Acp Leadership Team Lists Three Hopes for a New Pope

Association of Catholic Priestsi
March 7, 2013

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2013/03/statement-from-the-association-of-catholic-priests-our-hopes-for-a-new-pope/

The ACP welcomes the present period of reflection in the Church, and commends Pope Emeritus Benedict for facilitating this by his resignation. We also welcome the growing realisation at all levels in the Church of the need for reform and renewal, in the Church all over the world, but not least in the Vatican itself.

We hope for the following actions in particular from the new Pope.

Firstly, we hope he will not reappoint the existing heads of congregations within the Vatican, or at least that he will only give them temporary appointments, and that he will bring new people with fresh ideas and attitudes into the system. This, we believe, is the only way that the acute problems in the Curia will be put right.

Secondly we hope that he will dispel the climate of fear and repression that has dogged the Church for some decades, and replace it with a climate of openness and tolerance. In this way the Church can begin to have real dialogue about the many serious difficulties it faces, and the voices of all the believers can contribute to the solutions.

Thirdly, we hope that the new Pope will put the full implementation of the renewal outlined by the Second Vatican Council at the top of his agenda, and that he will pursue it with courage and conviction.

ACP Leadership Team:

Brendan Hoban: 086 6065055. Sean McDonagh: 087 2367612

Tony Flannery: 087 6814699. P.J. Madden: 087 2208882