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Title:[ENS]Roman Catholic/Anglican dialogue meeting in Seattle postponed 

12/4/2003

Roman Catholic/Anglican dialogue meeting in Seattle postponed

by James Solheim 
  
[Episcopal News Service] The official dialogue between Roman Catholics and
Anglicans has hit a speed bump, although both sides insist that they are
committed to further conversations in their common search for Christian
unity. 

A scheduled February meeting of the Anglican Roman Catholic International
Commission (ARCIC) in Seattle has been postponed in the wake of the
consecration of the first openly gay man to be elected bishop in the
Episcopal Church. Archbishop Alex Brunett, co-chair of the commission who
was to host the meeting, said that the November 2 consecration has created
"a major problem" in relations between the two churches.

The dream of unity remains strong, Brunett said at a news conference,
because agreement on theological issues has remained "very close" and both
sides "certainly work hard to cultivate that relationship."

Brunett was echoing blunt comments from Pope John Paul II during an October
4 meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in which the pontiff
said, "As we give thanks for the progress that has already been made, we
must also recognize that new and serious difficulties have arisen on the
path to unity. These difficulties are not all of a merely disciplinary
nature; some extend to essential matters of faith and morals."

A journey together

In his meeting with Williams, Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Vatican
Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, expressed his concerns about the
sexuality issues "because it is not only an internal problem of the Anglican
Communion, but it also touches on our relations." Noting that the official
dialogue goes back 30 years, Williams said that Roman Catholics and
Anglicans "are on a journey together to become the Church that accords with
Christ's call..."

Kasper met November 25 with the Rev. John Peterson, secretary general of the
Anglican Consultative Council, in Rome where they decided that the current
work of ARCIC should proceed until the completion of the current phase in
2004 and then the future agenda and next phase can be determined. At the
same time they decided that next meeting of the International Roman Catholic
Commission for Unity and Mission, formed in 2001 to foster practical
cooperation, should be put on hold in light of ecclesiological concerns
raised by the consecration of Gene Robinson in New Hampshire. The work of
the commission's subcommittees, however, will continue.

Kasper welcomed the suggestion from Williams that both partners in the
dialogue look for a way to look at the issues raised by the consecration in
light of the work already done by ARCIC.

At the same time, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, co-chair of ARCIC,
wrote to Williams announcing his decision to resign. "Given recent events in
the life of the Episcopal Church in the United States, and the strain they
have caused in the relationship between the Holy See and the Anglican
Communion," he said that he was resigning "in the interest of not
jeopardizing the present and future work of the commission..." The
resignation may make it possible to schedule a new ARCIC meeting at the end
of January.

Reunion with Rome?

On his return from meetings in Rome, Brunett said in an interview with the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer that the Vatican had received a startling
overture from Episcopalians who refuse to recognize Robinson's consecration.
"We were approached by a whole Episcopal diocese about coming into the Roman
Catholic Church, as perhaps Anglican Rite Catholics," he said. He would not
identify the diocese.

"I can't tell you how much anger I hear from Anglican bishops around the
world," Brunett added. "It puts us on the spot. We don't have any
disagreement with the Anglican Church. It is that this section of it, the
Episcopal Church, has decided to separate itself from the Anglican
Communion."

American and Australian traditionalists have been in Rome discussing a
possible reunion with the Roman Catholic Church, according to the Rev. David
Moyer, president of Forward in Faith in North America. "The bottom line is
that the Anglican Communion is being stressed to breaking point," he said,
and that has led to discussion of joining the Roman Catholic Church while
retaining Anglican doctrine and liturgy.

The Orthodox have also signaled a chill in ecumenical relations with
Anglicans. The Russian Orthodox announced November 17 that it was suspending
further cooperation with the Episcopal Church. The heads of the Oriental
Orthodox Churches "postponed" a meeting with Anglicans, arguing that the
dialogue "would be better served by waiting, at present, for the Anglican
Communion to have time to take proper account of, and reflect upon, the
consecration which has taken place. It is very much hoped by all
participants that the work of the commission will be resumed at a time
convenient to all."

-- James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.