ROMAN Catholic and Anglican bishops meeting in Rome, including Brisbane catholic archdiocese’s Archbishop John Bathersby, have implored members of both Churches to proclaim the Gospel.
The fact that Roman Catholics and Anglicans are not in full communion does not excuse them from working together to proclaim the Gospel, the bishops said. Members of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation on Unity and Mission met from November 11-15 outside Rome and joined Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, at a November 13 evening prayer service at Rome’s Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.
Anglican co-chairman of the commission, Archbishop Peter Carnley of Perth, said Roman Catholics and Anglicans must witness together not only to give credibility to their message, but also to give the world a glimpse of the nature of God.
The Catholic co-chairman of the commission, Archbishop Bathersby of Brisbane, said the document would try to summarise “what we hold together”, what the remaining differences are and what practical action can be taken jointly.
Anglican Bishop David Beetge of Highvale, South Africa, said the commission gives Anglicans and Roman Catholics “a vehicle for working together and identifying areas where we can co-operate” even as the Anglican Communion deals with its internal questions.
US Episcopal Bishop Ted Gulick of Kentucky said the commission hopes “to harvest the theological fruits” of 40 years of official dialogue, “taking the thinking and turning it into mission”.
