wfn.org | ACNS3315 Initial Response to the Papal Encyclical, Ecclesia de

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3315     |     ACO     |	  23 APRIL 2003 

Initial Response to the Papal Encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, issued on
Maundy Thursday, 17 April 2003

The Anglican Communion Office notes with respect the publication this Maundy
Thursday of the Papal Encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia. His Holiness the
Pope has chosen an appropriate moment to draw the attention of all Christians
to the central place of the Eucharist in the life of the Christian faithful,
and eloquently expressed afresh the Roman Catholic understanding of this
Sacrament. He speaks of his personal experience of the celebration of this
Sacrament as a way of introducing a theological exploration of its importance
in the life of the Church, and of the boundaries of its proper celebration,
which include a restatement of the existing limitations on Eucharistic
sharing as defined by the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church.

Whilst it is not possible at this moment to offer an immediate comprehensive
response to this document, we very much hope that this encyclical will be
adopted for study by the instruments of dialogue set up mutually by the
Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church - namely, the Anglican Roman
Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), and the International Anglican
Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). From this study,
we will hope to understand more fully the way in which the ecumenical
commitment expressed in this encyclical, and by both our churches, may be
carried forward to the point where a fuller eucharistic sharing may be
initiated between Roman Catholics and Anglicans.

The Revd Gregory Cameron
Director of Ecumenical Affairs, Anglican Communion Office

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