The Pope's Offer to Anglicans

by Peter Hickling, Cromer, England | Category: Hot Topic | Nov 2009

A Surprising Move

On 20^th October 2009 the Pope offered to receive disaffected Anglicans into the Roman Catholic church, taking by surprise the Archbishop of Canterbury, who admitted that he had only heard of it 'at a very late stage'.

In other words, he was not consulted, just told. Dr. Williams said that there had been "no input from, or consultation with, Lambeth Palace". What is offered is 'full and visible' communion with Rome. Whole churches, with their priests, are to be offered the opportunity or full recognition within the Roman Catholic church, while retaining their Anglican liturgy and traditions, even their married clergy. As one would expect, most of those who are attracted by this possibility are those whom we would label 'Anglo-Catholic'; they can describe it as 'coming home'.

Why?

Many in the Church of England are dismayed at the advance of practices called 'liberal' (although the 'liberals' tend to be very illiberal towards those who disagree with them). Particular instances are homosexual priests and bishops, and women priests and bishops in some parts. Those who share this disquiet can be very different, but their common factor is that they believe in a revealed faith, not one that should continually adapt to the views of society. The blog of a body called Anglican Mainstream says, 'Faithfulness to Scripture as God's Word is essential for sharing the love and purpose of God in Jesus Christ'. On this point both the Anglo-Catholics and the Evangelicals agree.

So do we – but we go on to say that Scripture takes precedence over church traditions.

What would a transfer involve?

It should be very clear that Roman Catholic teaching is a 'package'. Anyone who accepts it must accept all of it. We can’t go through all of it here, but look at the RC catechism on their website, and see what is involved. This latest statement is issued as an 'Apostolic Constitution', the highest level of decree issued by the Pope; other such things are the Tridentine Mass (1570), the Immaculate Conception of Mary (i.e. that Mary was without sin) (1854) and the Bodily Assumption of Mary (1950), none of which have any scriptural support. Thus, although Anglican dissidents are right to turn away from 'liberal' practices which are contrary to Scripture, they are going 'from the frying pan into the fire' if they go to a church which requires as articles of faith things invented by its hierarchy. They would have to accept (as some of them do) the doctrine that the Pope is the successor of the apostle Peter, and is empowered by Christ to make binding statements on His behalf.

What is that to us?

When Peter looked at John, and said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him "... what is that to you? You follow me!"¹ It is our responsibility to seek the Lord's will as revealed in Scripture, and then to follow it.

Some of those who established the first Brethren churches in the 19th century were ordained ministers, but they realised that some of the traditions of the established churches had no support in Scripture, so they sought to follow it in Bible-based churches. Later, some understood that all these churches should be together, not autonomous, and saw that spreading of this truth was needed – hence the foundation of this magazine, Needed Truth and the united Churches of God who publish it. The reasons for tensions in the 'established church' are therefore of interest, but they challenge us to search and act for ourselves.

We stand by Luther's watchword of by sola scriptura (Scripture alone), and invite our readers to do so too.

References: (1) John 21:21,22 ESV

Peter Hickling, Cromer, England | Nov 2009 | Hot Topic