ACP may seek sponsorship for lay staff member

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has said it may seek sponsorship from “lucrative” groups and individuals in order to employ a full-time lay member of staff.

ACP co-founder Fr Sean McDonagh told The Irish Catholic that the suggestion to hire a staff member to ease the burden of work on their leadership team was made at a recent meeting and would be proposed to members at the organisation’s AGM in November.

Noting that many ACP members would like to commit more time to the organisation, Fr McDonagh insisted it was not possible given their current workload.

“Many of us would like to give a lot more time into the association but the workload of priests makes it very difficult to do that.

“Someone who might be working on a permanent basis would be in a better position to support the organisation in all our goals,” he said.

Acknowledging that such a full time staff member would require a salary, Fr McDonagh said the association may consider seeking sponsorship for the position from “lucrative” groups or individuals “as long as there were no strings attached”. 

He said a proposal may also be made at the association’s AGM to increase the organisation’s annual subscription which currently stands at €20.

Fr Gerry Alwill, a member of the ACP’s leadership team, said the proposals were “tentative” and that “no decisions have actually been made in that regard”.