- Written by: Alex Walker
The major resource here is the picture book in PDF of one of Lobinger's handbooks - I'd recommend you start with the introduction to that. The other files are ones that I've collected for my own interest led by the International Network of Priest's Associations and Reform Groups. The Orobator review is because there's a great book edited by this Jesuit called 'The Church We Want' - a collection of African theologians writing about Vatican ll. Around p200 there's interesting references to Lobinger - and throughout the book the various proposals for the future of the church are really relevant and useful. All the files above have extra references that you might want to follow up. The National Catholic Reporter website has a couple more articles if you put Lobinger into the search on the front page. See the Tablet archive too.
- Written by: Alex Walker
Internationally famous theologian Werner Jeanrond is coming to Birmingham to speak to ACTA on November 11th. He's giving us a whole day of his valuable time.
- Written by: martin bennett
I am relieved that I don’t have to try to summarise the content of our National Conference as the speeches are available to view on the website – well worth listening to if you were at the Conference as there were so many gems in the rich veins of theology, Pastoral Ministry, Church history and human stories which threaded through the day it was impossible to allow everything to sink in. Hopefully that will also encourage those who weren’t present to watch the speeches.
- Written by: Alex Walker
Dear highly esteemed Pope Francis,
Your pastoral initiatives and their theological justification are currently under vehement attack by a group in the church. With this open letter, we wish to express our gratitude for your courageous and theologically sound papal leadership.
In a short time, you have succeeded in reshaping the pastoral culture of the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with its origin in Jesus. Wounded people and wounded nature go straight to your heart. You see the church as a field hospital on the margins of life. Your concern is every single person loved by God. When encountering others, compassion and not the law shall have the last word. God and God’s mercy characterize the pastoral culture that you expect from the church. You dream of a "church as mother and shepherdess." We share your dream.
We ask that you would not veer from the path you have taken, and we assure you of our full support and constant prayer.