Roman Catholic perspective on Anglican discussions
Anglicanism awaits its moment of truth
Catholic Herald, London, September 8 2006
Vatican Notebook, Edward Pentin, Rome Correspondent
LIKE a ship anchored beside a vessel in distress, the Vatican is watching carefully the affairs of the beleagured Anglican Communion. Rocked by internal conflicts, the Communion is increasingly facing the grim prospect of schism - an event that would have significant implications for the Catholic Church. "No one knows exactly how events will unfold, but its going to be messy," augurs one Curial official. "This is a very important moment with enormous consequences for ecumenism".
September could be a crucial month: on the recommendation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, a small but influential group of conservative and liberal US Episcopalian bishops will meet in New York to thrash out their differences. At roughly the same time, the primates of the "Global South", a group of 15 provinces in the southern hemisphere who generally support conservative Anglicans in North America, are scheduled to meet in Rwanda. Optimists believe the meeting could broker a new way forward; others think they will achieve the opposite.
At root is the classical liberal-conservative tussle, but one played out without the vital moderating influence of a central teaching authority. On one side are those who pledge faithfulness to Anglican tradition and scripture; on the other are those who hold liberal beliefs more in tune with contemporary Western culture. So deep have these divisions become that one Anglican primate [sic] , Bishop Michael Nazir Ali of Rochester, spoke in June of "virtually two religions" holding "two irreconcilable positions".
The Vatican meanwhile has been anxious not to rock an already holed boat. So far, it has kept an officially low profile, preventing itself from worsening Anglican divisions or harming Anglican-Catholic relations while trying to strengthen those bonds that promote Anglican unity. Privately, however, Vatican officials are talking of possibly larger groups of conservative Anglicans coming over to Rome.
This, they believe, is some time off, and may not happen at all. But if it does, there will be much work to do, including revisiting the validity of holy orders and finding a way for Anglicans to be "united but not absorbed" into the Catholic Church. This means possibly extending the kind of Anglican Rite that already exists in the United States, whereby Anglicans can keep their liturgy yet enjoy communion with Rome. However, such a provision is fraught with complexities and is opposed by many of the world's Catholic bishops. The Vatican has also yet to seriously entertain the idea, preferring instead for this intense battle in the Anglican provinces to first work itself out.
As to the Vatican's general approach, most Anglican leaders welcome it. Bishop Nazir-Ali also commends the Vatican for its clarity, but would also like officials to embark on a "differentiated dialogue", one that is geared exclusively to those who are still seeking unity based on the Gospels and common traditions. "While I understand the Roman Catholic Church needs dialogue with all denominations, they will have to distinguish between those who want visible unity and those who are looking for dialogue based on common preferences," he said.
Such dialogue could be of great help to the Traditional Anglican Communion, an ecclesial group of 400,000 disenchanted Anglicans. The TAC, which is not part of the Anglican Communion but also holds to traditional Anglicanism, is serious about coming into communion with Rome. The group has consulted widely, and hopes to finalise a way forward using a specially devised Anglican Rite early next year.
The Vatican, however, anxious not to be seen recruiting disenchanted Anglicans, has yet to officially acknowledge them, despite the fact that they have made overtures to Rome for over 10 years and are in any case no longer in the Anglican Communion.
TAC's Australian primate, Archbishop John Hepworth, thinks its time for a change in approach. "Recognising us would be an enormous step forward and show a recasting of Catholic-Anglican dialogue around the world," he says. "Rome doesn't understand the horrendous situation of conscience in which many Anglicans have been put."
With all its eyes on the stricken Anglican Communion vessel, the Vatican appears to have overlooked the large lifeboats of traumatised passengers rowing eagerly towards them. The question is, how long will it be until it picks them up?
