B
bones_IV
Guest
attitude (via Virtue Online, originally in the Catholic Herald)
One of the Vatican’s most senior cardinals has dismissed the idea that a breakaway group of Anglicans might be received into the Catholic Church en masse - despite Benedict XVI’s personal support for such a move. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, told The Catholic Herald**: “It’s not our policy to bring that many Anglicans to Rome.”**
The cardinal’s comments refer to the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), a rebel group which claims to represent 400,000 people. Its bishops sent a letter to Rome last month requesting “full, corporate and sacramental union”. But the bishops did not send their letter to Cardinal Kasper. Instead they addressed it to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), where, it is understood, they expected a warmer reception.
It has been claimed that 60 Anglican parishes have joined the rebel group since their request became public.
Vatican insiders say that Benedict XVI is scrutinising the matter very closely and believes that the TAC is setting out a path that other Anglicans will follow.
One source said the Pope even gave his blessing to the TAC’s plenary assembly in October, when 60 bishops agreed to seek full communion with Rome. Each bishop reportedly signed a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the church altar.
Benedict XVI sent his message of support through Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the CDF.
But Cardinal Kasper, as president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, is likely to be cautious about any arrangement that might upset the official leaders of the other Christian churches - notably the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
The cardinal said on Monday: **“We are on good terms with the Archbishop of Canterbury and as much as we can we are helping him to keep the Anglican community together.” **
When asked whether he felt encouraged by the TAC’s request, the cardinal replied: **“It’s not our policy to bring that many Anglicans to Rome and I am not sure there are so many as you are speaking about.”
**
He added: "Of course, as a Catholic I am happy if one person joins our Catholic Church but I doubt such a big group is coming - I think there are still many questions to solve first."
The cardinal made his comments just days after another Episcopal bishop announced his intention to seek full communion with the Catholic Church.
Oy! A few outrageous thoughts come to mind:
This man is either insane, a double agent, or possessed. Kasper is concerned for the Archbishop of Canterbury (whose opinion couldn’t matter less, really)? Or he is concerned with the Catholic Church? He can’t seem to decide. Curious. Hope he won’t be reappointed. Let’s pray for this apostate cardinal.
Will the pacifistic perverts of “ecumenism” and “dialogue” ever get it? “Our policy…?” Does that mean HIS policy, or the policy of the Church? For whom does the Cardinal Speak? Is his hostility to Anglicans a reflection of anti-English bigotry? This man I think is in serious need of an exorcism.
One of the Vatican’s most senior cardinals has dismissed the idea that a breakaway group of Anglicans might be received into the Catholic Church en masse - despite Benedict XVI’s personal support for such a move. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, told The Catholic Herald**: “It’s not our policy to bring that many Anglicans to Rome.”**
The cardinal’s comments refer to the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), a rebel group which claims to represent 400,000 people. Its bishops sent a letter to Rome last month requesting “full, corporate and sacramental union”. But the bishops did not send their letter to Cardinal Kasper. Instead they addressed it to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), where, it is understood, they expected a warmer reception.
It has been claimed that 60 Anglican parishes have joined the rebel group since their request became public.
Vatican insiders say that Benedict XVI is scrutinising the matter very closely and believes that the TAC is setting out a path that other Anglicans will follow.
One source said the Pope even gave his blessing to the TAC’s plenary assembly in October, when 60 bishops agreed to seek full communion with Rome. Each bishop reportedly signed a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the church altar.
Benedict XVI sent his message of support through Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the CDF.
But Cardinal Kasper, as president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, is likely to be cautious about any arrangement that might upset the official leaders of the other Christian churches - notably the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
The cardinal said on Monday: **“We are on good terms with the Archbishop of Canterbury and as much as we can we are helping him to keep the Anglican community together.” **
When asked whether he felt encouraged by the TAC’s request, the cardinal replied: **“It’s not our policy to bring that many Anglicans to Rome and I am not sure there are so many as you are speaking about.”
**
He added: "Of course, as a Catholic I am happy if one person joins our Catholic Church but I doubt such a big group is coming - I think there are still many questions to solve first."
The cardinal made his comments just days after another Episcopal bishop announced his intention to seek full communion with the Catholic Church.
Oy! A few outrageous thoughts come to mind:
This man is either insane, a double agent, or possessed. Kasper is concerned for the Archbishop of Canterbury (whose opinion couldn’t matter less, really)? Or he is concerned with the Catholic Church? He can’t seem to decide. Curious. Hope he won’t be reappointed. Let’s pray for this apostate cardinal.
Will the pacifistic perverts of “ecumenism” and “dialogue” ever get it? “Our policy…?” Does that mean HIS policy, or the policy of the Church? For whom does the Cardinal Speak? Is his hostility to Anglicans a reflection of anti-English bigotry? This man I think is in serious need of an exorcism.