Release on Eucharistic Booklet
Diocesan Press Service. January 31, 1972 [72-3x]
The December 31, 1971 New York Times headlined a front page story about the agreed statement on the doctrine of the Eucharist issued by a joint Commission of Anglicans and Roman Catholics. It was newsworthy as the first such public statement since the split between these two great communions in the 16th Century.
Now this so-called Windsor Statement, along with ten other important documents, statements, letters, etc. which preceded it, have been published in a single 50-page booklet available from Morehouse-Barlow Co. (14 E. 41st St., New York, N.Y. 10017) at $.75 per copy.
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury issued a statement after their historic 1966 meeting which said that, despite the many obstacles, they were determined "to inaugurate between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion a serious dialogue which, founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common traditions, may lead to that unity in truth for which Christ prayed."
Many national commissions and an international Anglican - Roman Catholic Commission were formed, and several of the documents in this new booklet contain material from the meetings of the Anglican - Roman Catholic group in the United States. In addition, the booklet contains remarks of Pope Paul VI, Letters of Cardinals Bea and Willebrands, plus Lambeth Conference reports and action.
The Prefatory Note to the booklet, jointly signed by Roman Catholic Bishop Helmsing of Kansas City, and Episcopal Bishop Welles of West Missouri says: "Because of the genuine promise it contains, this record should be a source of encouragement to many. Its suggestions for practical steps toward closer relations at local and other levels provide ways in which clergy and laity of the two Churches throughout the nation may play an important part in this great enterprise."