Sir, – Fr Brendan Hoban (“We priests have earned right to say what needs to be said about state of church”, Opinion, October 2nd) writes utter and simple sense. There are many good women and men, sincere, educated believers, who I would be honoured to hear my confession or give me Eucharist.
I have every belief, loyalty and respect for my priests, but the church must look forward, grow and bring with it, the old and new followers. The church needs better leadership.
Fr Hoban says, “We’re clustering at the moment in the dioceses of Ireland”. I believe now the right time to open up and bring all followers into a meaningful role within church. God is everywhere and in everyone.
As Fr Hoban writes, “Sitting on our hands is no strategy”. I have welcomed Ministers of the Eucharist, the Word and now why not the Gospel? Many read it daily.
To conclude. Fr Hoban muses about, for example, ex-president Mary McAleese as a cardinal. Editor, your lovely front page photograph this morning (October 2nd) shows Rev Dr Heather Morris and Chief Justice Susan Denham. I wish to see a vibrant, healthy church in 2032. Although as an OAP I may by that time have met St Patrick. Drive on Fr Hoban. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – We have the ACP (the Association of Catholic Priests), the ACI (the Association of Catholics in Ireland) trying desperately to keep our Catholic faith alive and relevant.
It would be more than helpful if these groups were joined by an “association of Catholic bishops”. Moral courage, which the bishops do not generally tend to exhibit as a group, would be easier for individual bishops were there support from their fellow bishops – even eight or nine coming together would have a big impact.
One would not expect them to endorse all that is being sought, but one would wish them to show that they understand how perilous the path being pursued at the centre is for people of faith and for the church structure itself. – Yours, etc,