Saturday, April 9, 2016

Primatial Ministry in Lusaka and in Rome [UPDATED]

UPDATE Ross Douthat kind, sorta agrees with me! Read him here .

ORIGINAL

A superb address from ++Welby at the beginning of ACC-16 in Lusaka repays some attention, especially around the concept of "reception" in connection with "common discernment." Here, for instance, is a key passage:

"The Anglican Communion only works when the relationships within it are good enough to permit a common discernment of the way in which we are being led by the Spirit. And historically this has been seen in what is often called reception."

In other words, get beyond the legal machination of which Instrument of Communion can or cannot tell another instrument what to do and ask what the Spirit is saying and how is that being heard in common. A divided Communion is the only result of that legal protestation. A united Communion is a possibility if we resolve to walk together and to work together.

++Justin gives a masterful insight into what the Primates achieved and into what they might have failed to do.

(Incidentally the address is also a significant summary of Communion history and of Anglican engagement with an ever changing world!)

Meanwhile, also overnight in Kiwi terms, Pope Francis has released his much anticipated exhortation re marriage and family life, Amoris Laetitia, building on the discussions and deliberations of two recent Synods.

The full text is available here.

The Catholic Herald has a report here with links, including this link to a handy five key sections.

Now there is much to discuss here and we may or may not be able to come back to this document at ADU. But I note this as a point of commonality with ++Justin's address. The Herald general report on the document cites this passage:

"“Neither the Synod nor this Exhortation could be expected to provide a new set of general rules, canonical in nature and applicable to all cases. What is possible is simply a renewed encouragement to undertake a responsible personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases.”"

It strikes me that this is Roman-speak for (1) an evolving common mind of the church which places more weight than previously on local decision-making; (2) to avoid schism there will be no sudden change of the rules and regulations as printed in current documents but there are other ways to evolve doctrine than risky ventures in explicit changes. That is, Rome is also saying, in its own way,

"The [Roman] Communion only works when the relationships within it are good enough to permit a common discernment of the way in which we are being led by the Spirit. And historically this has been seen in what is often called reception."

What do you think?

9 comments:

Father Ron Smith said...

Reflecting on this item, Peter, I do see where you are making a favourable comparison between Canterbury and Rome - on the issue of pastoral leadership and accountability. However, from the ABC's statement to ACC16 Standing Committee, here is something of important difference:

"The ACC is one of the ways in which the Communion is held together. It is made effective by the involvement of lay people, our main bulwark and defence against an unthinking clericalism."

It must be said that, on occasions, 'clericalism' in both Communions can be a root cause of conservative back-lash against reform. This is why the ACC membership - including Lay-people - is so important. So often our discerning laity seem more attuned to the needs of common human justice and pastoral concern that us clerics.

Rosemary Behan said...

Father Ron, justice is ALWAYS tied up with mercy when you are a Christian. We are all sinners and deserve punishment, and yet God has mercy. If I hear you call for 'justice' without bringing in the quality of 'mercy' much more, I will begin to think you unforgiven.

Father Ron Smith said...

"If I hear you call for 'justice' without bringing in the quality of 'mercy' much more, I will begin to think you unforgiven." - R.Behan -

Well, thank God, Rosemary, that your understanding of God's forgiveness - certainly in my case - is quite far off the mark. If you could only imagine for a moment - God's forgiveness is far beyond our human understanding, just like our private 'knowledge of God'.

Anonymous said...

Peter, tradition and the magisterium (nothing to do with majesty for non-Romans) do not evolve. The Spirit need not speak when the bible, tradition and the magisterium agree. Don't expect to hear from Him any time soon on same sex blessings or communion for the divorced. The Pope has written a pastoral non- binding document. He cannot change the magisterium and he has not done so. I can imagine the Germans will take liberties, but the label is still currently mortal sin.

Nick

Peter Carrell said...

Dear Nick
I disagree about the lack of evolution in Catholic doctrine. Are unbaptised babies who die still destined for limbo? Once Mary was not immaculately conceived but then the stars of tradition and Magisterium (no, wait, not the Bible in this instance) aligned to evolve an evolving belief into an infallible doctrine. Indeed the Pope himself was once not understood to speak infallibly.

I also assert my right to be gravely if not mortally (!!) offended by an implication of the word "soon" in your comment. I suspect you think I think "soon" in this context means "twenty years". Not at all. Let's resume our observations in 2216!

As for the German bishops. Wouldn't it be more relevant to wonder what the NZ bishops will do with this statement and its curious footnote?

Father Ron Smith said...

"He cannot change the magisterium and he has not done so. I can imagine the Germans will take liberties, but the label is still currently mortal sin." - Nick -

Dear Nick, Roman Catholic conservatives must be very pleased that you continue to defend the presumed 'status quo' in the R.C. Magisterium.

If, indeed, the R.C. Church is open to any new movement of the Holy Spirit in the world (in the maner of Pope John XXIII's pleas for 'semper refomanda') this must - in the course of time - affect the prnouncements from the 'Magfisterium'. One only needs to see how the forward-looking enterpirse of Galileo affected Roman Theology.

I have little doubt that, 'ere long - because of local need - the Roman Catholic Church will dramtically alter its position on the prospect of married clergy. One only has to think of the acceptance of married priests working in the Church who were Anglican defectors on account of women clergy. If the 'Magisterium' were unalterable, per se, then would the Roman Catholic Church be moribund.

"Behold, I am doing a New Thing!"

Father Ron Smith said...

"In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments. Hence, ‘I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy’ (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium [24 November 2013], 44: AAS 105 [2013], 1038). I would also point out that the Eucharist ‘is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.'” - Pope Francis -

- Footnote to 'Amoris Laetitia -

What wonderful accommodation of God's mercy and loving-kindnerss in the lives of SINNERS. This, surely, is what the Gospel of OLJC is really all about. It reminds us that to the merciful God will show mercy.

Thank God for Pope Francis, who seems more disposed to the eirenic dispensation of mercy to a needy world than some Anglicans.

Anonymous said...

Hi Peter, I didn't mean anything offensive by the word soon. I have simply stated the official position on tradition and the magisterium, though I note that Ross Douthat to some extent answers us both.

Nick

Peter Carrell said...

Hi Nick
I should have put a "Smiley" in there - am not actually offended!
But I am - as the days go by - highly interested in the "nuances" which the Douthats of the world of Catholic punditry are discerning in the document.
I am sure you are too!