Whalon on The Pope, Rowan Williams, and Henry VIII
Pierre Whalon, Bishop of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, responds to the recent Apostolic Constitution issued by Pope Benedict XVI aimed at disaffected Anglicans and praised the Archbishop of Canterbury's response to it.
He writes:
In light of the lack of consultation with their own bishops, including the new Archbishop of Westminster, the unexplained delay between the announcement and the publication of this “Apostolic Constitution” (currently available only in English and Italian), as well as the insult offered to the spiritual leader of us Anglicans, the Archbishop of Canterbury, there are certainly reasons to worry about the Roman Catholic Church. On the eve of my consecration as Bishop in Rome, which took place on November 18, 2001 at our parish of St. Paul’s-Within-the –Walls, I had the signal honor to be invited to the Holy See by Pope John Paul II, who wished to offer me a formal welcome to Europe. This unprecedented act of hospitality touched me deeply, as well as the Pontiff’s brief speech, who affirmed that the commitment of his Church to the path of ecumenism is irrevocable, and has the unswerving goal of the reunion of all Christians.However, this new Constitution does not seem congruent with that declaration of eight years ago, which was absolutely in line with the great decrees of Vatican II, Lumen gentium and Unitatis redintegratio. This new document quotes them, but seems to have forgotten their spirit. Instead of the measured, humble cadences of those great documents, a triumphalistic accent colors Anglicanorum coetibus....
...I strongly applaud the serene manner of His Grace Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury in responding to the maladroitness of the announcement and language of this new Constitution. Instead of breaking with partners whose conduct is so peremptory, or expressing a perfectly justifiable anger, Archbishop Williams decided to keep a long-planned appointment with Benedict XVI. As a sign of his apology for disrespect, the Pope offered the Archbishop a golden bishop’s pectoral cross.
In a remarkable speech on November 19 at the Gregorian University, the heart of Roman Catholic teaching, the Archbishop called our sister church back to order.
Read it all here.
Forty years of dialogue? Again I say, forty years in the wilderness! It is dispiriting to be reminded how meager is the common ground between the pastors of both churches.
It is not credible that Bishop Whalon and the Archbishop do not know that papal primacy is a first-order, not second-order issue for the RCC and can not simply be fudged.
If the Bishop actually wished to stop the propaganda, he should have trimmed about half of his post.
Posted by Anthony Willard![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 27, 2009 2:02 PM
Anthony, when JP2 said
"I am convinced that I have a particular responsibility in this regard, above all in acknowledging the ecumenical aspirations of the majority of the Christian Communities and in heeding the request made of me to find a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation. ...
In this way the primacy exercised its office of unity...what should have been a service sometimes manifested itself in a very different light [JCF: that's the Mea Culpa! ;-/] . it is out of a desire to obey the will of Christ truly that I recognize that as Bishop of Rome I am called to exercise that ministry ... I insistently pray the Holy Spirit to shine his light upon us, enlightening all the Pastors and theologians of our Churches, that we may seek—together, of course—the forms in which this ministry may accomplish a service of love recognized by all concerned" (Ut Unum Sint, 1995)
it was possible to imagine a kind of "primacy" of the Bishop of Rome that could---in God's Good Time!---truly be "recognized by all concerned."
But after that? And particularly under B16? Not so much.
JC Fisher
[Off-topic: LinkTV is showing a special about Akinola (and his Unpleasantness) tonight! 11/27 See "The Battle of the Bishops" (11PM Eastern/8PM Pacific, part of their "Spotlight" magazine)]
Posted by tgflux![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 27, 2009 4:03 PM
JC Fisher - thank you for the fine passage from Pope John Paul II. It sheds some light, in the sermonizing style of prelates, on his aspirations. After reading it I am yet more convinced that he regarded papal primacy as an immutable core belief of the Roman Catholic Church that might be reexpressed in attractive concepts, but never revised, Pope Benedict XVI? A fortiori.
There are plenty of people in the RCC who would be more in agreement with the Archbishop. But they do not find themselves in responsible positions in the Curia. As the most astute Archibishop and Bishop Whalon well know.
Posted by Anthony Willard![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 27, 2009 8:46 PM
JC, it is indeed possible to imagine a model of primacy for Rome that others might accept. I am also interested in JPII's statement in Ut Unum Sint. That said, I still remember his address to the World Council of Churches earlier in his papacy. He spoke of the importance of ecumenical discussion to pursue the unity of the Church. He then went on to say, essentially, "And when you are all ready to come home, we will be ready to welcome you." That JPII was better than Benedict XVI in being hospitable doesn't mean he had changed the established understanding.
Marshall Scott
Posted by mscottsail![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 27, 2009 9:45 PM