Unity 'impossible' if Anglican church ordains women bishops, says Cardinal Kasper

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London, England, Jun 8, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Vatican's Council for Christian Unity, told the Church of England that to consecrate women as “bishops” would make unity "unreachable" and shared Communion impossible, reported The London Times.

Cardinal Kasper has urged the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and his fellow bishops not to proceed towards attempting to ordain women bishops without support from the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

Cardinal Kasper made his statement at a private meeting this week of the Church of England's bishops at Market Bosworth, Leicestershire.

He made clear that while the Catholic Church would not break off talks with Anglicans, the tone of ecumenical dialogue would change and future talks would no longer have unity as their goal.

"Ecumenical dialogue in the true sense of the word has as its goal the restoration of full Church Communion. That has been the presupposition of our dialogue until now. That presupposition would realistically no longer exist following the introduction of the ordination of women to episcopal office," he reportedly said.

Above all, all hopes of intercommunion would end. "The shared partaking of the one Lord's table, which we long for so earnestly, would disappear into the far and ultimately unreachable distance,” Kasper said, “instead of moving towards one another we would coexist alongside one another."

This autumn, Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Williams are expected to announce the third round of talks under the auspices of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission.

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Allyson Craig
Philiadelphia 07/05/2006 03:21 PM EST

Helen "Scotland" still doesn't understand that the Church has no authority to ordain women. It is a clear and
final statement, and surely not a "right" !

Published by: Charlotte
Harvard MA USA 07/05/2006 02:10 PM EST

The Church has spoken on this issue infallibly back when Leo XIII was Pope. That settles it according to true Catholic teaching. It is amusing to see that the new church of the Vatican II religion considers unification impossible based on another reason entirely. They must not regard Leo XIII as a true pope, or else what he had to say would still stick.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY 06/12/2006 02:39 PM EST

The Sacrament of Holy Orders was instituted by Christ, Himself. This means that the priesthood is not a right or priviledge. Being it's a sacrament, only men can be ordianed as priests. That's the way God intends it. The Church does not discriminate. It's Christ who made it this way and Christ is the Church.

Published by: Father Benedict
USA 06/12/2006 10:04 AM EST

Unity is impossible first and foremost because of the papacy, rejected by all other Christian churches, and because the RC church discriminates against both women and married men, not to mention gays and lesbians.

Published by: Esteban
Costa Rica 06/09/2006 07:07 PM EST

I don't understand why all the fuze about Anglican ordaining women bishops. Already US anglicans have women bishops. Why the fuze now that the UK Anglicans want to ordain women bishops. It is going to happen. It seems hypocritical to be threatening UK Anglicans, when already other anglicans in other parts of the world ordain women bishops. I am sure we will see a woman Arcbishop of Canterbury. As for the conversion of Cardinal Kasper, I wouldn't believe it. This is Pope Benedict XVI retraining Cardinal Kasper.

Published by: Charles Wadlow
Kirkland, WA USA 06/08/2006 07:18 PM EST

I commend Cardinal Kasper for looking somewhat orthodox. This is a great move. Why? Well, the Anglicans are like liberal Catholics. I'm glad the Cardinal came down on them. Tough Love works! Hate the sin, but love the sinner.

The Anglicans and their American group of Epicopals need to wake up, smell the coffee and read the Bible. No women as Bishops or Priests and no actively gay men as Priests or Bishops.

I mean, what Bible are they reading. The position of Priest and Bishop may only be a man, who represents Christ. Christ was a man and so is the priesthood.

If you are an openly gay Bishop or Priest, then the See of Canterbury needs to have them excommunicated unless they repent from their sinful activities.

I guess there is still hope for the Anglicans when a left wing Catholic Cardinal like Kasper can sometimes actual sound like a real orthodox Catholic. :)

Published by: Charles
Peru 06/08/2006 06:01 PM EST

To Janice:

And to believe in conversion? Is not possible? I don't know what happened to Kasper, if he's honest or is just faking, but... i hope he is sincere. Why not? I know about more incredible conversions...

Published by: Esteban
Costa Rica 06/08/2006 05:48 PM EST

I too share the feelings of Janice about Cardinal Kasper. At least finaly His Holiness the Pope is putting a limit to the "big mouth" of Cardinal Kasper. I have always been apalled to read stories of him publicly questioning Church doctrine, even though in his capacity as curia colaborator he is entitled to strictly express the Church's views. He definetly should have never been appointed to the Holy See. He has done a very bad job in the Roman Curia. The Holy Father would be best without him.

Published by: Ron Pichlik
Battle Creek, MI USA 06/08/2006 05:02 PM EST

Well, whatever his motivation he is absolutely correct. The ordination of female bishops, (and priests for that matter), will pose, I suspect, an insurmountable obstacle to complete reunification. And, to Mike from MA; remember there is nothing wrong with being cooperative and trying to get along, HOWEVER, as Catholics we can NEVER compromise the fullness of the truth which is possessed within the Catholic faith alone.

Published by: Helen
Scotland 06/08/2006 05:00 PM EST

I am appalled at Cardinal Kasper. We should be looking towards women's ordination anyway. There is not a Biblical, theological or ethical reason to oppose it.

Published by: Mike McCaffrey
Yarmouthport, MA 02675 06/08/2006 02:17 PM EST

Great move Cardinal Kasper. Nothing like positive underpinning for a climate of cooperation.

Published by: Janice
Washington, D.C. 06/08/2006 02:12 PM EST

I am intrigued by Cardinal Kasper's sudden turnaround to orthodoxy. He has suddenly gotten religion. A few years ago, he opted for anything that smacked of syncretism and uncritical ecumenism. Now, all of a sudden, he's onboard with Benedict. Methinks, I see opportunism and a desire to keep his job, but no real conversion of heart. I hope when his five-year term is up, he goes back to Germany.

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