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Tuesday, May 17, 2005 Anglicans and Catholics in Bed TogetherAn interesting development - in today's Age "Almost 500 years of feuding over Mary ends". Yes well, we'll see. Sounds overly optimistic, to this simple fellow. The article starts:Nearly five centuries of division between Catholics and Anglicans over the place of the Virgin Mary have ended potentially in a historic agreement that she was Christ's foremost disciple and a model for all Christians but not a saviour. So far, so good. But... Both churches released a statement early today (Melbourne time) that they hope will surmount one of the main theological objections to a united Western church. The Anglicans embrace such a wide spectrum of theology, that I suppose adding a Mariolatry wavelength won't upset things too much. But what is the point of such unity based on compromise? Anyway, there's more... The joint statement, Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ, tackles four main issues: the Catholic doctrines of Mary's immaculate conception (that she was born free of sin) and bodily assumption (that when Mary died, her body and soul were taken into heaven) - both of which most Anglicans reject - the authority of the Pope in making them dogma, and how Mary should be honoured. Sound pretty insurmountable differences, on the face of them... The statement, yet to be formally adopted by either church, draws on Scripture and ancient tradition, seeks a language that reflects what the churches have in common but transcends the past controversies. Sounds like woolly compromise... The document...says the disputed doctrines are "consonant with Scripture and the ancient common traditions" Now, that we would like to see! Ancient traditions maybe, but consonant with scripture? Maybe not surprisingly, one of the major authors is our "mate", Anglican Primate, Perth Archbishop Peter Carnley. A suspect character if ever there was one. Seems we're not the only sceptics, the European Institute of Protestant Studies has this to say: We wonder how the Commission can possibly claim to place the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary in any Scriptural context. This document, like its predecessors, will attempt to dress up pure Roman doctrine in language that will deceive those ‘Protestants’ who wish to be deceived. Gary, your thoughts and what would Paul Barker make of it all??? # posted by geoff @ 9:54 am 0 comments
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