.
The archbishop is now expected to report back to the Dublin Council of Priests at their next meeting.
Also in attendance at the meeting representing the Dublin priests’ council were Fathers Gareth Byrne, Séamus Ahearne OSA, Peter O’Reilly and Kieran McDermott.
Representatives of the ACP included Fathers Brendan Hoban, PJ Madden, Tim Murphy, Arthur O’Neill, Gerry O’Hanlon SJ and Pádraig McCarthy.