The association was established on 1 September 2010 with the objective of having "a forum, and a voice to reflect, discuss and comment on issues affecting the Irish Church and society today".

[7] Since inception the ACP have frequently called for a synodal pathway and increased transparency from Irish bishops[8] and have challenged their purported lack of openness as at odds with the approach of Pope Francis[9] and the Second Vatican Council.

These have included in handling cases of clerical abuse,[10][11] greater involvement of lay people within church governance,[12] results of public consultations,[13][14] the treatment of priests.

Following the publication of the national synthesis document response in 2022, the Irish Times reflected on the ACPs call for change "Ten years later it would appear that no less a person than the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Eamon Martin, is thinking along the same lines.

In October 2019, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke at a conference organised by the Association of Catholic Priests, which was titled 'Women and the Church: Equality of Opportunity?'.

At a conference organised by the ACP in Dublin's Regency Hotel, Fr Brendan Hoban told the gathering "that clamping down on "wayward" opinions was not the way to deal with issues".

[29] Following the publication of the National Synethesis document in 2022, the Irish Times acknowledged the contribution of ACP co-founder Fr Tony Flannery and called for his re-instatement, saying he was: [...] now 10 years out of public ministry in the church because he called for the changes subsequently repeated in the National Synthesis document.

[30]Its intervention in the case of Fr Kevin Reynolds, who was libelled in RTÉ's "Prime Time Investigates" programme – Mission to Prey – in May 2011 was instrumental in securing an apology from the broadcaster.

[38] Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese commented on the final document "Clearly there was a very, very strong movement for reform and change and this is reflected fairly and truthfully [...] There's no denying those voices now.

"[41] In 2019 Michael Kelly, editor of The Irish Catholic disputed the suggestion by the ACP that ordaining married men and women would reverse the decline in vocations for the priesthood, citing the steep decline in membership and vocations in the Church of England and mainstream Protestant denominations in Northern Europe, all of which ordain married men and women.