Posted on 11/20/2009 8:29:31 AM PST by markomalley
The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday made his most outspoken challenge to the Roman Catholic Church since the Pope invited disaffected Anglicans to switch to Rome.
Speaking before he meets Benedict XVI tomorrow, Dr Rowan Williams told a conference in Rome that the Catholic Church’s refusal to ordain women was a bar to Christian unity.
“For many Anglicans, not ordaining women has a possible unwelcome implication about the difference between baptised men and baptised women,” he said.
The Anglican provinces that ordain women had retained rather than lost their Catholic holiness and sacramentalism, he said.
Addressing an ecumenical conference at the Gregorian Pontifical University, the Archbishop said that the way Anglican leaders dealt with internal arguments offered lessons for senior Catholics.
“Is it nonsense to think that holding on to a limited but real common life might be worth working for within the Anglican family? And if it can be managed within the Anglican family, is this a possible model for the wider ecumenical scene?”
The ordination of women priests — and the prospect of women bishops — is one of the main reasons why disaffected Anglicans may take up the Pope’s offer of a “Church within a Church” that would enable them to retain traditional Anglican practices within the Catholic faith.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Uh, no. The Anglicans' absolute disregard for Scripture and Apostolic Tradition prevents their communion with ANY apostolic Church (without recantation, of course).
I’m watching this from the sidelines, but I’ve never heard Williams be so candid in supporting ordaining women. He always seemed to be playing both sides against the middle.
There is simply no room for catholic tradition in Anglicanism anymore. It has cast its lots with liberalism.
I am tempted to say that it is somehow reassuring to know that I will never be in communion with the likes of Rowan Williams, although I will pray for his conversion, since his immortal soul is in grave danger. OTOH, the Anglican Communion is in her final days so it doesn’t really matter what they do or say. Their hopes for public relevance depend a lot on how much we mercifully pay attention to them as they homosexualize themselves into meaninglessness and folly.
Personally I think the Catholic church and all churches should be cautious with all they ordain or else they will soon find the church run by homosexuals and liberal women who have total disregard for Christian tenants.
There has always been a very orthodox strain to Anglicanism, unfortunately, it has also been a very minority position.
Translation: "I cannot, and will not, accept God's word on this subject".
He must be one of those people who enter the ministry to destroy it from within. The Devil's own, I say.
Not completely correct. This holds for all Anglicans still in communion with Canterbury. There are many Anglicans no longer in that communion, myself included. We utterly and categorically reject the notion of female ordination and don't even allow female acolytes, much less female chalice bearers or eucharistic ministers.
There has always been a very orthodox strain to Anglicanism, unfortunately, it has also been a very minority position.
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I’m not sure what to think about that. Let me check with Gene Robinson and get back to you!
Y’all might be interested in this one.
The Pope can’t change that rule. What should draw the Archbishop in would be the Sacred body and Blood of Jesus, not a liberal attempt for “equality”. If he still believes that that is more important, then stay out.
““For many Anglicans, not ordaining women has a possible unwelcome implication about the difference between baptised men and baptised women,” he said.
The Anglican provinces that ordain women had retained rather than lost their Catholic holiness and sacramentalism, he said.”
Well, Arch Druid, those would be two among the many differences between The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and your ecclesial community.
I believe he's been told that after his lame duck act for the last few months, he needs to come out and be bold and assertive and make a stance against Rome in order to rally the troops.
And like the nitwit that he is, he's done it. He probably thinks he's saving the Anglican communion when in fact he's delivering the coup de gras.
That’s certainly a good point that there are not Anglicans in community with Canterbury. I meant “The Church of England” (tm) and I should have been more clear.
I very much appreciate the stand you all are taking. It must be an uncomfortable position to be in. I don’t personally accept the branch theory that Anglicanism was *the* historic continuity of catholic faith in England. But it was at least a plausible hypothesis that was possible for some catholic-minded folks to accept. At present it is no longer possible as far as Canterbury is concerned. The Church of England has cast its lots wholly with Protestantism now, whatever it may say to the contrary.
My fervent prayers to all you Catholic-minded survivors of the wreckage—may the Lord keep you close to His Heart.
I think you’re right. He’s the head of a very liberal community now. There are very few evangelicals or Anglo-Catholics left to placate.
The Broad Church has won.
oops....my fervent prayers FOR you, not to you. Theological faux pas right there! :)
“The Broad Church has won.”
heh heh...
Freegards
Thank you for your post and comment. I am in strong agreement with your comments and belief for I too am in in the same situation as you, an Anglican not in communion with Canterbury. Yes, we are orthodox and in a minority position, but so was Athanasius, e.g., “Athanasius contra mundam”. Pretty good company, I believe.
Indeed....the best company. Although the heretical sees were eventually restored to Athanasian orthodoxy and the Arians became the minority. I don't see how catholicity and apostolic succession can ever be restored with so many women "bishops".
Ha! Good catch...I didn’t even notice that! :)
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