We are a group of Catholics, some of whom are ordained, brought together by our love of Christ's Church and our anxiety about its future. Still inspired by the Second Vatican Council, we want to contribute fully to the life of our Church so that we may be a more effective sign of the Kingdom of God. To do this, we believe that an atmosphere of openness and dialogue both with each other and with our church leadership needs developing. Accordingly, we aim to supply channels of free and frank communication. We desire to help create a climate of trust and respect for all where this dialogue may be fostered.
THEOLOGY statement:
ACTA is a movement built from below by clergy and laity alike in every diocese in England and Wales. It exists to give those people an effective voice. It is an instrument to establish and promote space for a trusting dialogue within a hierarchically structured people’s Church.
ACTA believes that the reforms of the Second Vatican Council are the only way forward for mission to modern society. It is not a small chapel of selected followers; it believes in the Church as a “big tent”, with open doors. As a free and representative association of believers, it seeks to liberate the expertise in the ranks, so as to bring added energy and witness to the Church in the world.
The Pope opens the door a little further for married priests
On March 8, a German newspaper published an interview with Pope Francis in which he commented again on the possibility of opening priestly ordination to "viri probati" or "proven men." While stating that optional celibacy is not a possibility, Pope Francis indicated that ordaining married men in remote places where there are too few priests may be a possibility.
In November 2016, Pope Francis visited with seven families where the fathers had served as parish priests. His visit created speculation that the next synod would focus on married priests. In December 2016, theologian Leonardo Boffpredicted that the Pope would open ordination to married men in a few regions. Two Brazilian bishops, Jaime Vieira Rocha and Erwin Kräutler have been requesting "viri probati" priests for large areas of the Amazon where it has been reported that there are only 27 priests serving 700,000 Catholics. Cardinal Claudio Humes, former prefect of the Congregation for Clergy and one of Pope Francis' closest colleagues, is reported to be pressing Pope Francis on the issue.
Francis also went into great detail about the genesis of the commission to study women deacons saying that when they meet again in March he wants to learn first hand where things stand.
Francis rightly acknowledged the vast contributions of many lay women faithfully serving their communities. And as the possibility of ordination to the priesthood is expanded to include "viri probati", it would be a tragedy if women's ministries and contributions were somehow diminished. As the women of Killaloe diocese in Ireland made clear when facing the restoration of the male diaconate, "what was needed in the Catholic church was not another layer of male-only clergy but arrangements which could accommodate all." We hope and pray that opening priestly ordination to "viri probati" will be accompanied with an equal effort to fully respect, honor and include women in every form of ministry, leadership and governance.
The Pope opens the door a little further for married priests
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