The Archbishop of Canterbury reflected on Pope John Paul II’s concept of “martyrial ecumenism” on Jan. 25 when he received an award named for a Roman Catholic priest martyred by English Protestants.

America, a magazine published by North American Jesuits, chose Archbishop Rowan Williams as the 2009 recipient of its Campion Award, which honors Christian achievement in literature. The award is named in honor of Edmund Campion, S.J., the magazine’s patron saint. He was martyred by hanging in 1581 after refusing to renounce his Roman Catholic faith. Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England designate feast days for Fr. Campion.

America gave the first Campion Award to Jacques Maritain in 1955. Among its other recipients are Karl Rahner, S.J.; New Testament scholar Raymond E. Brown; novelist Walker Percy; Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe; and U.S. Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan of New York.

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1. New Reformation Advocate wrote: “He seems to be everything a church leader should be,” says Fr. James Martin, SJ, on the staff of {b]America.  Well, maybe if you’re a liberal Catholic like him. Yes, ++RW is indeed prayerful, well-educated, empathetic, and rooted in the gospel.  But he’s certainly NOT a leader, and he sadly has abdicated his responsibility as the top figure in the AC to uphold the apostolic faith without compromise.  And since he refuses to lead, then he’s most definitely not “all that a church leader should be.” David Handy+ January 29, 3:00 pm | [comment link]

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