Tony Flannery

An Irish organization of Catholic priests has responded positively to the Vatican’s recent guidance about transgender people and the sacraments, with the priests group describing the guidance as a “very, very positive” step.

Leaders of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), a church reform organization, heralded as an important step for inclusion the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s recent document saying transgender people could be baptized and serve as godparents.

As it gradually became evident during the earlier years of the pontificate of Pope Francis that he was determined to restore the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, and that he was using the process of synodality as his modus operandi, over time it became clear to me that he was on to something very different, and quite radical. 

We knew about synods. After the Council there were one or two interesting ones while Paul VI was still alive, and though they were exclusively a gathering of bishops, there seemed to be some free and interesting discussion going on.

ACP AGM 2023

 Tues 7 Nov 2.00-5.00pm 

Radisson Hotel, Athlone

Theme: The Last Priests in Ireland – What is Life Like for Them?

Speakers: Paddy Byrne (Abbeyleix PP), John Dunphy (Graiguecullen PP), Julieann Moran (General Secretary of the Synodal Pathway)

and Tim Hazelwood (ACP Leadership Team).

All welcome.