Archbishop Williams Meets the Pope
Some readers will remember media images which caused dismay to godly Protestants 40 years ago: those of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, meeting and embracing the then pope in Rome. The consequent setting up of a Joint Commission of Roman Catholics and Anglicans was, as the then editor of this Magazine wrote, “the most determined and deplorable step taken in our time really to undermine and overthrow what remains of Reformation principles and practices in the Church of England, and indeed throughout Britain”.
That historic meeting and its significance were recalled in Rome last November when the present Archbishop of Canterbury met the Pope. The importance the Roman Catholic Church in England attached to the Archbishop’s visit was shown by his being accompanied by Cardinal Murphy O’Connor, who was also present at key meetings.
The joint statement issued after the meeting renewed a commitment to “full visible communion” – on Rome’s terms, of course. Some might mistakenly think that her principles are closer to the Bible than those of the Church of England, which has increasingly veered from Scripture in the past 40 years, in particular by ordaining women and homosexuals to its priesthood and “blessing” homosexual “unions” – with consequent divisions in its ranks.
Although the Church of Rome itself is notorious for its gross scandals and grave errors, it requires the Church of England to bend in its direction. Lord Monckton, former editor of a Roman Catholic newspaper, said recently, “If the Anglicans do not believe as we do in the Real Presence or in the sacramentality of holy orders . . . we still have no useful starting point from which to build towards that unity”.
However, the Vatican continues resolutely to reel in a prize catch – our nominally-Protestant nation, which it still regards as “Mary’s dowry”. As Dr Williams’ visit ended, he and a Vatican spokesman announced that a third phase of the Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) will begin in 2007 and that a new document on shared mission will be published next year.
As the Church of England rejects Scripture, and instead heeds the ideas of “blind leaders of the blind” like Archbishop Williams, we need not wonder that it is becoming easy prey to Rome’s persistent programme of ecumenism. May the Lord arise and have mercy upon His Zion in our land and hasten the set time of her favour (Ps 102:13).
NMR