Wizdom
04-10-03, 22:25
Pope warns UK leader on gay rift
Saturday, October 4, 2003 Posted: 1:25 PM EDT (1725 GMT)
Williams' meeting was kept short because of health fears over the pope
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New and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity
-- Pope John Paul II
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• 'Stronger pope' back in public
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VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- A visibly tired Pope John Paul has told the new Archbishop of Canterbury that allowing openly homosexual clergy in the Anglican communion was a "serious difficulty" on the path to Christian unity.
The 83-year-old pope had difficulty reading his speech in English on Saturday at the first visit by Rowan Williams to the Vatican.
Williams, who was appointed last year, and the pope met privately for only 10 minutes ahead of the public part of the visit, which was open to a few reporters.
The private part was apparently kept short because of the pope's health. According to a papal aide, the pope started the meeting by asking Williams about "the situation in your church."
The pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was determined to read his two-page speech, although many of his words were difficult to understand.
"As we give thanks for the progress that has already been made we must also recognize that new and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity," the pope said, his body visibly shaking as he sat in his private study.
This was a clear reference to the crisis currently rocking the Anglican communion after the Episcopalian Church in the United States appointed an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire.
"These difficulties are not all of a disciplinary nature, some extend to matters of faith and morals," the pope said.
Williams, wearing the traditional Anglican purple cassock and a cross given to him by the pope when he was appointed to Canterbury last year, was less direct.
In his speech, the bearded Williams spoke only of the "possibilities and challenges of our way forward together."
Women priests
Both men said they were committed to unity between the churches that split in 1534.
"We share a desire to deepen our communion," the pope said.
As the Anglican delegation, which include Williams' wife Jane, left the study, they each bent to kiss the pope's ring.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, Williams' visit to the Vatican has been overshadowed by the Anglican crisis over whether or not to ordain openly homosexual men.
The crisis was sparked this year by the appointment by U.S. Anglicans of Gene Robinson as their first openly gay bishop.
Traditionalists, particularly the Africans, have denounced the move. They threaten to break with churches that bless same-sex unions and are considering ways to redraw the Anglican world map to escape liberal provinces.
Williams, a liberal who personally supports gays in the church, hosts a summit of Anglican leaders this month to try to avert a crisis in the 70 million-member world communion.
The two churches already are deeply split over the ordination of women priests, which Anglicans allow but the Vatican says Catholicism will never permit.
The homosexual issue was also on the agenda when Williams met on Friday with Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Vatican department for Christian Unity.
"I expressed my concerns over this problem, because it is not only an internal problem of the Anglican Communion, but it also touches on our relations," Kasper told Vatican Radio.
Eerst de ZIONISTEN en nu de HOMOS. Er blijft van de oorspronkelijke leer geen spaan meer over...
Saturday, October 4, 2003 Posted: 1:25 PM EDT (1725 GMT)
Williams' meeting was kept short because of health fears over the pope
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Story Tools
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity
-- Pope John Paul II
RELATED
• Pope appoints new cardinals
• 'Stronger pope' back in public
• Sick pope misses weekly audience
• CNN Italia
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.
Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.
Manage alerts | What is this?
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- A visibly tired Pope John Paul has told the new Archbishop of Canterbury that allowing openly homosexual clergy in the Anglican communion was a "serious difficulty" on the path to Christian unity.
The 83-year-old pope had difficulty reading his speech in English on Saturday at the first visit by Rowan Williams to the Vatican.
Williams, who was appointed last year, and the pope met privately for only 10 minutes ahead of the public part of the visit, which was open to a few reporters.
The private part was apparently kept short because of the pope's health. According to a papal aide, the pope started the meeting by asking Williams about "the situation in your church."
The pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was determined to read his two-page speech, although many of his words were difficult to understand.
"As we give thanks for the progress that has already been made we must also recognize that new and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity," the pope said, his body visibly shaking as he sat in his private study.
This was a clear reference to the crisis currently rocking the Anglican communion after the Episcopalian Church in the United States appointed an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire.
"These difficulties are not all of a disciplinary nature, some extend to matters of faith and morals," the pope said.
Williams, wearing the traditional Anglican purple cassock and a cross given to him by the pope when he was appointed to Canterbury last year, was less direct.
In his speech, the bearded Williams spoke only of the "possibilities and challenges of our way forward together."
Women priests
Both men said they were committed to unity between the churches that split in 1534.
"We share a desire to deepen our communion," the pope said.
As the Anglican delegation, which include Williams' wife Jane, left the study, they each bent to kiss the pope's ring.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, Williams' visit to the Vatican has been overshadowed by the Anglican crisis over whether or not to ordain openly homosexual men.
The crisis was sparked this year by the appointment by U.S. Anglicans of Gene Robinson as their first openly gay bishop.
Traditionalists, particularly the Africans, have denounced the move. They threaten to break with churches that bless same-sex unions and are considering ways to redraw the Anglican world map to escape liberal provinces.
Williams, a liberal who personally supports gays in the church, hosts a summit of Anglican leaders this month to try to avert a crisis in the 70 million-member world communion.
The two churches already are deeply split over the ordination of women priests, which Anglicans allow but the Vatican says Catholicism will never permit.
The homosexual issue was also on the agenda when Williams met on Friday with Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Vatican department for Christian Unity.
"I expressed my concerns over this problem, because it is not only an internal problem of the Anglican Communion, but it also touches on our relations," Kasper told Vatican Radio.
Eerst de ZIONISTEN en nu de HOMOS. Er blijft van de oorspronkelijke leer geen spaan meer over...