MISSION statement: Revised 2026

We are a group of Catholics, some of whom are ordained, brought together by our love of Christ’s Church and a desire to be part of the synodal renewal it needs.
 
Inspired by the legacy of the Second Vatican Council, and the call to Synodality for the Church of the third millennium, we want to contribute fully to the life of our Church so that it may be a more effective and inclusive sign of the Kingdom of God.
 
To enable this, we wish to promote listening, dialogue and receptivity within the Church, and with all people of good will, open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
 
Accordingly, we aim to facilitate opportunities to share experiences, practices and insights to discern our hopes and aims for the Church in the world today.

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.

A Well-earned rest !

Written by: Jean Riordan
Our Scripture scholar, Prof. Dr Joseph O'Hanlon is having a well-earned rest this August, just for weeks 19 and 20, resuming his commentaries on the 21st Sunday. This is an opportune moment to express our deep appreciation of the blessing we are given, when one of our priest members not only works for ACTA on the National Leadership Team but also gives us this amazing gift - sharing his insights into the scriptures that he's amassed from decades of world-class scholarship that began at the Biblicum in Rome in the '60's. Joseph had been in ACTA for years in Kent, where he was the Director of the International Franciscan Study Centre . He phoned me before the  National conference in Birmingham to say how sorry he was to miss the conference. Following our conversation I read all his books - my special favourites are The Jesus who was The Jesus who is. and Mark my Words - and I was hugely impressed. I approached Joseph to see if he'd consider writing a few essays on scripture for the ACTA website, with no idea that he would extend the task with such energy and on such a scale - it's the full 3 year cycle he's aiming at. All of us in ACTA owe Joseph a huge debt of gratitude for his profound contribution to our spiritual life. Thank you, Joseph! 
Jean Riordan.

Knee pads

Written by: Alex Walker

  

 

 

 

The Reform Seminaries Need

Written by: Colt Anderson and Christopher M. Bellitto

This article was first produced in Commonweal and then re-printerd in La Croix Online.

Two former seminary professors say the current system breeds an ambition for higher office known as "Scarlet Fever"

  1. Colt Anderson and Christopher M. Bellitto 
    United States

https://international.la-croix.com/uploads/news/2019/04/1554266470.jpg

Published April 4, 2019,   first in Commonweal then subsequently in La Croix online.

As former seminary professors, we have looked upon the last several months of revelations about clergy sex abuse, cover-ups, and institutional infighting with the same disgust and sadness as our sisters and brothers—but we are not surprised.

Though we honor and support the many good people who work and study in seminaries, we know that seminaries have played a significant role in the church's current crisis.

It is essential to understand how priests and thus, ultimately, bishops are formed, especially the way they are enculturated into clericalism from their first days in seminary. It is the air they breathe there.

Read more: The Reform Seminaries Need

Holy Spirit

Eighteenth Sunday of the Year C

Written by: Alex Walker

ACTA  LECTIONARY COMMENTARY

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C 

Year of Luke

Download >>> Eighteenth Sunday of the Year C

Read more: Eighteenth Sunday of the Year C

Holy Spirit

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C

Written by: Joseph O’Hanlon

ACTA  LECTIONARY COMMENTARY

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C 

Year of Luke

Download >>> Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C

Read more: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C

  1. Sixteenth Sunday of the Year C
  2. Fifteenth Sunday of the Year Yr C
  3. A cry from the depths
  4. The radical theological vision of Pope Francis

Subcategories

Latest News

Synodal Process

Page 61 of 136