Pope and Anglican Primate meet for 20 minutes, say dialogue will continue
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.- Pope Benedict XVI and the Anglican Primate Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, have agreed to maintain momentum in the ecumenical dialogue between the two churches despite the fact that the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus will imply the reception of some half a million Anglicans into the Catholic Church.

The Pope received Williams this Saturday morning, and according to a Vatican press release, "in the course of the cordial discussions attention turned to the challenges facing all Christian communities at the beginning of this millennium, and to the need to promote forms of collaboration and shared witness in facing these challenges."

The private meeting also “focused on recent events affecting relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, reiterating the shared will to continue and to consolidate the ecumenical relationship between Catholics and Anglicans," the press release said.

Both the Holy Father and the Anglican Primate expressed their hope in the Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), due to meet in the next days to start the "third phase" of ecumenical dialogue.

ARCIC was established by Pope Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey in 1967. It worked in two phases. The first phase was completed with the publication of a report in 1981, dealing with three topics: the Eucharist, Ministry and Authority.

The second phase covered a vast range of topics including: Salvation and the Church, in 1986; The Church as Communion, in 1991; Life in Christ: Morals, Communion and the Church, in 1993; The Gift of Authority, in 1999. It culminated with the publication of "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ," in 2005.

Despite the advancement in theological dialogue, the effort toward unity was critically damaged by the 1992 decision of the Anglican Communion to allow the ordination of women.

A preparatory commission for a third phase of ARCIC met in London in October 2007. Over coming days, the commission entrusted with preparing the third phase of the international theological dialogue is due to meet and establish the next issues to be discussed.

During a conference in Rome early this week, the Archbishop of Canterbury said that "divisive" issues such as the ordination of women should be avoided to focus on other ecclesiological, less conflictive issues.

But well-known British Catholic commentator Damien Thompson asked skeptically on Saturday:

"There’s going to be a 'third phase' of this waffle? To discuss what? Tips on where to buy the tastiest organic biscuits to serve after Sunday morning services?"

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Peskadot
Guam 11/27/2009 05:43 PM EST
Francis seems to have a misplaced contempt for the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. The Council is the authentic magisterium of the Catholic Church. If he disagrees with the Council, it is likely that he, not the Council, is in error.
Published by: raybo
Essex, Ct, USA 11/22/2009 10:52 AM EST
Dr. Johnson was asked how he expected to complete his English Dictionary by himself when the comparable French Dictionary needed hundreds of assistants, Johnson said,"the proportion is about correct". Rowan's 20 minutes with Pope Benedict also seems about correct. God Bless us all.
Published by: LeonG
Brunei 11/22/2009 10:27 AM EST
Well said Francis. Not only this but also Pope Leo XIII declared the nullity of Anglican Orders in the Papal Bull Apostolicae Curae, 1896. The last pope actually kissed Rowan Williams ring & knelt with him at St Peter's in his capacity as invalid archbishop, while this one consults with Williams as though he has something valid to tell The Church.
Published by: leslie Wetter
portland, or. USA 11/21/2009 04:26 PM EST
I am a roman catholic woman. I think the American and English commentators should be grateful that there is finally a bond between Anglicans and the Pope. As Priests I would say fine continue your choice of marriage and sexuality. But abstain from all sexual relations until married. However, I believe that all bishops whether they are Gay, Straight or Women should be celibate to be recognized by the Pope. For myself that action would define whether they are truly serious to be sanctified by the Pope as Bishops.
Published by: Matthew Doyle
Birmingham 11/21/2009 04:06 PM EST
Didn't the CNA lower the tone slightly by quoting such a "British Catholic commentator?"
Published by: bt
Seattle/WA/US 11/21/2009 03:24 PM EST
The Pope is doing what Jesus commanded: "Feed my sheep." He is still going after the lost sheep. He won't cease to meet with them unless it is impossible, and then he will continue praying for them.
Published by: Francis
Wareham MA 11/21/2009 01:01 PM EST
Rate: Good
This Vatican II novelty known as "ecumenism" and "interreligious dialogue" is a joke, a waste of time, and has cost many souls to be lost. Professional "ecumenists" like Walter Kasper, John Paul II and others have no intention of trying to bring the protestant sects or the pagans to the the true faith, and the true Church. TRUE ecumenism and interreligious dialogue for the Catholic church would entail bringing these lost sheep (protestants) back to the Catholic Church and the pagans to Jesus Christ and to his One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, with the successor of St. Peter, the bishop of Rome as the earthly head. How many more souls will be lost until modernist Rome dumps these 1960s novelties and gets back to doing what Our Lord instructed his Catholic Church to "Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned". Remember, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus is a DOGMA of the Catholic Church which cannot be eliminated, redefined, or ignored by any Pope or Counsel.
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