ACTA - A Call To Action

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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.

Leadership Team 2020 - 2021

TRUSTEES

Frank Callus - Chair

Andrew Hornsby-Smith - Minutes Secretary

Ken Holden - Treasurer

Joseph O'Hanlon - Theology Adviser

Jo Fenton - Legal Adviser

Alex Walker - Web Manager; Membership Sec., Data Controller

NON-TRUSTEES

Kathy Bamber

David Blower

Jordan Pullicino

Diocesan Coordinators

Contact Here >>> Coordinators

In a monumental failure of leadership, too many dioceses are failing to engage with the synodal pathway

: Written by Frank Callus & Mary Ring; Published: 06 October 2021

Pope Francis has called on dioceses worldwide to embrace the synodal pathway. So why do so many bishops appear to be doing nothing?
Jon Bower / Alamy

In 1638 John Milton produced a pastoral elegy for a fellow student, a young clergyman, whose death prompted his criticism of the Anglican bishops of the time. He saw the young clergy as living their lives in response to the Gospel value of pastoral leadership and yet lacking the support of the episcopate. The model of the Good Shepherd was a staple of the Gospels and the comparison with those shepherds who did not know their flock and its needs was a constant in Jesus’ teaching.

Mini-Series on Synodality by Margaret Beaufort Institute

: Written by Alex Walker; Published: 27 September 2021

PeterCoughlan The mini-series is led by Dr Peter Coughlan and will be lecture, discussion, and smaller breakout group based. The cost is only £50 for 3 afternoons 4 to 6 PM, on October 6, 13, and 20^th and all by Zoom online.

More information can be found here, with a link to Eventbrite for payment.

The Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology

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Three reflections on For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.

: Written by John Sullivan; Published: 24 September 2021

The objective of the current Synod is to listen, as the entire People of God, to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church.

[JS. Rather than assuming that the Church already possesses in full what God has to say to her, she opens herself to receive the communication of the Holy Spirit – ongoing, unending, continuing, unfinished, ever-new and creative, surprising and probably disturbing. This means that, instead of a backward-looking emphasis on preserving and reiterating something she already owns – and is often tempted to think – she controls – the Church recognizes the need to be open and vulnerable to what God still has to say – and require of us – today: new learning and deeper conversion is required from all of us.]

Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality

: Written by Alex Walker; Published: 24 September 2021

Official Handbook for Listening and Discernment in Local Churches

This Vademecum is designed as a handbook that accompanies the Preparatory Document at the service of the synodal journey. The two documents are complementary and should be read in tandem with one another. In particular, the Vademecum offers practical support to the Diocesan Contact Person(s) (or team), designated by the diocesan Bishop, to prepare and gather the People of God so that they can give voice to their experience in their local Church. This worldwide invitation to all the faithful is the first phase of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, whose theme is “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”

https://www.synod.va/en/news/vademecum-for-the-synod-on-synodality.html

Cardinal Nichols sends best wishes

: Written by Frank Callus; Published: 21 September 2021

CARDINAL NICHOLS SENDS “PRAYERS AND BEST
WISHES” TO ACTA AHEAD OF THE NATIONAL
CONFERENCE.
The National Conference takes place via Zoom on
Saturday 16th October with a central theme of
Synodality.
The Board of Trustees have issued an invitation to all the Bishops of England and Wales to its National
Conference on 16th October. We recognised that in many cases, the diocese might wish to send a representative of the Bishop’s office. The Conference occurs at exactly the moment that dioceses will begin their individual synodal process and it was felt important that dioceses have the chance to hear about the process from our speakers.
Cardinal Nichols wrote to explain that the date of 16th October was when the Archdiocese of Westminster was launching its own synodal process. He sent his “prayers and best wishes” on the occasion of the National Conference.

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