Complain about the Association of Catholic Priests - procedure?

[Prodigal_40s]

I know that when I have a complaint locally, i.e. within my parish I complain to the diocese office (the bishop). However, today in Dublin, the organisation; led mainly by people known to the Vatican; known as the Association of Catholic Priests overstepped the mark by directly challenging teachings of the church that have been endorsed by the Holy Father. These teachings include celibacy for priests and the ordination of women. The secular media have reported it in Ireland and Great Britain and I’ve had enough. Can you please tell me how I can complain about this and who to?

Thanks

 

[Elizium23]

First you need to understand the difference between a Church teaching, that must receive assent of faith, and a Church discipline that can be easily changed by simple decree.

Ordination of women goes against constant Church teaching, and it is heresy to believe that a woman can be validly ordained.

Clerical celibacy is a discipline in Canon Law and the Latin Church. It is not a doctrinal teaching. You can see that it is flexible, because permanent deacons can be married, married men are ordained to the priesthood, and it is quite common in the Eastern Churches for married priests to be in charge of parishes and the like. Otherwise, priests make promises or vows of celibacy which they must uphold.

It is not a sin to protest against clerical celibacy, but it seems vain and hypocritical for a group of priests to do so, when they themselves are bound by vows or promises of celibacy. Vain, because it has been the discipline of the Latin Church for hundreds of years, and there is no sign that it will change, nor much evidence that it would make much of a difference to the problems perhaps faced in Ireland.

 

[Prodigal_40s]

Can one of the apologists please advise me on this matter?

 

[Prodigal_40s]

First you need to understand the difference between a Church teaching, that must receive assent of faith, and a Church discipline that can be easily changed by simple decree.

Ordination of women goes against constant Church teaching, and it is heresy to believe that a woman can be validly ordained.

Clerical celibacy is a discipline in Canon Law and the Latin Church. It is not a doctrinal teaching. You can see that it is flexible, because permanent deacons can be married, married men are ordained to the priesthood, and it is quite common in the Eastern Churches for married priests to be in charge of parishes and the like. Otherwise, priests make promises or vows of celibacy which they must uphold.

It is not a sin to protest against clerical celibacy, but it seems vain and hypocritical for a group of priests to do so, when they themselves are bound by vows or promises of celibacy. Vain, because it has been the discipline of the Latin Church for hundreds of years, and there is no sign that it will change, nor much evidence that it would make much of a difference to the problems perhaps faced in Ireland.

Thanks. I complained through the nuncio and I’ve requested the removal of individuals who have been responsible for heresy so I assume an investigation will be instigated. I’ve had enough of people who disrespect the law of infallibility thinking that they should remain within the church. Time for them to go

 

[pepipop]

I just heard on the radio news, that no bishops or archbishops attended the conference.

Is there a list of the priests who are members of the ACP and/or which parishes - possibly I am being unchristian, however I’m not sure if their advice in confession would be as reliable as traditional priests that still refer to Rome in obedience, and for direction and guidance.

 

[BenedictFTW]

I just heard on the radio news, that no bishops or archbishops attended the conference.

Is there a list of the priests who are members of the ACP and/or which parishes - possibly I am being unchristian, however I’m not sure if their advice in confession would be as reliable as traditional priests that still refer to Rome in obedience, and for direction and guidance.

They have their own website and in it they clearly state their Objectives. They have been doing these sorts of things for a good while now. I have been aware of them for a couple of years. Before then, I had never heard of such a thing.

I was brought up in Ireland - Dublin, actually- and I am deeply saddened that they chose my City for such a scandalous challenge to our Holy Father.

Also, our Pope has another group of dissenting priests saying similar things in Austria and Benedict XVI, God bless him, had already spoken out clearly against what they stand for. Perhaps, and we can only hope, that this means our Pope is getting ready to punish these apostates.

It is like a terrible attack on our Church akin to the ‘Reformation’. Revolution, more like!

Let’s pray to Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Church, to send a legion of angels to defend our Church against these attacks.

 

[StevieD]

The BBC and some other news media have stated that the ACP has 850 priest members. This is not the case. The ACP has never claim this number of member priests but they do not correct those who quote this incorrect information. Their MEMBERSHIP is claimed to be 850 but is open to religious and laypeople. I have e-mailed the BBC and suggest that others do the same. The ACP naturally prefer people to think that they represent a large number of priests but I think that the last definite claim they made was of “about 200” priest members (of over 2,000 Irish priests). As they have a history of being ‘economical with the truth’, the real number may be considerably less than 200. We are never likely to know. It is also notable that, from the comments made at the meeting, some members have already left the Church and so are not even Catholics let alone Catholic Priests.

It is also notable that hardly any young people were present at their Dublin meeting yesterday. Thank God.

 

[pepipop]

The BBC and some other news media have stated that the ACP has 850 priest members. This is not the case. The ACP has never claim this number of member priests but they do not correct those who quote this incorrect information. Their MEMBERSHIP is claimed to be 850 but is open to religious and laypeople. I have e-mailed the BBC and suggest that others do the same. The ACP naturally prefer people to think that they represent a large number of priests but I think that the last definite claim they made was of “about 200” priest members (of over 2,000 Irish priests). As they have a history of being ‘economical with the truth’, the real number may be considerably less than 200. We are never likely to know. It is also notable that, from the comments made at the meeting, some members have already left the Church and so are not even Catholics let alone Catholic Priests.

It is also notable that hardly any young people were present at their Dublin meeting yesterday. Thank God.

Good point. I’ve visited their site but see no members names, numbers of members, etc…, mind you, I suppose no organisation would publish members names.

I agree, nearly 50% of the total number of priests in Ireland seems very high, even 10% seems too many.

 

[Prodigal_40s]

It is also notable that hardly any young people were present at their Dublin meeting yesterday. Thank God.

That was gratifying and it was noticeable. I was watching the news and apparently the deputy minister, Martin McGuinness has been critical of “Rome” as he put it in not only failing to control abuse but also (from the UTV website) in silencing “progressive views of more liberal priests”. My irony meter exploded while reading it. The former commander of a violent organisation who used terrorist tactics is now an ambassador for liberal moral views. Seriously!!!???

 

[StevieD]

The BBC and some other news media have stated that the ACP has 850 priest members. This is not the case. The ACP has never claim this number of member priests but they do not correct those who quote this incorrect information. Their MEMBERSHIP is claimed to be 850 but is open to religious and laypeople. I have e-mailed the BBC and suggest that others do the same. The ACP naturally prefer people to think that they represent a large number of priests but I think that the last definite claim they made was of “about 200” priest members (of over 2,000 Irish priests). As they have a history of being ‘economical with the truth’, the real number may be considerably less than 200. We are never likely to know. It is also notable that, from the comments made at the meeting, some members have already left the Church and so are not even Catholics let alone Catholic Priests.

It is also notable that hardly any young people were present at their Dublin meeting yesterday. Thank God.

CORRECTION - There are more than 4,000 priests in Ireland.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

… As they have a history of being ‘economical with the truth’,…

I like your phrasing of that. It reminds me of a previous pastor who was testifying in a workman comp case. He was asked if it was his position that the plaintiff was lying. He responded that the plaintiff tended to make a little truth cover a lot of territory.

 

[mitex]

I know that when I have a complaint locally, i.e. within my parish I complain to the diocese office (the bishop). However, today in Dublin, the organisation; led mainly by people known to the Vatican; known as the Association of Catholic Priests overstepped the mark by directly challenging teachings of the church that have been endorsed by the Holy Father. These teachings include celibacy for priests and the ordination of women. The secular media have reported it in Ireland and Great Britain and I’ve had enough. Can you please tell me how I can complain about this and who to?

Thanks

Must we tell on everyone who disagrees with the Pope?

 

[StevieD]

Must we tell on everyone who disagrees with the Pope?

“We”??? You are not a Catholic, what has it got to do with you?

 

[Prodigal_40s]

Must we tell on everyone who disagrees with the Pope?

Mitex, it’s nothing to do with disagreeing with the Pope. It’s contradicting fundamental Catholic teaching. There’s a great misunderstanding of this. The Pope could be individually be in error but where there is a moral or faith matter that comes from the Ordinary or Extraordinary Magisterium, then that cannot be erroneous. I know that your church does not hold with that view but please research it and understand what it means. I accept your view as different but believe me, individual interpretation leads to differing views that restrain us in understanding. There is a huge theological school within the Vatican which ensures that we use intellectual engagement to arrive at these infallible truths.

 

[BenedictFTW]

… individual interpretation leads to differing views that restrain us in understanding.

Hence, 40,000 Protestant churches and counting…

…There is a huge theological school within the Vatican which ensures that we use intellectual engagement to arrive at these infallible truths.

Hence the unity of the Catholic Church.

Let us pray for our Pope to be given help from the holy angels - ask Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Angels, to send a legion to help our successor of St Peter. God bless him.

 

[1ke]

Can one of the apologists please advise me on this matter?

If you want someone from AAA to respond, you need to pose this as a question in AAA. The staff apologists do not typically participate in the forum discussions.

 

[Prodigal_40s]

If you want someone from AAA to respond, you need to pose this as a question in AAA. The staff apologists do not typically participate in the forum discussions.

That’s right. Slainte mate. I’m new here but yes, I saw that area of the forum. I’m happy though that there are people in here who feel the same about these liberals who clearly are at odds with the Holy Father’s teaching and yet want to stay in our church. I actually find them very odd people

 

[mitex]

Hence, 40,000 Protestant churches and counting…

Hence the unity of the Catholic Church.

Let us pray for our Pope to be given help from the holy angels - ask Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Angels, to send a legion to help our successor of St Peter. God bless him.

Oh Blame the protestants.

 

[Prodigal_40s]

Oh Blame the protestants.

Nope Mitex that’s not the point that he was making. The people who are within the ACP are behaving like protestors and therefore should start their own church as they are at odds with the Catholic church. I wouldn’t blame and would welcome these people starting another denomination.

 

[BenedictFTW]

Nope Mitex that’s not the point that he was making. The people who are within the ACP are behaving like protestors and therefore should start their own church as they are at odds with the Catholic church. I wouldn’t blame and would welcome these people starting another denomination.