Every Bishop has a particular responsibility to build up the unity of his flock, mindful of our Lord’s prayer “that they may be one, even as you, Father, are in me and I in you” (Jn 17:21). United in one faith, sharing one Baptism and believing in the one Lord, (cf. Eph 4:5), the Church is one throughout the world, yet at the same time she is marked by a rich diversity of traditions and cultural expressions. In Africa, the colour and vibrancy with which the faithful manifest their religious sentiments has added a new dimension to the rich tapestry of Christian culture worldwide, while at the same time your people’s strong attachment to the traditional values associated with family life can help to express the shared faith which is at the heart of the mystery of the Church’s unity (cf. Ecclesia in Africa, 63). Christ himself is the source and guarantee of our unity since he has overcome all forms of division through his death on the Cross and has reconciled us to God in the one body (cf. Eph 2:14). I thank you, dear Brothers, for preaching the love of Christ and exhorting your people to tolerance, respect and love of their brothers and sisters and of all persons. In this way you exercise the prophetic ministry that the Lord has entrusted to the Church, and in particular to the Successors of the Apostles (cf. Pastores Gregis, 26).
Indeed it is the Bishops who, as ministers and signs of communion in Christ, are pre-eminently called to make manifest the unity of his Church. The collegial nature of the episcopal ministry traces its origins to the Twelve Apostles, called together by Christ and given the task of proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples of all nations. Their pastoral mission is continued by the members of the episcopal College in such a way that “whoever listens to them is listening to Christ” (Lumen Gentium, 20). I urge you to continue your fraternal cooperation with one another in the spirit of the community of Christ’s disciples, united in your love for him and in the Gospel that you proclaim. While each of you has an individual contribution to make to the common collegial voice of the Church in your country, it is important to ensure that this variety of perspectives always serves to enrich the unity of the Body of Christ, just as the unity of the Twelve was deepened and strengthened by the different gifts of the Apostles themselves. Your dedication to working together on issues of ecclesial and social concern will bring great fruit for the life of the Church in Kenya and for the effectiveness of your episcopal ministry.
Like many readers of T19, I was present in Dallas at the original “Plano” Conference in the fall of 2003, when then Cardinal Ratzinger’s letter of encouragement was read aloud to the crowd gathered there. I was deeply stirred then, by the great Bavarian theologian’s strong words of support, as if we shared in the same worldwide struggle for the truth of the authentic Gospel. I have often since been inspired by his uncompromising stand for the Faith once delivered to the Saints. This speech is typical of many: aptly expressed, forthright and direct, heart-felt, and theologically profound. Needless to say, as one who supports the Common Cause Partnership and is proud to be an Advocate of “the New Reformation,” I would differ from Benedict XVI on some crucial points. But I can’t help wishing that we could trade the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Roman pontiff. I for one would find that a highly favorable exchange. In any case, as this speech shows, this German pope represents more of an ally in the great culture wars of our time, than a theological enemy or rival. Or so it seems to me.
David Handy+
30 years ago, had we had even one American Episcopal bishop consistently speak as forthrightly and clearly as Benedict, we might not now find ourselves in the mess and chaos we are in. Three cheers for the Bishop of Rome who understands what a Bishop should be and do. Too bad, so many of ECUSAs bishops are without a clue, though they have mastered the art of ecclesiastical haberdashery.
What a beautiful address. And not a single mention of the Millenium Development Goals.
I would guess that Benedict was speaking more on the church’s development goals for the millenia.
Any chance we could trade in the squid expert for a theological and biblical expert? Just wondering.
David+, sure, we’d take a squid expert. However, she’d be rather disappointed in her clerical career prospecs here on this side of the Tiber. As for theological and biblical experts.. well.. you’re welcome to Kung and his ilk. Just don’t try to take our Papa! 😉
Over the past few months I have read many Episcopalians say that they wish they could trade the Archbishop of Canterbury (or some other leading Episcopal-Anglican hierarch) for Benedict XVI. There is a way. It is called “swimming the Tiber.”
RE:”For this reason it is important to assist parents in teaching their children how to live out a Christian vision of marriage, conceived as an indissoluble union between one man and one woman, essentially equal in their humanity (cf. Ecclesia in Africa, 82) and open to the generation of new life.”
Bravo! The clarity with which the Holy Father speaks is truly bracing!
David+,
Very funny. Alas, TEC has never had much of a taste or use for theological or biblical experts among its bishops. We Americans generally prefer the CEO type (ala Virginia’s Peter James Lee, probably the most capable administrator in the HoB, and someone who could have run a Fortune 500 company well, but who certainly is not much of a theologian). Unlike England, where bishops are appointed by the crown, we have never had a tradition of great scholar bishops like say, Joseph Butler, Joseph Lightfoot, B. F. Westcott, and now Tom Wright, all of whom were Bishops of Durham (not to mention other sees that have had occasional similar examples). And just among the Archbishops of Canterbury, there have been some great theologians like Anselm, William Temple, and Michael Ramsay. Although I’m very critical of Archbishop Rowan Williams as a bishop and primate, there is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that he is a significant and worthy theologian, whose writings I always find stimulating and useful, even when I find them infuriatingly obscure or offensively heretical. No Presiding Bishop has ever even approached the exalted and influential stature of these scholar bishops in the C of E. But this appears to have more to do with American pragmatism and even sometimes populist anti-intellectualism than with the Liberalism or relativism now so lamentably dominant in TEC.
But the real problem, it seems to me, is that the real expertise that is valued in TEC is the ability to divine the direction that the social elite in America is going and to position the Episcopal Church so as to retain the respect and occasional allegiance of Christianity’s “cultured despisers” (to use the language of the Father of theological Liberalism, F. Schliermacher). That is, it’s not expertise in theological or biblical teaching that is valued so much as the essentially political ability to express the prevailing opinions of the “progressive” and “enlightened” core constituency of TEC, and to do so in a sufficiently ambiguous and pastoral way that it’s simultaneously politically correct and yet as non-threatening as possible to the many conservative believers in the pews. Alas, the Presiding Heretic knows a lot more about squids than about real leadership. Worse yet, she seems to know even less about theological and biblical truth than the average egg plant.
[blockquote]…the real expertise that is valued in TEC is the ability to divine the direction that the social elite in America is going and to position the Episcopal Church so as to retain the respect and occasional allegiance of Christianity’s “cultured despisers†…[/blockquote]
I’ve never seen the malady so eloquently put, NRA. Kudos for that. As with all left-wing religious organizations, the cultural dog wags the theological tail.
Thank you, Jeffersonian, for your kind words. But now that several people keep refering to me as “NRA” (which is inevitable, but which I failed to take into account when I chose the name), I will have to reconsider that screen name. I’m not the National Rifle Association type. Maybe NRS, New Reformation Supporter.
#7
As memory serves the Tiber has far too many wolves waiting on the shore for my taste. Just because one proved to be nurturing once does not mean I expect the same behaviour from all, such is just contrary to their nature.
I hear Constantinople is nice this time of year, though 😉
Still, props to Rome for it’s choices in bishops for the last century.
How easy the choice is… the Holy Father, or KJC, who’s team would you rather be on? This isn’t about changing your “church,” it’s about becoming, at last, part of THE CHURCH. I know that’s hard, but do it anyway.. Sorry for the Evangelizing, I’m an obnoixous convert!