Christian leaders attempt to fix global date for Easter

[CopyBoy]

The archbishop of Canterbury has announced he is engaged in an ambitious plan to solve one of the oldest disagreements in Christianity – one dating back more than 1,600 years.

Justin Welby said he had been in discussions with Catholic representatives and the world’s other major Christian denominations to agree on a fixed day for Easter, at the end of a four-day meeting of Anglican primates whose meeting had been dominated by discord over gay rights.

The archbishop said he had warned ministers that the change could have an effect on school terms and calendars, saying he hoped the unified date on the second or third Sunday in April could be introduced in the next five to 10 years. He added: “I would love to see it before I retire.”

theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/15/easter-justin-welby-christian-attempt-fix-date

 

[peter26]

A good idea, but I can’t see it happening. Incidentally, this table shows the complex formula for working out when Easter falls. Not an easy task!

 

[dshix]

It’s not happening. Easter’s current date calculation is just fine, and is based on many solid theological reasons. I don’t see why something which is not broken should be fixed.

 

[Murmurs]

A good idea, but I can’t see it happening. Incidentally, this table shows the complex formula for working out when Easter falls. Not an easy task!

I once tried to calculate the date of Easter for whichever year it was, a few years ago (obviously I already knew when it was from the calendar). I ended up in an intricate knot of numbers. I second, from experience, that it ain’t easy!

On the one hand I don’t see a real need to given everyone copes as it is, and we do actually know the actual date (if not precisely the year) of the first Easter of course. On the other we might regard the date on which we celebrate it as being, like Christmas, a symbolic choice of a date anyway, in one sense. As long as we all choose the same day I don’t think it matters. But I think there are bigger fish to fry in all honesty.

 

[GEddie]

The different faith bodies certainly have more pressing issues than when everybody else celebrates Easter!

On the other hand, agreement on it would be a powerful statement in the direction of reunion, and should be encouraged.

Methinks the Holy Fire of Jerusalem is a sign in favor of the true date. IMNAAHO!

ISTM that as to the first Easter, there is no way of knowing the date without the year.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[IgnatianPhilo]

I can’t imagine my church giving up using the Julian calendar in it’s own estimation of when Easter takes place.

 

[GEddie]

I can’t imagine my church giving up using the Julian calendar in it’s own estimation of when Easter takes place.

That probably wouldn’t happen. Our side moved the date; we’d probably just move it back.

ICXC NIKA

 

[LordHaveMercy]

I would be very surprised if this were to occur. It’s an empty superficial gesture, and our Holy Father has expressed his disdain for superficiality multiple times.

 

[liturgyluver]

I would be very surprised if this were to occur. It’s an empty superficial gesture, and our Holy Father has expressed his disdain for superficiality multiple times.

On the contrary it was Pope Francis himself who said he was ready to renounce the current calculation in favour of a fixed date last year. americamagazine.org/issue/offering-easter

This was a principle that the church examined and agreed to work towards in 1990.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I would be very surprised if this were to occur. It’s an empty superficial gesture, and our Holy Father has expressed his disdain for superficiality multiple times.

Such an expression is contrary to the actual thought of Pope Francis and the mind of the last ecumenical council.

Our Holy Father spoke of this prospective change of date at a gathering of priests last Summer, committing us to the proposal made by Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church. You may read the details in English here:

ncregister.com/daily-news/gift-of-unity-will-pope-francis-change-the-date-of-easter

Far from an empty and superficial gesture, the Holy Father sees this as an important initiative and a significant gesture as we move to overcome the scandal of disunity and move toward restoration of full communion. Other leaders have also accepted the proposal and dialogue continues. It is a matter now of seeing who else agrees to the proposal and then choosing to make the decision to implement.

The Council Fathers also did not see this as an empty and superficial gesture but rather as being significant and important…and they addressed this matter in an appendix they attached to Sacrosanctum Concilium, specifically noting however that while they approved this initiative, they advised that Rome should not act unilaterally to establish a fixed date for Easter but should act in concert with the other Churches and ecclesial communities on this issue:

*APPENDIX

A DECLARATION OF THE SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF THE VATICAN ON REVISION OF THE CALENDAR

The Second Ecumenical Sacred Council of the Vatican, recognizing the importance of the wishes expressed by many concerning the assignment of the feast of Easter to a fixed Sunday and concerning an unchanging calendar, having carefully considered the effects which could result from the introduction of a new calendar, declares as follows:

The Sacred Council would not object if the feast of Easter were assigned to a particular Sunday of the Gregorian Calendar, provided that those whom it may concern, especially the brethren who are not in communion with the Apostolic See, give their assent. *

 

[GEddie]

I would be very surprised if this were to occur. It’s an empty superficial gesture, and our Holy Father has expressed his disdain for superficiality multiple times.

It would be a relatively minor gesture, but worth far more as symbolism, particularly out in the world.

ICXC NIKA

 

[JackyB]

It’s not happening. Easter’s current date calculation is just fine, and is based on many solid theological reasons. I don’t see why something which is not broken should be fixed.

Agreed