In a statement July 29, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity noted Archbishop Williams' concern for maintaining the unity of the Anglican Communion through common faith and practice based on Scripture and tradition.

The Vatican office "supports the archbishop in his desire to strengthen these bonds of communion, and to articulate more fully the relationship between the local and the universal within the church," the statement said.

"It is our prayer that the Anglican Communion, even in this difficult situation, may find a way to maintain its unity and its witness to Christ as a worldwide communion," it added.

The Episcopal Church's general convention adopted two resolutions that may further strain relations within the Anglican Communion and with the Catholic Church: One affirmed that all ordained ministries, including the office of bishop, are open to all the baptized, including gays and lesbians; the other called for the collection and development of theological resources for the blessing of same-sex unions.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams • Episcopal Church (TEC) • General Convention 2009 • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings • * Religion News & Commentary • Ecumenical Relations • Other Churches • Roman Catholic

1. seitz wrote: I wonder if this has been choreographed. Well done. July 29, 1:46 pm | [comment link]

2. palagious wrote: Hence the liberal use of the word ecumenical within the ABC’s response. July 29, 1:54 pm | [comment link]

3. Rudy wrote: I liked the Archbishop’s response, not least because of his insistence on not merely what is Anglican but what is Christian, based on a clear knowledge of Scripture (and how it has been interpreted, and how most scholars nowadays interpret it) and tradition. Rudy+ July 29, 3:05 pm | [comment link]

4. Dee in Iowa wrote: Two for two - Pope/RC and Albert Mohler/SB ....perfect score…. July 29, 4:25 pm | [comment link]

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