Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada Assures Catholic Bishops of Collaboration
Oct 21st, 2009 by David
From the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
On the second day of their annual Plenary Assembly, the Bishops of Canada welcomed Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. In a brief and powerful address to the members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, observers and guests, Archbishop Hiltz recalled how Christians are to be committed “to the realization of the will of our Lord that we all be one, as he and the Father are one.” He noted the great progress made over recent years towards full unity. “We now have much theological consensus to build on and to move forward together.” Archbishop Hiltz also extended an invitation for a CCCB representative to attend the next General Synod of the Anglican Church in Canada, as well as encouraging a possible joint meeting of Anglican and Catholic Bishops in Canada.
Although Ab. Fred Hiltz did not mention the Vatican’s overtures, they could not have been far from his mind and, rather like Ab. Rowan Williams, he seems to be trying to put the best face on things.
Despite protestations to the contrary, Rome’s overtures do appear to be an attempt to take advantage of Anglican disarray. How many will actually take advantage of the offer, though? As has been mentioned elsewhere, there are three Roman Catholic doctrines that most Anglicans would have difficulty accepting - papal infallibility, the place and nature of Mary, and transubstantiation; why would Anglicans who could accept these doctrines not already be Roman Catholics – other than the special case of married priests, perhaps? Surely not because they have been unwilling to let go of Anglican trappings.
I suspect that the latest move by the Vatican to offer Anglo-Catholics a new home will end up having little effect on ecumenical “unity”; so far as all Christians being one as Jesus intended, that, I believe, usually occurs in spite of denominational efforts.
How can he say Catholics and Anglicans have much theological concensus now when he has not even been able to achieve theological consensus in the Primate’s Theological Commission, let alone Canada? More vacuous words.
How can he talk about unity when he has resisted all efforts from Bp. Don Harvey to sit down and talk
The responses by Hiltz and RW are laughable. The RC are stealing anglican sheep right under their noses. RW and Hiltz, instead of taking on the roman challenge with an expose of Roman excesses in terms of a full fledged defense of the Biblical faith, are whimpering about and sounding foolish! Frankly with leaders like Hiltz and RW its understandable if “Anglicans” to Rome.
In a Recent story in this Blog a circumstance was descibed whereby a mother used to speak questionably about Roman Catholics actually being Christian. Later in life She became a prayer partner with a RC neighbour. This is a beautiful example of “Christian unity”
that obviously had elements of Holy Spirituality, and what I believe our Lord was praying about. This is different than ++Hiltz’s “He noted the great progress made over recent years towards full unity. “We now have much theological consensus to build on and to move forward together” this is church unity! Until our leaders recognize and repent of errors going all the way back in our various traditions, church unity will forever be a hypocritical dream.
Spiritual Unity on the other hand begins whenever two or more are gathered OF THE SAME ACCORD. In other words …. right now!