Posted on 05/01/2026 3:06:21 PM PDT by ebb tide
The recent scenes starring during Sarah Mullally’s visit to Rome, Primate of the Anglican Communion, have sparked a critical reaction from the theological sphere. Monsignor Nicola Bux, priest and theologian, has warned of a possible “confusion” among the faithful stemming from some gestures performed in the Vatican in the presence of the Anglican leader.
According to the portal Stilum Curiae, Bux has particularly questioned the coherence between these acts and Catholic doctrine on the priesthood and ecclesial authority.
The presence of the Anglican leader at various events—from her passage through the Clementine Chapel, near the tomb of St. Peter, to her participation in celebrations at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola—has been interpreted by some sectors as a sign of growing ecumenical closeness.
However, the images disseminated in recent days show Mullally performing gestures typical of spiritual authority, such as imparting blessings in the presence of the faithful and Catholic prelates, which has raised questions about their meaning in the context of Church doctrine.
One of the most commented moments took place in the Clementine Chapel, where, according to the published images, Monsignor Flavio Pace, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, made the sign of the cross as if receiving the blessing from the Anglican leader.
In response to these events, Monsignor Bux has raised a fundamental objection: the contradiction between these gestures and the Church’s constant teaching on the priesthood.
The theologian recalls that the Catholic Church does not recognize the priestly ordination of women, which implies that acts that simulate or evoke that ministry lack sacramental validity. In this sense, he considers it problematic that such gestures are performed in Catholic spaces and in the presence of ecclesiastical authorities.
This is compounded, according to his analysis, by the situation within the Anglican Communion itself, where a significant portion of its members does not recognize Mullally’s authority as primate.
In his statements, Bux wonders whether those who participated in these acts were aware of the gravity of the gestures performed or whether, on the contrary, they acted without considering their implications.
Beyond the intention, he warns that this type of situation has real consequences: it “scandalizes and confuses” many Catholics, especially when no clear explanation is offered.
For this reason, he considers it necessary for the Holy See to issue a statement that helps clarify what happened and avoids erroneous interpretations about the nature of the priesthood and authority in the Church.
Even if thscandal was not intentional ( which I believe it is) at a certain level, incompetence is culpable.
But don’t expect any sort of genuine explanation, much less a mea culpa, from a man who has offered no acknowledgment or apology or explanation after being exposed for apparently publicly worshipping Pachamama while a Catholic priest.
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