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My only contact with Catholics prior to 1963 was avoiding the local Catholic school when walking home, for fear of having stones thrown at me, in my state primary school uniform — sadly, some state schoolers did likewise to Catholic students. I remember it as a parable of pre-Vatican II Catholic-Protestant relationships in Australia.
Pope Benedict XVI's recent Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus (‘Groups of Anglicans’) moves the pastoral openness of Vatican II towards a ‘Rome is right’ mentality. This is disturbing and dangerous, not only for Anglicans, but for Roman Catholics themselves.
If the Apostolic Constitution is phrased in overly-confident 'Romanista' style it will communicate a bureaucratic message and reinforce the suspicion that 'ecumenical endeavour' means 'return to Rome', rather than the vision of every Christian tradition being converted to unity.
In May, the Rev. Canon Kay Goldsworthy will become Australia's first female bishop. The role will entail pressures from those opposed to having a woman as bishop, and those who have been waiting for this moment for decades.
The last pane of the 'stained glass ceiling' was removed last week for most Australian Anglicans. It turns out that a decision made for ecumenical and post-colonial reasons has enabled the change.
Charles Sherlock on the progress being made towards a reformation of the Catholic and Anglican churches.
'The Anglican Church' is dividing, according to recent media statements. Some Anglicans seem to be taking such extreme stances, at the risk of turning communion as divine gift into communion as reward for holding certain stances on lifestyle. What difference does all this make to the life of an Australian Anglican diocese or parish?