A New Year Resolution for ACI Catholics

Comments: 5

Aidan Hart suggests an appropriate New Year’s resolution for ACI Catholics which would help bring about the necessary reforms of the Church into a Christ-centered lay movement, humbly served by priests and hierarchy.

Catholic Education and the Future: Insights from René Girard

Eugene McElhinney and Sean O'Conaill - retired colleagues in the same Irish Catholic second-level school - are optimistic about the long-term impact of René Girard's key insights on Catholic Education.

What underlies René Girard's 'mimetic desire'?

Comments: 6

What underlies the tendency that drives so much consumerism and rivalry - even at Christmas? Sean O'Conaill attempts an explanation.

Dublin Priests Blanking Archbishop on Parish Consultation?

Comments: 7

How many Dublin parishes have responded to Archbishop Martin's request for parish pastoral councils to consult their parish communities on faith renewal, beginning November 14th, 2018?

The Diaspora of a Disconnected Church

Comments: 6

Sean O’Conaill, in a recent letter to the Irish Times, questions that paper’s continued use of the term ‘Catholic Church’ as if that term is describing a unitary entity instead of a much divided reality. The Irish Times refused to publish the letter. It is published on this website (below) to access the response of our readers to the issue.

Women deacons - when will we know?

Comments: 6

The Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research wonders when Pope Francis’ Study Commission on The Women’s Diaconate (set up in August 2016) is going to report back and be published and if Cardinal Ladaria is right that it is impossible for the Catholic Church to ordain women to the priesthood or permanent diaconate.

Deacons: clericalised laymen?

Comments: 13

Aidan Hart laments the 'clericalisation of the laity' in the apparent intended role for nine new deacons in the diocese of Down and Connor.

Erring Shepherds - Aidan Hart

Comments: 32

Aidan surveys the spate of Catholic scandals that began in 1985, and calls for the global Catholic Church to be returned to the ownership of its lay people.

Marie Collins asks Pope Francis to explain bishop accountability process: NCR

Comments: 2

Irish abuse survivor asks to meet with Pope to 'understand better' the process whereby Catholic bishops are to be made accountable for handling clerical abuse.

Pope Francis brings papacy to ground level in Ireland, August 2018

Comments: 2

In August 2018 the humanity and fallibility of the papacy was starkly revealed to an Ireland in need of healing and hope - and home-grown leadership.