The Vatican praises Lambeth Commission report
The Vatican has recently released a statement praising the actions of the Anglican Communion has taken to deal with the present crisis in ECUSA.
"The Windsor Report presents an ecclesiology which has broad similarities with that set forward in ARCIC’s agreed statements, and proposes various practical steps to situate the autonomy of Anglican provinces more clearly within the interdependence of the Anglican Communion. In February of 2005, the Anglican Primates endorsed The Windsor Report, and reiterated that the Anglican Communion’s teaching about human sexuality remains that stated at the Lambeth Conference of 1998, which affirmed the traditional Christian understanding of marriage and human sexuality.
"The Windsor Report presents an ecclesiology which has broad similarities with that set forward in ARCIC’s agreed statements, and proposes various practical steps to situate the autonomy of Anglican provinces more clearly within the interdependence of the Anglican Communion. In February of 2005, the Anglican Primates endorsed The Windsor Report, and reiterated that the Anglican Communion’s teaching about human sexuality remains that stated at the Lambeth Conference of 1998, which affirmed the traditional Christian understanding of marriage and human sexuality.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is of the opinion that these developments affirm the general thrust and conclusions of the understanding of the nature of the Church put forward in the ARCIC dialogue to this point, and that this provides a foundation for continued dialogue and ecumenical co-operation."
posted by Texanglican (R.W. Foster+) | 6:35 PM
4 Comments:
Not to be all cynical, but IMHO, it's quite understandable that they'd like the report given its leanings towards centralization of authority. It's great that they like what Anglicans are doing, but is it because they see ecclesiological implications that we're playing down? Can't have it both ways.
I don't think there is any question that the RC's consider the "tightening" of doctrinal control implied by the WR scheme(slight though that control may be in practice)as a step in the direction of accepting the Papacy. Even with the WR scheme in place, however, there will still be a LONG way to go before papal infallibility and full jurisdictional control from Rome are even within sight for most Anglicans. Don't worry too much.
But if we keep strengthening our own geographically based "jurisdictional control," we just might wake up one morning wondering why it makes any difference whether it's Canterbury or Rome. I am afraid I must continue to worry.
Point well taken, my friend. The WR will probably cause folks to reevaluate the distance between Rome and Canterbury, which WR seems to shrink as the Vatican dock implies. Of course, all this assumes the scheme of the WR is actually put into place. That is still some years in the future, I believe. We shall see.
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