We Are Church Intl.

Ireland: Report to the IMWAC Council - March 2015

Category: Ireland

WAC – IRL Report to IMWAC                                                   6 March 2015

 

WAC-IRL as well as being affiliated to IMWAC is also the Irish representative of WOW (Women’s Ordination Worldwide)
  1. Core Group elected at AGM on 7 June 2014:
    • Brendan Butler
    • Phil Dunne
    • Colm Holmes
    • Joe Mulvaney
    • Jackie Nelson
    • Bernadette O’Reilly
  1. Finances: Our main source of income is sales of LAST SUPPER cards and prints. Our Annual Membership subscription is €10 (€5 for over 65s and unwaged)
  2. Activities:
    • WAC-IRL organized 13 meetings in 2014. The most important were:
      • Mary T Malone book launch by Gina Menzies “The Elephant in the Church: A tract for women in our time” (17 Sept)
      • WOW Steering Committee Meetings in An Grianán, Drogheda (25-28 Sept)
      • Synod on the Family (13 Oct)
      • Vatican Congregations (10 Nov)
      • Advent Liturgy (30 Nov)

 

  • Survey about electing bishops [Having laypeople choose church leaders will only result in the best politicians becoming bishops: 10% Agree; 69% Disagree; 21% Don’t Know]
  • Survey about Male Only Diaconate (84% in favour of women deacons)
  • Brendan Butler in Rome for meetings ahead of Synod on the Family (2-5 Oct 2014)
  • Press Releases:
    • Feb 2014 UN Committee report on cover up of sex abusers in church
    • Mar 2014 Welcome for Pontifical commission for the Protection of Minors with  Marie Collins
    • May 2014 Solidarity with Martha Heizer following excommunication
    • Jul 2014 15 IMWAC nominations for Synod on the Family 2014 (including Mary McAleese &                                Gina Menzies)
    • Sept 2014 Disappointment at 2 candidates from Ireland for Synod on the Family                                         (Sr Margaret Muldoon & Archbishop Diarmuid Martin)
    • Dec 2014 Insult to Dignity of Women (Pontifical Council for Culture seeking one minute                                        videos from women by 4 Jan 2015)
    • Jan 2015 Support for YES vote in Marriage Equality Referendum (on 22 May 2015)
    • Feb 2015 Disturbing image on Vatican website of naked female torso in bondage
    • Feb 2015 Pope Francis and slapping of children
  1. Media:
    • Our spokesperson Brendan Butler has had his busiest year to date with numerous appearances on National TV, radio and print media. Other members of WAC-IRL have also been in the media.
  2. Main Issues for 2015:
    • Marriage Equality Constitutional Referendum (22 May 2015)
    • Third International WOW meeting in Philadelphia (September 2015)
    • Synod on the Family (October 2015)
  3. Website:                        wearechurchireland.ie
  4. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreChurchIreland?fref=ts    182 Likes