ARCIC Nears Agreement On Salvation Issues
Episcopal News Service. September 26, 1985 [85189]
GRAYMOOR, New York (DPS, Sept. 26) -- The second Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC-II) held its third annual meeting here, Aug. 26-Sept. 4, 1985 -- the first such dialogue to take place in the U.S. The major part of the Commission's time was given to its continuing work on the subject of salvation and the Church. It worked intensively on this theme, but held back on making a statement for a year -- "until every word and comma is right," according to Roman Catholic commission member, the Rev. Edward Yarnold of Oxford, England.
In dealing with this issue, the Commission is confronting one of the major issues about which there has been sharp disagreement in the past. The Commission has been concerned with examining the historical problems, considering the ways in which Catholics and Anglicans have perceived each other's positions. The Commission believes that it has now established a framework for substantial agreement on this matter. Bishop Mark Santer of Kensington, England, the Anglican co-chairman, said panel members have concluded that the historical differences on salvation were not, in themselves, serious enough to justify the split, and there are no grounds for a continued breach of communion.
The somewhat different emphases of Protestant and Catholic theology on salvation can be viewed as complementary rather than contradictory, said Yarnold. "We need both a Protestant and a Catholic spirituality," he added.
Work has also begun on the theme of growth in reconciliation, including consideration of the difficulties that arise in relation to reconciliation of ministries. In this context, there was joint reflection on the question of ordination of women to the priesthood in some parts of the Anglican Communion.
The meeting took place here at the home of the Friars of the Atonement, who pioneered the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and whose particular apostolate is work and prayer for Christian unity.
During the meeting, the Commission welcomed members of the United States Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission (US-ARC), together with theologians from the New York area. Distinguished guests here included the president of the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Rt. Rev. J. Malone and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. John M. Allin.
On Sunday, the Commission went as a body to Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, where they met Cardinal John O'Connor. The Commission then attended a sung Eucharist at nearby St. Thomas' Episcopal Church on Fifth Avenue, after which was a luncheon where they were greeted by the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, Jr., the Episcopal Bishop of New York.
The second Anglican-Catholic Commission, set up by the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, was given other tasks in addition to dealing with justification and salvation. It is to look at issues left over from the first round of dialogues, deal with reconciliation of ministries and look at further steps needed to bring reconciliation of ministries.