- 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
- Written by: Alex Walker
Dear friends
I'm writing to invite you and your colleagues to Root & Branch’s first talk of 2023. We're delighted that Archbishop Charles Scicluna has agreed to talk with us, and his focus will be 'Towards a Beatitudinal Church'. The talk is on 19 January, 19.00 (London time) There will be opportunities to ask questions during the webinar and we'd be pleased if you could join us. I attach a poster advertising the talk and would be grateful if you could publicise this around your networks far and wide!!
There is no one more experienced than Archbishop Charles in investigating abuse and cover-up by the Catholic hierarchy. He took statements in relation to the Cardinal Keith O'Brien investigation. In 2018 Pope Francis sent him to Chile to investigate the bishops actions in relation to allegations of clerical sexual violence. His report was stunning. He forensically dissected the action/inaction and upheld the allegations made against bishops and as a result the Pope gave a very public apology saying that his earlier public support for one of the bishops was wrong. Archbishop Charles once said 'We are dealing here not with dogma but with a very down to earth, human problem: which is sin, crime and the need to protect our young people and children'.
We have asked Archbishop Charles to reflect on how we, as Church, in line with Pope Francis’ teaching, can work to create a culture where we can bring about authentic change and a more Beatitudinal Church. We are also hoping that he might draw on his deep experience of investigating allegations of sexual abuse on behalf of Pope Francis to offer us some guidance as to how we maintain the momentum for change within the Church and tackle the issues surrounding clerical power abuse in all its guises. Finally we've asked him to share some thoughts with us about the church-wide synod and it's progress.
Our Stolen Lives series continues, and we'll let you know about any forthcoming events. If you would like to share any initiatives or achievements in your work with survivors, we'd be very glad to hear from you as we want to share examples of progress with our networks. Of course we won’t share anything without your permission.
Best wishes
Mary Varley
On behalf of the Root & Branch core team and the Stolen Lives team
- 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.
- 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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- Written by: Alex Walker
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