Anglican discord

by Editor · July 16, 2008

Whenever religious faith is a source of conflict between believers, God�s name is offended. In that light, the potential for schism in the Anglican communion is unfortunate and undesirable.

Time will tell how Anglicans will bridge the rifts that divide them, in particular over this month�s decision by the Church of England to authorise the ordination of women bishops (the Episco-palian Church, the Anglican branch in the United States, ordained their first woman bishop as far back as 1989) and over the role of homosexual clergy throughout the Anglican communion.

For the Catholic Church the reality of female bishops in the Anglican �mother church� will represent a further obstacle in unity talks. This issue will need to be handled with sensitivity on both sides of the mediation, but the prospect of full communion between Catholics and Anglicans no longer exists, as Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, put it.

That goal, it must be noted, became unattainable long ago, if it ever was a feasible mission. Indeed, Cardinal Kasper has acknowledged that ecumenical dialogue is not intended to create �mega-churches�, but to foster unity in purpose and cooperation between Christian churches in proclaiming the Word of God more effectively. The ordination of women bishops in the Church of England might preclude structural ecclesial unity, but should not compromise the common articulation of the Good News of salvation.

Many Anglicans are angry about the Church of England�s decision on women bishops and the disputes concerning actively homosexual clergy and bishops. High tension seems inevitable at the Lambeth Conference, the ten-yearly Anglican synod, which begins on July 16.

Many Anglicans are now reportedly contemplating conversion to Catholicism. In some areas there is talk of whole parishes or factions being received into the Catholic Church, including the Traditional Anglican Comm-union, which claims to have 400,000 members worldwide. Besides the logistical problems in that idea, Vatican officials have rightly expressed their misgivings, pointing out that such corporate conversions cannot be a model.

The Catholic Church will need to be very sensitive towards Anglican concerns. Dialogue and cooperation between the two churches could be profoundly compromised should a perception arise that the Catholic Church is cashing in on Anglican disaffection. Converting whole parishes or factions would doubtless foster such perceptions. There is no reason, however, why the Catholic Church should not receive individual Anglicans into its fold, just as there is no reason why the Anglican Church would deny entry to Catholics.

However, in the current climate, Anglicans toying with conversion to Catholicism might serve themselves well by praying over their decision before taking concrete action. Would such Anglicans become Catholics because they believe in the tenets of the Catholic faith, or would such conversions be a rebound move? Is the current Anglican discord the final straw in a long journey towards Catholicism, or is it an enraged reaction of indignation?

Ahead of the Lambeth Conference, Cardinal Kasper said he prayed for Anglican unity, even as its members disagree with each other. The whole Catholic Church ought to join Cardinal Kasper in his prayer.