This week's meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) in Dublin represented a surprise re-emergence of protest among priests - just four years after their total humiliation.
Until 2008, Irish Catholic priests convened an annual Conference of Priests of Ireland (CPI). That fell apart, because the priests themselves were so demoralised and felt that no-one was listening to them.
They were over-worked and under-manned. They were also getting used to a new feeling that they were not only being ignored by most people, but were actively reviled.
In an effort to persuade priests that they were being heard by their bishops, the CPI invited the Irish bishops to come and meet them and hear their grievances. Only four turned up……
this week, a group of priests calling themselves the Association of Catholic Priests showed a lot more energy and courage than any priest seemed capable of such a short time ago.
It is impossible to predict how far their declared resistance - their word - will take them, but there is no mistaking the passion and the organisational skills which they are bringing to it.
This week's meeting was the start of a project to create an assembly of Catholics - something like a democratic synod. The core motivation is an understanding the Church is out of touch with the people and in rapid decline.
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