The Irish Bishops’ Conference (IBC) is the collective term used to describe the formal meetings held between all 35 Catholic bishops. The bishops meet at least on a quarterly basis. Bishops are represented on the IBC from all 26 dioceses in Ireland (32 counties). The IBC comprises five departments, which in turn incorporate commissions and agencies focused on specific tasks and responsibilities. The departments (chairmen) are: * Dept of Catholic Education & Formation (Bishop Donal Murray); * Dept of Pastoral Renewal & Faith Development (Bishop Bill Murphy); * Dept of Pastoral Care (Bishop Christy Jones); * Dept of Social Issues & International Affairs (Archbishop Diarmuid Martin); * Dept of Planning & Communications (Bishop Patrick Walsh). The central role of the IBC is to facilitate the co-operation between bishops and enable them to function more effectively in their own dioceses. Importantly, in the exercise of this function, the Bishops’ Conference is not an overriding authority, rather it assists the diocesan bishop in the exercise of his pastoral responsibility. The pastoral and spiritual care of a diocese is the responsibility of the local bishop. But there are issues and concerns, common to every diocese, which can be more effectively addressed by the bishops acting together such as the celebration of the liturgy (public worship e.g. Mass), the teaching of religion in primary and secondary schools, and the development of child protection policies. These are just some of the areas where a national approach works best. The benefits of this collective approach are particularly noticeable in the Church’s engagement with social justice issues and in its pastoral concern for family life. Agencies of the IBC which are well in known in Ireland include Trócaire, which deals in overseas aid and development, ACCORD which provides for marriage preparation and marriage counselling, and Cura which offers crisis pregnancy counselling and care. These and other agencies (see below) of the IBC ensure that individual dioceses can respond to the wide range of pastoral challenges facing the modern Church much more effectively than they could ever do on their own. The bishops, acting together in Conference, can share their views and experiences, and, in consultation with the specialists working in its Commissions and Agencies, the IBC can make collective decisions in the best interest of the Catholic Church in Ireland. AGENCIES OF THE IRISH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE (established by year) Trócaire (1973); ACCORD (originally CMAC,1969); Cura (1977); Justice and Peace (1969); Child Protection Office (2001); Refugee Project (1999); Prisoners Overseas (1985); Emigrants (1957); Liturgy (1963). This list is representative and not exhaustive. ends 3rd May 2004 |