Vatican City, Dec 1, 2003 / 22:00 pm
The Vatican officially suspended the Anglican-Catholic ecumenical dialogue on Tuesday, as a consequence of the ordination of a homosexual bishop within the Anglican Communion.
A statement released by the Holy See’s press office reveals that “on Tuesday, November 25, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, met in the Vatican with Reverend Canon John L. Paterson, Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council.”
The future of Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue was discussed during the meeting, “especially in light of recent developments within the life of the Anglican Communion,” the statement says.
“As a result of the conversation, it was decided that the next plenary session of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) and its work towards the publication and reception of a Common Statement of Faith would have to be put on hold.”