Neither Canon Boone Porter's summary [TLC, May 14] of the conference on Anglican ordinations at General Theological Seminary nor the editorial, "Significant Symbolic Step," mentioned a key point in Prof. R. William Franklin's introductory address; namely, that the Holy See, in a 1985 letter from Cardinal John Willebrands to the ARCIC-II co-chairmen, had outlined a framework (albeit conditional) for a new consideration of Anglican ordinations by the Holy See.

Compactly stated, the framework is this: If the churches of the Anglican Communion and the Holy See were to accept as a binding doctrinal norm, not simply as an allowable opinion, an agreed statement on the doctrine of the Eucharist and of holy orders, such as ARCIC-I nearly reached, then, prescinding from the question of the continuity in the apostolic succession of the ordaining bishop, the various Anglican rites of ordination could be evaluated in an entirely different light - as distinct from that of the 16th century or of Pope Leo XIII's time - insofar as future ordinations are concerned.

Were this to occur - and now it would be necessary to add, also, prescinding from the eligibility of the subject, man or woman or both for priestly ordination - we'd be well on the way to that event called for by the headline on Canon Porter's news article and on the editorial: the symbolic significance of a changed view by the Holy See on Anglican ordinations.

(The Rev. Msgr.) DANIEL S. HAMILTON

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (R.C.)

Lindenhurst, N.Y.