More on Rowan William's visit to Rome
After the release of the details behind the Vatican's plan to receive disaffected Anglicans, the scheduled visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Rome attracted much more attention than it had to date. The details of the visit went just as everyone expected. But the nuance and implications of how the events were handled are being examined for clues about the present state of relations between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.
An editorial in the Guardian points out that there was more going on than many reports would lead us to believe:
"In reality, it was clearly tense. Relations are strained following the Pope's recent offer of special conversion terms for disaffected Anglican conservatives unhappy with Dr Rowan Williams's tolerance of homosexuality and the ordination of women.The Vatican says the offer was meant as ecumenism. Many Anglicans felt it was a land grab exploiting divisions within their ranks. Dr Williams was criticised at first for his softly-softly response, giving only carefully coded public expressions of resistance to the Vatican's approach. Anglicans feared their archbishop was a pushover. But judging by icy formalties after yesterday's encounter, Dr Williams was more forthright in private."
The Archbishop gave an interview on Vatican Radio and the BBC following the interview, and a speech (not attended by the Pope) before the interview. The speech was unusual in that Rowan Williams challenged the Roman Catholic Church to revisit its opposition to the ordination of women.
Most of the press seems to have played up the "everything is okay" message that the diplomatic language tried to say. But clearly it's not, at least not according to people able to read between the lines.
A fuller analysis of the visit can be found here.
The article ends with this observation:
Williams said he gave Benedict a copy of the speech but they did not discuss it. Although the Vatican photos show him gazing with appreciation at the gift of a golden pectoral cross from the pope, none of the nine shots that we ran show Benedict thumbing through — or even holding — the text of the archbishop’s challenge to Rome’s all-male clergy.
It seems to me that one can read between the lines here to see the ABC reasserting his right to speak for the Anglican Communion to the Vatican. It is as if the ABC, caught completely off guard and embarrassed by the Apostolic Constitution, has caught his breath and arisen to demonstrate equality with Rome and not submission. The best way forward is by sister-sister, not by mother-child. Thank you, ABC. Now, let's have more of the same.
Ron Caldwell
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November 23, 2009 10:23 AM
Ron, I see your point about Canterbury "reasserting his right to speak for the Anglican Communion to the Vatican." That does, however, give me pause for two reasons. First, there is already a problem when the Vatican sees the Anglican Communion as the Church of England writ large - and that has been their approach. They have assumed that Canterbury has more authority and even respect in the Communion than is actually the case, and that any step taken towards or with the Anglican Communion will be respected throughout the Communion.
Second and corollary, there are limits to how meaningful or even helpful it is for Canterbury to speak for the whole Communion without a lot of qualification. It's nice when I agree, and difficult with I don't, if you will. Take the current matter, for example. I support ordaining women to all orders, and so am happy to see Canterbury to challenge Rome to see this as a second order matter (whether Rome actually will or not). I don't expect, though, that Anglicans in much of sub-Saharan Africa - even those that are still speaking to us - would be so enthusiastic.
Marshall Scott
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November 23, 2009 3:21 PM
Well, they did agree to start on the next round of talks. If past is prelude, that should wind up around 2030.
Posted by Anthony Willard![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 24, 2009 5:14 AM