Letters

Ecumenism

Gary Crothers

Contents - Jun 2009 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Pentecost Sunday: birthday of the Church - Michael Gilchrist Cardinal Pell's UK interview: Liturgy, Missal translation, World Youth Day - Luke Coppen Vocations: Brisbane's Holy Spirit Seminary: promising signs of growth - Anthony Barich News: The Church Around the World Interview: American Catholics and abortion: the Church at the crossroads - Mariangela Sullivan Laetare Medal: Mary Ann Glendon's letter to Notre Dame's President FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH: The Last Things: death, judgment, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell - Br Barry Coldrey Sharia Law: Lights dim for Christians in Pakistan - Babette Francis Events - July: Australian Catholic Students Association: continuing spiritual impact - Br Barry Coldrey Youth: Forming a new generation of pro-life leaders - Patrick Langrell Letters: Church authority - Paul Fitzgerald Letters: Superior design - John H. Cooney Letters: Church in China - John R. Barich Letters: Persecution in China - J. Loring Letters: Holy Land Pilgrimage - Association of Hebrew Catholics - Andrew Scholl Letters: Ecumenism - Gary Crothers Letters: Prayers after Mass - Ken Bayliss Letters: Pontius Pilate - Grahame Fallon Books: The Catholic Church and Conversion, by G.K. Chesterton - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Catholic Christianity: A Complete Catechism of Catholic Beliefs, by Peter Kreeft - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ISLAND OF THE WORLD, by Michael O'Brien - Luke McCormack (reviewer) Books: AD2000 Books for June Reflection: Pentecost and the power of the Holy Spirit for today - Fr Dennis W Byrnes

It seems moves are afoot for the Catholic Church in some quarters to embrace Anglicanism, with Anglican clergy giving homilies, bestowing blessings and reading the Gospel in Catholic churches. We also see moves for Anglican and Catholic bishops to "swap" pulpits with the idea of mutual acceptance or collegiality.

To read the Gospel or give a homily in a Catholic church is the exclusive privilege afforded only to an ordained Catholic deacon or priest.

As an ordinary lay Catholic, I believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, as founded by Jesus Christ, second person of the Trinity, who is God Himself.

This Church is presently under the charge of the successor of St Peter whom Jesus appointed as the Rock of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI.

The Church of England, on the other hand, was founded by the apostate King of England, Henry VIII, who began his murderous reign against Christ's Church because he was denied a marriage annulment by the Vatican.

Henry VIII put to death thousands of priests, religious and lay people who remained faithful to their Catholic faith. He also confiscated the Church's property, including convents and monasteries.

Anglicans do not accept the Pope as Christ's vicar on earth and successor of St Peter. They do not have Christ's real presence in their communion and nor valid ordination of their priests or bishops.

We have to reach out to our Anglican friends, of course, but they need to acknowledge that the Catholic Church is the one Church of which Jesus promised, "Behold I am with you all days even unto the end of the world."

This truth needs to be boldly proclaimed by our Church leaders.

(By the way, would any reader have a copy of Michael Gilchrist's book, Rome or the Bush (1986), which he or she is willing to sell to me? My address is 9 Hovea Place, Tewantin 4565, Qld).

GARY CROTHERS
Tewantin, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 22 No 5 (June 2009), p. 16