Pope's offer was an 'insensitive takeover bid', say senior Anglicans
Senior Church of England figures have attacked Pope Benedict XVI's offer to disillusioned Anglicans to convert to Catholicism, describing it as "predatory" and "insensitive".
One bishop has claimed that the Vatican's invitation has 'embarrassed' Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, right Photo: GETTY
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
10:00AM GMT 23 Jan 2011
One bishop has claimed that the Vatican's invitation has "embarrassed"
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, while a leading cleric
compared it to a "corporate takeover bid".
Another bishop admitted that relations between the two Churches had been
damaged by the move.
It is the first time that prominent Anglicans have criticised the Pope's offer
since it was made in 2009 and reveals the anger that has been simmering ever
since.
Their comments follow the ordination of three former Anglican bishops as Roman
Catholic priests last Saturday and risk exacerbating tensions between the
two Churches.
Catholic clergy were dismayed by a sermon given by Canon Giles Fraser,
chancellor of St Paul's cathedral, during a service last week to mark a week
of prayer for Christian Unity.
Speaking at Westminster Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Catholic Church
in England and Wales where the ex-bishops were ordained, he said the Pope's
offer for Anglicans to defect to Rome had a "slightly predatory feel".
"In corporate terms, [it is] a little like a takeover bid in some broader
power play of church politics," he said.
"And if Anglicans do feel a little like this, I wonder if things really
are all that rosy in the ecumenical garden."
His comments were echoed by the Rt Rev Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford,
who is the Church of England's chair of the Council for Christian Unity.
"I think it was an insensitive act [the papal offer] as it came at a time
when the Church of England was still in the decision-making process on the
ordination of women and came with minimal consultation," he said.
"It was awkward and embarrassing not just for Archbishop Rowan, but also
for the English Catholic bishops.
"I don't think they were enthusiastic about it and we realise that it has
put them in a difficult position."
Pope Benedict issued a historic decree in 2009, promising Anglicans they could
convert to Catholicism under a structure called an Ordinariate that allows
them to retain some elements of their heritage.
Only 50 clergy have so far indicated that they are likely to follow the three
former bishops in crossing to Rome, but this number could grow if
traditionalists feel unable to remain in the Church of England with the
introduction of women bishops.
The Rt Rev John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln, said he thought the impact of the
Pope's offer would have more of an impact on relations between the Churches
than on the Church of England, which he predicted would only lose "a
very small number" of clergy.
"I can't judge the motives behind it [the offer], but the way it was done
doesn't sit easily with all of the talk about working towards better
relations," he said.
"Fence mending will need to be done to set conversations back on track."
Relations could be strained further next month when the General Synod, the
Church of England's parliament, debates a report produced by the two
Churches on the importance of Mary, who Catholics believe was free from "any
stain of original sin".
"This report is very divisive because it doesn't represent what Anglicans
believe about dogmas concerning Mary," said one Synod member.
Bishop Hill admits that the tone of the debate is likely to be more "belligerent"
than it would have been before the Ordinariate, adding: "It's so
sensitive because in the Church of England you can have a variety of views
[towards Mary], but the Roman Catholic Church only has one understanding."
Cardinal Walter Kasper, a senior aide to the Pope and former President of the
Vatican's Council for Christian Unity, attempted to ease tensions last week.
Speaking at a dinner with Dr Williams, he said that the ordination of the
three former bishops was not a "day of victory", but "a day
of penance".
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