Jeg har ikke fulgt med så veldig nøye på Lambeth-konferansen, som akkurat nå foregår i Canterbury i England – jeg regner vel ikke med at det skal skje så mye positivt der, men muligens klarer anglikanerne å behelde den ytre enheten ennå noen år.
I går ettermiddag talte kardinal Walter Kasper, Vatikanets økumeniske leder, til de anglikanske biskopene, og uttrykte at den katolsk-anglikanske dialogen nå går feil vei. Fra the Catholic News Agency:
The cardinal noted that these efforts at dialogue have been “based on the Gospel and on our ancient common traditions” and motivated by “fidelity to Christ.”
And yet, “now it seems that full and visible communion as the goal of our dialogue has taken a step backwards,” Cardinal Kasper lamented.
According to the Catholic prelate, two questions are creating tension between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church: “the ordination of women and human sexuality.” The teaching of the Catholic Church on human sexuality and in particular on homosexuality, said Kasper, is “firmly based on the Old and New Testament,” and what is “at stake is fidelity to Holy Scripture and to the apostolic tradition.”
Cardinal Kasper closed his speech by expressing the concern of the Catholic Church over the divisions currently appearing in the Anglican Communion.
“Our acute consciousness of the greatness and considerable depth of the Christian culture of your tradition increases our concern for you in relation to your current problems and crises …»
Jeg skjønner ikke hvorfor Kasper er bekymret akkurat nå …
Jeg mener, «fidelity to Holy Scripture and to the apostolic tradition» har jo vært kjernepunktet hele tiden. Å med vilje være adskilt fra den sanne Kirke er ikke akkurat «troskap» mot Skriften og den apostoliske Tradisjon.