2005-09-30
12:52
to unify or not to unify
Posted by Luke Schierer under morality/religion | Permalink | | Leave A Comment
What in the world does it mean for a protestant church to be “unified” with Rome if it means no changes? That is the question posed by the announcement that “The Anglican Church in America has decided to seek union with the Roman Catholic Church.”[1] but that “from a basic theological and operational standpoint, nothing will be different within the church.”[2]
[1] Catholic News Agency. “Anglican group seeks reunion with Rome” 2005-09-30. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=5024
5 Responses to “to unify or not to unify”
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They are trying to get included under Canon 844 section 3, namely:
§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.
As per the article:
They voted in favor of starting a formal discussion with Rome and eventually creating what is called a “single Eucharist community.” This would allow members of the Traditional Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church to take communion at each other’s churches.
This fits under canon 844 Section 3, and at the same time “from a basic theological and operational standpoint, nothing will be different within the church.” As Canon 844 section 3 is an affirmation that the two churches are in agreement over these sacraments. IANACL, however.
I see. So they basically simply want to become another Orthodox church, but sketchier. :-/
Yes, but less sketchy than before. It wouldn’t change what we need to do in regard to receiving at their church, but it would change the respect we might accord their celebration of the sacrament, because it’s that which gives them their “condition in regard to the sacraments”.
Yeah, but I’m still unhappy. I would like to see a true unifocation, to have them come back.
Babies don’t just start walking. They start falling ;). They start trying to crawl, and fall. When they master that, they try standing, and they fall. The church, as old as we make think it, is still quite the baby. The fact that it seems to be getting up from falling again gives hope.