Association of Catholic Priests

Association of Catholic Priests
Cumann na Sagart Caitliceach[1]
AbbreviationACP
Established1 September 2010[2] (14 years)
TypeCatholic, voluntary association
Region
Ireland
Membership
1000[3]
Leaders
  • Tim Hazelwood
  • Roy Donovan
  • Gerry O'Connor
  • John Collins
Key people
AffiliationsAssociation of Catholics in Ireland
Websiteassociationofcatholicpriests.ie

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) is an independent[4] and voluntary association of Catholic clergy in Ireland. The association was established on 1 September 2010 with the objective of having "a forum, and a voice to reflect, discuss and comment on issues affecting the Irish Church and society today".[5][6] Its lay, sister organisation is the Association of Catholics in Ireland.

The group was founded by priests as a "forum to discuss theological issues" and as an "independent body to fight for the rights of priests and defend them in situations where their bishops have refused support".[7]

Since inception the ACP have frequently called for a synodal pathway and increased transparency from Irish bishops[8] and have challenged their purported lack of openness as at odds with the approach of Pope Francis[9] and the Second Vatican Council. These have included in handling cases of clerical abuse,[10][11] greater involvement of lay people within church governance,[12] results of public consultations,[13][14] the treatment of priests.[15][16][17]

In 2012 Fr Brendan Hoban, co-founder of the ACP, wrote in The Irish Times, "If ever we needed to speak the truth as we see it, then surely this is the time." Following the publication of the national synthesis document response in 2022, the Irish Times reflected on the ACPs call for change "Ten years later it would appear that no less a person than the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Eamon Martin, is thinking along the same lines."[18]

  1. ^ "Easpaig Chaitliceacha ag buaileadh leis an Phápa Proinsias". RTÉ News. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. ^ Hoban, Brendan. "A new 'Association of Catholic Priests'". Association of Catholic Priests. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Funerals Without Priests to Become the Norm As Clergy Is Overworked and Vocations Decline". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  4. ^ Mangan, Stephen (21 January 2013). "Liberal Irish priest says threatened with excommunication". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ "About us". Association of Catholic Priests. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Save the 8th defends practice of referendum campaigners speaking at Mass". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Cloak and dagger". Trinity News. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  8. ^ Hoban, Brendan (2010). "A New Association of Catholic Priests?". The Furrow. 61 (9): 483–486. ISSN 0016-3120. JSTOR 25740813.
  9. ^ "Pope's words warmly welcomed by Irish clergy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  10. ^ "The moral revolt of Irish priests". La Stampa (in Italian). 30 September 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Irish priests want an assembly to discuss recent clerical abuse revelations". IrishCentral.com. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  12. ^ soconaill (22 June 2020). "No Synodality Without Diocesan Transparency". Association of Catholics in Ireland. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  13. ^ Flannery, Tony (14 February 2014). "ACP Leadership calls for transparency in the Irish Church". Association Of Catholic Priests. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  14. ^ Donald, Sarah Mac (16 February 2014). "ACP criticises failure to publish survey findings". Catholicireland.net. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Priests seek national synod to tackle Catholic vocations 'crisis'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Priests' association writes to bishops asking for arbitration panels to address complaints". Independent.ie. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  17. ^ "New plans to improve treatment of clergy". The Tablet. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Irish Catholic Church set to go back to the future by embracing laity and women". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2023.