Tony Flannery

Recently Pope Leo, in speaking on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the Vatican II document, Nostradamus Aetate, said a few things that I consider very positive in showing us the possible way in which he will lead the Church over the coming years. It shows a breadth of understanding, and an openness that is encouraging.

I also love the way he uses the expression ‘the Divine’ on some occasions when he is referring to God, and that ‘mystery’ is never far from his speech — both words that mean a lot to me in my efforts to make sense of the realities of life and death.

My reflections on the Synodal Event in Kilkenny.

I have followed the Synodal process since the beginning, being very grateful to Francis for this initiative, and as a member of the ACP I did whatever I could to promote it. I know it has given hope to many of us who have longed and worked for reform in the Church.

II attended the Synodal meeting in Athlone three years ago, and I came away feeling excited and energised by what I heard there.

In a recent interview with the UK Catholic weekly `The Tablet’, former bishop and head of the Episcopal Church in Scotland Richard Halloway spoke of his resignation after attending the Lambeth Conference of 1998. He is no longer even a practicing member of his Church having lost faith in the institution.

The Lambeth Conference is an event which happens in the worldwide Anglican Communion every 10 years, approximately. The 1998 Conference was particularly significant as it was hijacked on the question of homosexuality and whether people of that orientation could be ordained.