Association of Catholic Priests should expand role

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) should expand its role beyond being a voice of reform and become an agent of reform in the church, a meeting of its leadership team was told.

It should be about “modelling the kind of church it seeks to bring about, especially in its relationship and work with laity,” the meeting in Athlone was told.

Concern was expressed that “in its current format the ACP was maintaining a clericalist mind set.”

The meeting “recognised that having a Pope who shares much of the vision of the ACP challenges the ACP to move beyond its ‘voice in the wilderness’ role to the more complex process work of bridge building across the church.”

It was felt that "while the emergence of Pope Francis has created a positive and supportive context for the ACP in the wider church, the situation in Ireland is such that the ACP will not just need to continue with its work, but develop it further."

It was also suggested that, while the ACP “has won recognition as an alternative voice to the official church leadership and it has created a platform for real debate on reform issues”, this should be expanded.

It should become more than an advocate for priests subjected to unjust procedures. “There is also the question of the working and living conditions of the majority of priests who are ageing and becoming fragile and vulnerable, while being expected to carry increasing workloads,” a report on the meeting said.

A core recommendation was that the ACP should to identify a paid staff person to do its day-to- day work and drive its agenda forward with accountability to a leadership team and a wider advisory group. “ Having a lay person and perhaps a lay woman in that role would offer positive modelling,” it was felt.