MISSION statement:

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.

Constructive Dialogue !!!

Written by: Pope Francis

FRANCIS

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION

EPISCOPALIS COMMUNIO

ON THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS

(This is a machine translation of the Italian)

Thus the Bishop is both a teacher and a disciple. He is a teacher when, endowed with a special assistance of the Holy Spirit, he announces to the faithful the Word of truth in the name of Christ the head and shepherd. But he is also a disciple when, knowing that the Spirit is given to every baptized person, he listens to the voice of Christ who speaks through the whole People of God, making him " infallible in believing " [20] . In fact, "the totality of the faithful, having the anointing that comes from the Saint (see 1 Jn2:20 and 27), can not be mistaken in believing, and manifests this property by the supernatural sense of the faith of the whole People, when "from the Bishops to the last lay faithful", shows his universal consent in matters of faith and morals " [21] . For this reason, the Bishop is called to "walk in front, indicating the path, indicating the way; walking in the middle, to strengthen [the People of God] in unity; walking behind, both because no one stays behind, but, above all, to follow the flair that has the People of God to find new ways. A Bishop who lives among his faithful has open ears to hear "what the Spirit says to the Churches" ( Ap2, 7) and the "voice of the sheep", also through those diocesan bodies that have the task of advising the Bishop, promoting a loyal and constructive dialogue " [22] .