Calling Pope Benedict XVI’s arrangement for Anglicans wanting to become Roman Catholics “the elephant in the room,” the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion said the pope’s move was nothing groundbreaking from an ecumenical viewpoint.
Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury spoke Nov. 19 at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University at a conference marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, a pioneer in Catholic ecumenism.
While the archbishop’s address focused on efforts over the last 40 years by the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Communion to promote full unity, he said he obviously had to mention Pope Benedict’s apostolic constitution establishing “personal ordinariates” — structures similar to dioceses — for Anglicans wanting to enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
[blockquote]Williams said the Anglican communion was proof that churches could stay together in spite of their differences.[/blockquote]
I wonder if he smiled as he said this. Surely he said this in jest.
#1
Someone once said that the Devil prevents the Anglican Communion from collapsing to prove that a house divided against itself can actually stand.
[blockquote] Williams said the Anglican communion was proof that churches could stay together in spite of their differences. [/blockquote] That pudding has not yet set.