Steering Group Reports Back on the New Lay 'Umbrella Organisation'

Association of Catholic Priests
June 28, 2012

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/06/latest-up-date-on-the-proposed-new-lay-umbrella-organisation/

The Latest News on the Proposed New Lay 'Umbrella Organisation'

Following the agreement at the All Hallows meeting on the 30 May to establish a Steering Group to develop a Policy Framework, the Steering Group met for the first time on Tuesday 26 June. The group is comprised of eight volunteers (four female and four male members) representing a number of the established lay groups and also includes individuals who are not aligned with any group. In establishing the Steering Group every effort was also made to secure age and geographical balance.

The meeting made considerable progress in reaching agreement on a number of key issues which will underpin the Policy Framework. In particular:

- The new organisation will be structured along the lines of an association or alliance (of Irish Catholics) open to both members of existing groups and individuals who are not aligned to any group – lay or religious.

- Establishing a formal and structured working relationship with the ACP was identified as a very important policy principle.

- The Policy Framework will include a statement of objectives which will broadly advocate a 'Reform and Renewal' agenda in our Church based on Vatican II.

- There was support for the idea of organising a number of regional meetings in late August -early September to promote the new organisation in advance of holding the proposed General Meeting in September/October which will consider the Policy Framework.

The Steering Group have requested an early meeting with the ACP to initiate discussions on issues of mutual interest identified at the first meeting.

Other News.

In the interim, since 30 May two individuals who attended that meeting have agreed to establish 'study groups' to work on drafting documents on Faith Development and Youth Issues.

Another volunteer is compiling an email list to facilitate communication with individuals who have declared an interest in the initiative.

Your comments on the above will be very important in terms of the on-going work of the Steering Group which plans to meet again following the proposed meeting with the ACP.

[Submitted by the Steering Group]