Hello from the States 

Tom McMahon, San Jose, California

We started back in 1980, with a history of some people already into the idea just after VaticanTwo. We are a California non -profit organization with tax deducable. In reality we are a group of seeking Christians who meet three Sundays a month for simple home liturgy and discussion and we have a social life as well. Illness and age are beginning to take its toll. We really have no priest as I have schooled them well in the priesthood of the baptized ; I am the teacher and MC at the our services , getting them more and more to express themselves as they wish. It has been wonderful for me as I served 26 years in institutional ministry and now enjoy being a member of a faith community. Over the years we have covered a lot of educational Vatican Two , along with a good imagination.

We have good news in Leaven this  week. Do you know about Fr Michael Keane who was suspended 23 years ago and evicted from his home after a row which I don't remember now what it was all about, although I've heard it many times.  Fr Michael has been  very high profile over the years always speaking out and supporting married priests and the ordination of women.       

He has now been reinstated at a special reconciliation mass which was celebrated by Bishop Eamon Walsh last  Sunday.   He made a great speech at the end appealing to the Church on  the issues of married priests and women's ordination.   It was also a very touching speech which I would love you to hear.  I'll try to get  a copy of it for you.   He received a standing ovation which seemed to go on and on.   I doubt the little parish church in  St. Jude's has ever seen the like.

The crowds lined up afterwards to  shake his hand and show their support.   I felt it demonstrated the  people's support not only for Fr. Michael but also for what he stands  for.   It all reminded Roman of the release of Nelson  Mandela.   This reinstatement reflects a change in the Irish  Church. Many priests are speaking out now and this is giving courage  to others. President McAleese 
(a woman!) has certainly contributed  to these changes and it all reflects a changing more confident Irish people of  the twenty first century.

Malta Inches On Towards The 21st Century

Malta News: Priests clash with their archbishop in the media.

A Maltese priest wrote a letter in the Church's own paper Il-Gens criticizing the way the Archbishop judged an interview carried by a local TV programme with another priest. Writing in Friday's issue of Il-Gens, Fr. John Avellino defended lecturer Fr. René Camilleri against what the Archbishop said about him when he was recently interviewed on talk show TVM, Malta's national station. In that programme Fr. Camilleri did not mince his words when he gave his views about contraception, women priests, celibacy and divorce and said that he believes that in the long-term the Church will review its opinion on the first three issues. The Archbishop Mgr. Joseph Mercieca immediately answered back that whoever speaks like that, either does not know the teaching of the Church or does not want to give it. Fr. Avellino said he did not understand the Archbishop's attitude against a man-priest who genuinely loves the Church and just wants to be a voice for those who are suffering. This is not the first time that Fr. René and the Archbishop clashed in the public with contrasting views over the Maltese church, with  Fr. René being regarded as progressive and open-minded.