Vatican's cynical and opportunistic overture

If we haven't melted the planet with global warming, Christianity might be here in a few hundred years.

By then these events will be ancient history, or will they? Will we still each be insisting on our own terms for unifying the church, have given up on the idea, or acomplished the goal?

I agree, in the United States probably more people are welcomed into the Episcopal church from the Catholic church than move the other way.

Episcopalians, on the other hand, might do well to take a closer look at why so many English members of the Anglican communion have no patience with its current state.

IN REPLY TO (IRT)
RANDALL BALMER
“THE CYNICISM IS ALL IN THE BEHOLDER”

IRT:
“The Vatican apparently is seeking to harvest those disaffected by the ordination of women and gays and by support for same-sex unions. A cynical action calls for a cynical interpretation: Perhaps the Vatican is hoping to lure Anglican parishes - and their property - to compensate for its financial losses in the priestly pedophilia scandals."

ANS:
What cynicism is this? It sounds as though you're frustrated that finally Anglicans have the intellectual courage to stand up for the truth and admit their break with the One Holy Catholic Universal Apolistic Church was a mistake.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see gay-sex, homosexual marriage, and abortion, patently condemned in Scripture, are not only an abomination of the individual but of Christ and His Church.

To the contrary, try this "Ut Unum Sint"
Encyclical "That They May Be One"
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
May 25, 1995

http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02uu.htm

"Christ calls all his disciples to unity. We cannot fail to meet this challenge.

Indeed, how could we refuse to do everything possible, with God's help, to break down the walls of division and distrust, to overcome obstacles and prejudices which thwart the proclamation of the Gospel of salvation in the Cross of Jesus, the one Redeemer of man, of every individual

Nevertheless, besides the doctrinal differences needing to be resolved, Christians cannot underestimate the burden of long-standing misgivings inherited from the past, and of mutual misunderstandings and prejudices.

Complacency, indifference and insufficient knowledge of one another often make this situation worse. Consequently, the commitment to ecumenism must be based upon the conversion of hearts and upon prayer, which will also lead to the necessary purification of past memories."

You don't sound as though you are praying for unity or that you have a conversion of heart. Just the opposite seems apparent.

"The courageous witness of so many martyrs of our century, including members of Churches and Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church, gives new vigor to the Council's call and reminds us of our duty to listen to and put into practice its exhortation.

These brothers and sisters of ours, united in the selfless offering of their lives for the Kingdom of God, are the most powerful proof that every factor of division can be transcended and overcome in the total gift of self for the sake of the Gospel."--John Paul II

IN REPLY TO (IRT)
RANDALL BALMER
“CYNICISM”

IRT:
“The Vatican's sudden overture to disaffected Anglicans strikes me as both cynical and opportunistic. Cynical in that the concession effectively to allow congregations to continue using Anglican hymns and liturgies seems to undermine decades of ecumenical discussions by suddenly removing these issues as impediments to union.”

ANS:
"Eugenics literally means "good breeding". It is defined as the study of agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations either physically or mentally. The Church therefore has no fault to find with race culture as such. Rather does she encourage it. But she wishes it carried out on right lines.

The root difference between Catholic teaching and that of modern eugenics is that the one places the final end of man in eternal life, whilst the other places it in civic worth. The effectual difference is that the Church makes bodily and mental culture subservient to morality, whilst modern eugenics makes morality subservient to bodily and mental culture."

JOHN PAUL II
A DIFFERENCE OF CULTURES:
"Our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters are very conscious of being the living bearers of this tradition, together with our Orthodox brothers and sisters. The members of the Catholic Church of the Latin tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure and thus feel, with the Pope, a passionate longing that the full manifestation of the Church's catholicity be restored to the Church and to the world, expressed not by a single tradition, and still less by one community in opposition to the other.”

IRT:
The move is opportunistic in that Rome is making the overture at what might be viewed as a moment of crisis or weakness in the Anglican Communion.

ANS:
JOHN PAUL II:
“In a letter which We wrote on August 9 last year to Our beloved son Peter Cardinal Fumasoni Biondi, Prefect of the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide, We mentioned the following points among others: "The Church's aim is not the domination of peoples or the gaining of temporal dominions; she is eager only to bring the supernatural light of faith to all peoples, and to promote the interests of civilization and culture, and fraternal concord among nations."

The Catholic Church since it began recognized customs and cultures, in the beginning the customs of Pagans was at times recognized.. Customs and culture have never been an impediment of becoming Catholic unless they are contradictory to the teachings of Christ. Culture and customs have been patent part of the Catholic Church in Africa. Thus, the same is applicable in the union of the Anglicans with Catholicism.

If there is any cynicism, it appears to coming from you and not the Catholic Church.

Perhaps the Pope Benedict wants to offer Anglicans the way, the truth, and the light of Jesus Christ. Of course, the pope does this in conformity with the mission of Catholic Church.

I doubt the acquisition of Episcopal property is much of an issue. But the acquisition of married Episcopal priests will be a big plus for the Roman Catholic Church. Sure, there will be a few disgruntled Catholic priests who will question the double standard, but the addition of experienced church leaders untainted by pedophilia will certainly be welcomed.

Some Anglicans/Episcopalians see the Vatican's invitation as unwarranted poaching by the Pope.

They should welcome being poached.

Isn't being stirred in hot water by the Pope preferable to being cast into the never-dying flames of Satan's asphalt lake?

Every gesture has its critics and cynical interpreters, such as the author of this article.

Rome's action would have been suspect if it had not been the result of any requests from Anglicans. Rome is not in any way to blame for the discomfort these people seem to feel within Anglicanism. They could have asked for reunion with the Orthodox, you know? As it is, they repeatedly asked Rome for special consideration and they got what they asked for, much to the surprise of many Catholics.

Overall I think it's a good move since it does not require the imposition of liturgical uniformity. That is a positive development. Whether many Anglicans take up the offer remains to be seen. No one in Rome is putting any pressure on them. It will be good to enter into full communion with these Anglicans, but let their consciences decide.

There is nothing more cynical than your comment that the reason behind the Pope's offer is about a property grab. Frankly, Anglican's asked how they could join the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict made them a generous offer (that to be fair is not completely understood yet). We all know that disaffected Anglican's have been converting in large numbers to the Catholic Church for a number of years now, even without any special accomodations, largely because of the liberal leanings of many Anglican congregations. To be fair, this liberality has appealed to some ex-Catholics as well, causing them to covert to Anglicanism.

Read and ponder this:

from an Episcopalian priest... so so loving and 'Christianly' unlike the piece above.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/william_tully/2009/10/fair_is_fair.html

Remember... the move however cynical and opportunistic it may seem (so everybody claims) is in RESPONSE to a handful of bishops and members of the Anglican Communion who asked to be Reunited with the Roman CC.

If these Anglicans are not happy with their current Communion and might find it in the Roman CC, or elsewhere (or vice versa) - WHAT'S THE FUZZ?

But I'm sure if the Rowan Williams extend a similar offer to disgruntled Catholics to covert to the Anglican Communion (AND HE SHOULD), it will be a happy story for the author of this piece. Ironically, it will NOT be deemed cynical and opportunistic.

Thanks for reading...