Sir, – I note Fr Brendan Hoban of the Association of Catholic Priests has called for a "serious conversation on the three-pronged proposal of the ACP – to ordain married men; to invite priests who have left the ministry to marry to return; and to ordain women deacons" (January 23rd).
Now it seems that the Anglican church accepts all these proposals but its members are exiting that church in greater numbers than those in the Catholic Church.
Perhaps if the ACP had concentrated on the teaching of the church, with compassion and mercy, as Jesus did, instead of undermining it, there would have been less confusion and fewer led astray.
In our individual-centred society, authority is very much ignored but the Catholic Church was given a leader with authority by Jesus: Peter, the first pope. His is the responsibility for interpreting the teaching of Jesus for Catholics but there are no locked doors in the church.
Anyone who does not wish to accept its teaching is free to leave and, goodness knows, there are ample other churches which could accommodate them.
With our economy foremost now and our church judged as a business organisation, it seems to be forgotten that it is a spiritual organisation and as such requires much prayer and sacrifice in endeavouring to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Simply dumbing down its teaching will only lead to further diminution.
Stepping up to the mark is required and a spirit of humility, not arrogance, in seeking guidance for the future. – Yours, etc,
MARY STEWART,
Ardeskin,
Donegal.
Sir, – Rev Brendan Hoban suggests a three-pronged proposal in response to the decline in vocations to the priesthood. The three prongs are “to ordain married men; to invite priests who have left the ministry to marry to return; and to ordain women deacons”.
Apart from the obvious patronisation of women in this proposal, there is the glaring omission of another group of men from this invitation – gay men. How about a fourth prong – “to ordain men who are married in same-sex relationships”. And a fifth – “to invite priests who have left the ministry to marry a same-sex partner to return”.
Until the Catholic Church engages in full transparency regarding the sexuality of its priests and drops its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in regard to their sexual orientation, and indeed the relationships that a sizeable number of them engage in, both gay and straight, the Catholic priesthood will always be an unhealthy place for men and women alike to minister from. All inevitably end up being complicit in its dehumanising sexism and homophobic teachings – or they are silenced. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN KELLY,
Dingle,
Co Kerry.