Bishop Allin on "Unity Pilgrimage" to Rome
Episcopal News Service. October 11, 1979 [79287]
New York -- The Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, went to Rome on October 10 for a "unity pilgrimage" in connection with a meeting of the board of directors of the Anglican Center in that city.
On his trip, Bishop Allin met with the Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, Superior General of the Society of Jesus and President of the Union of Superiors General of the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.
He also met with the Most Rev. Benedetto Calati, Abbot General of the Camaldolese Order, which has a covenant relationship with the Order of the Holy Cross in the United States. Bishop Allin reaffirmed the initiative of Father Arrupe in promoting dialogue between religious of the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Presiding Bishop said that he wanted to give thanks to God for "the progress already made" in ecumenical dialogue.
He held a service of Evening Prayer at the Monastery of San Gregorio al Celio from which St. Augustine and his monks departed in 596, sent by St. Gregory the Great, for the evangelization of the English people.
Bishop Allin discussed the implications of the new joint ecumenical commission of the religious orders of both churches.
The work of this commission will build on the work already done by the Anglican/ Roman Catholic Joint International Commission which has produced three agreed statements on the Eucharist, the Ministry, and Authority in the Church.
The religious have said that they are committed to a deep theological reflection on unity, prayer, worship, and the apostolate to the world.
Bishop Allin hopes to share the results of his trip with the Primates of the Anglican Communion who are meeting at the end of November in Ely, England.
Travelling with Bishop Allin were the Rev. Samuel Van Culin, Executive for World Mission in Church and Society at the Episcopal Church Center in New York, and the Rev. Connor Lynn, OHC, Superior General of the Order of the Holy Cross and chairman of the Conference of the Religious Life in the Americas.