Catholic Leaders Hail 'Fruitful' Talks with Archbishop

Scotsman.com ^ | October 1, 2004 | Dave Higgens

[Land of the Irish]

Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church from across Europe said a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury today about bringing Christians closer together was “very fruitful”.

Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams was guest at a meeting in Leeds of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE).

Dr Williams addressed the gathering of Catholic leaders from 34 European countries, which included 10 cardinals, as they discussed issues including the relationship between the Church and the European Union as well as ecumenical matters.

At a press conference after this morning’s session, the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, said: “I was very happy that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, was with us.

“The Archbishop was able to give us his view of the need for spiritual ecumenicalism which was endorsed by everyone present.”

The Cardinal added: “We also spoke in the session not only about the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church but also, later, about the Orthodox Church – the relationship of the Roman Catholic Church particularly in central and eastern Europe.

“It was a very fruitful morning.”

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor continued: “Ecumenicalism is like a road without exit.

“We’ve reached a certain stage where we have to decide how we are to go on in this search for the full unity that is Christ’s will.”

The CCEE, which is meeting in Britain for the first time at Hinsley Hall in Leeds, began yesterday and will continue until Sunday when the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and other delegates will celebrate Mass in Leeds Cathedral.

At today’s press conference, which Dr Williams did not attend, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor and other senior clergy from across Europe tackled a range of issues, including the relationship with the Orthodox Church, the role of the Church in the European Constitution and modern family life.

Asked about the European constitution, the Cardinal said: “I think that all the Catholic Church in Europe have made an effort to ensure that Christianity is mentioned in the preamble to the constitution, not with great success I have to say, and I think it’s a shame.

“It’s an historical fact that Europe has been shaped by Christian heritage, so I regret that.”

He went on: “I think that whatever we say about the constitution, I think that Christianity has an extremely important role in the Europe of the future.”

[Land of the Irish]

Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams was guest at a meeting in Leeds of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE).

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor continued: “Ecumenicalism is like a road without exit.

I wonder when the CCEE will open ecumenical talks with traditional Catholics, e.g., SSPX.

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[NeoCaveman]

Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams was guest at a meeting in Leeds of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE).

Rowan the Fuzzy? The man's considered a joke by most Anglicans.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor continued: “Ecumenicalism is like a road without exit.

All of the sudden the song "Highway to Hell" by ACDC is stuck in my head

[ELS]

All of the sudden the song "Highway to Hell" by ACDC is stuck in my head

LOL! OK, now I will pray that they all convert to Christianity and repent.

[dangus]

Did someone have to mention "fruit"?

[dangus]

Seriously, "high" Anglicans are more traditionalist than the New Order mass. Although the poor wordings are easy to poke fun at, this may be more like welcomig in a uniate rite than watering down the faith through false ecumenism.

[xJones]

If you're talking to "Fuzzy" Rowan, the conversation would have to be fruit-filled.

[Mark in the Old South]

Do these Catholic Bishops have Vickie Gene envy?

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

YOU WROTE: All of the sudden the song "Highway to Hell" by ACDC is stuck in my head


Ditto for LOL. Maybe they could have that played at an interfaith liturgy.

What a colossal waste of time.

[Fifthmark]

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor continued: "Ecumenicalism is like a road without exit."

So thaaaat's why I couldn't find the map - we're on a road to nowhere. Speaking of nowhere, what was archlayman Rowan "I can see a case for acknowledging faithful same-sex relationships" Williams doing at a bishops' conference? Playing dress-up?

[CouncilofTrent]

yeah. I dont understand why the Protestants get treated better than the SSPX.

[SausageDog]

I dont understand why the Protestants get treated better than the SSPX.

Probably because, under Catholic terminology, a heretic is a Catholic who intentionally dissents from the faith. Protestants ceased being Catholics many generations ago and no longer have a Catholic faith from which to dissent. They do not even claim to be Catholic. OTOH, SSPX-ers usually are ex-Catholics who still claim to be Catholics, and only a few of them have been formally excommunicated. Since they claim to be Catholics, their potential for confusing the faithful is much greater than for Methodists, Episcopalians, etc. Accordingly, the Church needs to treat SSPX-ers in such a way as to make it clear the the faithful that these are heretics.

[dsc]

"the Church needs to treat SSPX-ers in such a way as to make it clear the the faithful that these are heretics."

Heretics for refusing to trade the Tridentine Mass for the NO? The Holy Father doesn't claim it; do you have authority to overrule him?

[Fifthmark]

Unfortunately, you can't quote a single source of authority to back your assertion that Catholics who attend Mass celebrated by the Society of St. Pius X are heretics, so I'd appreciate it if you ceased the unwarranted calumny.

[trad_anglican]

Seriously, "high" Anglicans are more traditionalist than the New Order mass. Although the poor wordings are easy to poke fun at, this may be more like welcomig in a uniate rite than watering down the faith through false ecumenism.

It appears that such a possibility is perhaps close. I don't think, however, that Archbishop Williams will be a part of it. The serious discussions are with the "continuing" Anglican churches, which are not officially recognized by Canterbury as part of the Anglican Communion.

[kidd]

SSPXers are considered schismatics, not heretics.

[JesseHousman]

...“very fruitful”. ...

Very insightful and prophetic, that.

[JesseHousman]

Since they claim to be Catholics, their potential for confusing the faithful is much greater...

The "faithful" couldn't be more confused about the Roman Catholic Church, which has degraded into something about as catholic as evangelical protestantism.

It is true that many Catholics are confused, especially when they travel about North America and Europe and find that the mass, even being said in the vernacular, is not uniform and not treated as anything sacred.

The ailing, frail Pope should have spent more time repairing the Catholic Church and restoring it to its once proud majesty as would befit the Church Jesus Christ left behind to nuture and instruct us until the Second Coming. Instead he has squandered his tenure on humanism and in ways unecclesiastical. There are many examples but a two that come to mind are embracing voodooism and sitting to observe bare-breasted polynesian lasses who danced for his entertainment.

Instead of working towards unraveling the web originating and consolidating after Vatican II and bringing sanity back to sanctuaries, he devoted much time to ecumenism by imitating and surpassing protestantism.

There was no sorting out by this Pope of the infestation of the priesthood by the communists and their homosexal allies. He deserves the snubbing by what some refer to as schisms.

When the time comes for this Pope and a few predecessors to account for what they have worked overtime to change on earth, their fate will not be a pleasant one.

[latae sententiae]

SSPXers are considered schismatics, not heretics.

You forgot: racists, Protestants, hate-mongers, anti-Semites, and devil worshipers.

Traditional Catholics are "considered" lots of things, most of which I consider hogwash, since for all the manure that's been flung in our direction, I've yet to be hit with a solitary shred of proof.

My heart is now and will always be with the Society of St. Pius X, its bishops and priests, and its saintly founder...

...and I'm CATHOLIC. Catholic. Catholic. Catholic. Catholic to the core. It's great to be Catholic. Thank God I'm Catholic.

[rogator]

"...their potential for confusing the faithful is much greater than for Methodists, Episcopalians, etc."

Hymns written by non-Catholics denying the real presence and reflecting Protestant theology are greatly confusing to the Catholic faithful, since they are published in the OCP songbook used in a majority of Catholic churches in this country.

If you really want to see "potential for confusing the faithful" look at the drivel taught by the "theology" departments at many so-called "Catholic" universities.

I have yet to see any heretical pronouncements from the SSPX. For that matter, I doubt that most Catholics have even heard of the SSPX.