Mgr Andrew Faley [director of ecumenism for the Bishops Conference of England and Wales]: 'Well, I think there is an answer to it and I can understand why Bishop Gregory should say what he has said. However, I can’t really believe that the Archbishop of Canterbury, over the past several years, has not been aware of the disaffection and the unease of several groups of Anglicans within the Anglican Communion concerning particular issues within that Church which have caused them to be increasingly nervous about what it means to be in unity with that church.

'Now, the Pope is not an ill-mannered man, as far as I’m aware, it’s not so much about ecumenical bad manners as the Pope’s concern for the unity of the church.

'As Bishop Christopher Hill said in the joint press conference announcing this particular initiative between – or sorry, not initiative, response – between himself and the Archbishop of Canterbury and also Archbishop Nichols of Westminster, and Archbishop McDonald of Southwark, were present, the four of them - he said, look the last thing we want is more churches.

'This move of the Pope is directly concerned with the unity of the church. That it’s not so much about wanting just to stand back, therefore, and see the Anglican Communion disintegrate into more and more churches. That’s exactly what Gregory doesn’t want. That’s exactly what I don’t want.'

Read it all or better yet listen to the whole podcast from which it is quoting.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • Church of Wales • * Religion News & Commentary • Ecumenical Relations • Other Churches • Roman Catholic • Pope Benedict XVI • * Theology • Pastoral Theology

1. Phil wrote: As I said at MCJ, this is through the looking glass stuff. Greg Cameron says the Pope is “happy to see division,” which the Vatican is showing by creating a mechanism for bringing splinter groups back into the larger Church. Cameron, on the other hand, is interested in unity, and we know that because he advocates all the churches should stay separate. November 3, 9:04 am | [comment link]

2. Pageantmaster wrote: There is rich irony that the Bishop of St Asaph is in the Church in Wales, who have led the intolerance, getting rid of all alternative Episcopal oversight [flying bishops] for Anglo-Catholics.  There are A-C parishes there who are in an Episcopal siege.  If there is anywhere in the UK that is calling out for the intervention of the Pope and FCA it is Wales.  This is in sharp contrast to the last Archbishop of Wales, Rowan Williams, who I understand treated them with loving care and consideration. Put your own house in order Gregory Cameron. November 3, 9:33 am | [comment link]

3. dwstroudmd wrote: Pageantmaster, you have it exactly correct.  There is sufficient irony in this statement to rebuild the Titanic.  “Justice” is only “justice” when the ignoring of 2 millenia of Tradition and Church Teaching advances the goal of “egalitarian elitists” - there is no “justice” for Tradition or its adherents.  Surely God in the heavens laughs at this hubris (Psalm 2 comes to mind). November 3, 9:42 am | [comment link]

4. Sherri2 wrote: If there is anywhere in the UK that is calling out for the intervention of the Pope and FCA it is Wales. So naturally he doesn’t want any intervention. He’d rather drive AngloCatholics out than have them leave, I guess. November 3, 10:41 am | [comment link]

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