The School for Synodality
- Written by: Frank Callus
Permission to read
- Written by: Chris McDonnell
The culture of our society emphasizes freedom of expression, the right to hear and be heard is a personal choice. It is a freedom that is now threatened both sides of the Atlantic.
A few days ago the London Times reported that a school in Miami-Dade county of Florida would no longer be able to use a text from recent history, the poem ‘The hill we climb’ written and read by Amanda Gorman at the inauguration of the current President, Joe Biden. This was as a result of complaint from a parent of two children attending the school, saying that ‘it was not for schools’ and ‘would cause confusion and indoctrinate students’. That neatly frees up the History slot on the Curriculum.
ACTA Archive Material
- Written by: Alex Walker
Archive Material
In the last few months Fr Derek Reeve, a retired priest of the Diocese of Portsmouth, has been in touch with the Trustees. Members will know him to be one of the original seven clergy whose letter to The Tablet was the start of the movement that became ACTA. He wished to pass on material that recorded the early meetings of the clergy, the thoughts and aspirations of those involved so that they could be shared with the membership. The material has been scanned and can know be accessed on the Archive Material page. Each file contains letters/ emails/ notes from a distinct period.
We thank him sincerely for giving us this access and hope you enjoy the material in the weeks and months ahead
ACTA as we look ahead
- Written by: John Sullivan
My first thought was that, with recent developments under the leadership of Pope Francis, most especially, synodality, we no longer need a movement like ACTA, because the climate for communication with the Church is much healthier than it was when ACTA was set up in 2012. I am heavily committed to synodality as the path towards a more healthy Church and I hope that it will deliver on its promises. In principle, at least, if synodality truly becomes our way of being Church, much of what many of us hoped for from ACTA will have become a reality: mature, serious, genuinely open and mutually respectful dialogue between all members of the Church.
However, I am well aware that there are powerful forces within the Church who strenuously oppose the initiatives of this papacy, who want to turn the clock back to a fortress Church and who see openings towards being a more pastoral and inclusive Church as somehow corrosive of truth and tradition. Depending on who is elected the next Pope – which cannot be many years away – many of the humane and pastoral seeds sown during this papacy could be rejected rather than nourished. And, it is important to remember that there are still many aspects of church governance and practice that are in urgent need of reform.
Where do we go from here?
- Written by: Alex Walker
This coming year, ACTA celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first National Delegates Conference in May 2013 at Hinsley Hall. It is an appropriate moment to reflect on its future role in a synodal Church.
A Zoom meeting has been set up for 7.30 pm Thursday 1st December 2022. It will be open to all members, coordinators and trustees. Papers from several members are in preparation and will be distributed in the coming weeks.
Registration is essential. In a document dated January 2014, the late Fr Gerry Hughes SJ wrote: “I have been thinking a bit about where we in ACTA should go from here” The Trustees, too, have been thinking along similar lines.
ACTA came into existence to support honest and respectful dialogue between clergy, religious and the laity, just as Pope Francis was being elected Pontiff. The development of the synodal process, culminating in the ongoing Synod on Synodality, begins to create something of the environment that the original members of ACTA were hoping to create.
Please complete this form if you wish to attend:
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