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.

Synodality Survey

Written by: Frank Callus

Synods have been used in the Catholic Church for centuries as a means of meeting to discuss the management of the Church. Over the last seven years Pope Francis has used the synod as a means of examining how the Catholic Church develops particular policies. He has called for a Synod on the Family, as well as a Synod on Young People. These have allowed bishops, clergy, and laity to consider an issue in some depth. There often follows a major statement from the Pope setting out a review or development of a Church teaching

In 2022 Pope Francis has called for a Synod to examine the ways in which this process of Synodality can help the Church. Its purpose is to examine how the Catholic Church will govern itself in the future. It will not be looking at doctrine but rather the ways in which it responds to national and international need. What will be the role of the laity? How much can the Church vary how it operates in different parts of the world?

In preparation for the Synod on Synodality a group of theologians in Germany and Austria have developed a survey to identify the key issues that clergy, religious and laity have regarding this matter. The group of theologians consist of:

Tomas Halik- A Czech theologian. President of the Czech Christian Academy

Anna Hennersperger- Head of the Episcopal Pastoral Office of the Catholic Church of Carinthia 

Peter Neuner- Former Chairman of the German Catholic Theological Faculty Conference

Paul M Zulehner- Former Professor of Pastoral Theology, University of Vienna.

 

The survey is a mixture of closed and open questions. It is completely confidential and can be completed and returned electronically to Paul Zulehner.

 

The survey is available in English:

https://survey.zulehner.org/index.php/514332?lang=en