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**Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, is due to arrive in Rome to meet Pope Benedict XVI. **
His six-day stay in Rome marks the 40th anniversary of the ground-breaking visit of his predecessor Michael Ramsey to the Vatican, which was the first visit by an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See since the time of the Reformation.
But the prospects of a return to full communion between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches remain dim.
There will be plenty of occasions for polite, even cordial, exchanges during the coming week between high-ranking Vatican officials and the archbishop and his 10-strong delegation from Lambeth Palace in London.
To emphasise the importance that the Roman Catholic Church in England attaches to the occasion, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, is accompanying the Archbishop of Canterbury on his visit to Rome and he will be present at many key meetings and services of prayer.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6167608.stm
I disagree with the BBC’s conclusion. I think that from recent comments, the Arch-Bishop’s visit will be an important one! He is an accomplished theologian and cannot fail to be somewhat in cahhots with the Holy Father on many issues!
The BBC story goes on to mention the ordination of women as being one of the major stumbling blocks to unity, and the Arch-Bishop recently commented that he could see a day when the Anglican Church reviewed it’s position on that point and that the ordination of women had not brought the renewal that had been expected, causing many to think again! He told the Catholic Herald divisions in the Anglican Church had “tested” his belief it was the right thing to do. You can read the story in the Catholic Herald here catholicherald.co.uk/news/women%20priests.html
I have to say I really like the Arch-Bishop, whose faith seems very gentle and genuine. There’s a lovely demonstration of his faith in this conversation with the journalist John Humphreys, who has lost his faith: bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/misc/insearchofgod.shtml
In the interview I refer to initially with the Catholic Herald he states:
*“This is a very important strategic point for us at the moment,” he said. “We are now not two Churches competing for a limited market: we are two Churches standing in the middle of a secular and unfriendly environment and also in the middle of a world whose practical needs are enormous, needs which the Church is in a unique position to help with. *
“There is enough in terms of doctrinal agreement for us to feel that we can recognise each other. There is still quite a lot to do. So I don’t feel too gloomy about it .”
I have to say, I think it’s fantastic that the two Churches can meet and talk and be friends. This friendship and dialogue- a coming together of Christian brothers and sisters is hugely important and speaks the right message about UNITY. All sounds very positive if you ask me!
His six-day stay in Rome marks the 40th anniversary of the ground-breaking visit of his predecessor Michael Ramsey to the Vatican, which was the first visit by an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See since the time of the Reformation.
But the prospects of a return to full communion between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches remain dim.
There will be plenty of occasions for polite, even cordial, exchanges during the coming week between high-ranking Vatican officials and the archbishop and his 10-strong delegation from Lambeth Palace in London.
To emphasise the importance that the Roman Catholic Church in England attaches to the occasion, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, is accompanying the Archbishop of Canterbury on his visit to Rome and he will be present at many key meetings and services of prayer.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6167608.stm
I disagree with the BBC’s conclusion. I think that from recent comments, the Arch-Bishop’s visit will be an important one! He is an accomplished theologian and cannot fail to be somewhat in cahhots with the Holy Father on many issues!
The BBC story goes on to mention the ordination of women as being one of the major stumbling blocks to unity, and the Arch-Bishop recently commented that he could see a day when the Anglican Church reviewed it’s position on that point and that the ordination of women had not brought the renewal that had been expected, causing many to think again! He told the Catholic Herald divisions in the Anglican Church had “tested” his belief it was the right thing to do. You can read the story in the Catholic Herald here catholicherald.co.uk/news/women%20priests.html
I have to say I really like the Arch-Bishop, whose faith seems very gentle and genuine. There’s a lovely demonstration of his faith in this conversation with the journalist John Humphreys, who has lost his faith: bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/misc/insearchofgod.shtml
In the interview I refer to initially with the Catholic Herald he states:
*“This is a very important strategic point for us at the moment,” he said. “We are now not two Churches competing for a limited market: we are two Churches standing in the middle of a secular and unfriendly environment and also in the middle of a world whose practical needs are enormous, needs which the Church is in a unique position to help with. *
“There is enough in terms of doctrinal agreement for us to feel that we can recognise each other. There is still quite a lot to do. So I don’t feel too gloomy about it .”
I have to say, I think it’s fantastic that the two Churches can meet and talk and be friends. This friendship and dialogue- a coming together of Christian brothers and sisters is hugely important and speaks the right message about UNITY. All sounds very positive if you ask me!
