The eyes of the world

“As we begin our work together, we’re bound to be very much aware of people’s eyes upon us. There are expectations among our own people – both hopes and fears”. With these words, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams, on July 20th, opened the first Plenary meeting of the 14th Lambeth Conference 2008 calling all the bishops present “to do their share”. The Conference, which will address a series of problems that are posing a threat to the very unity of the Anglican Communion, was opened by a solemn Eucharistic celebration officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka), Duleep de Chickera. “We’re a wounded community”, the bishop said. “Some of us aren’t here today. This indicates that not everything is going well. The crisis is certainly complex, and it resolution is still far. A long and difficult path lies ahead of us, a path which will require prayer, faith and mutual trust, and mostly faith in God who makes the resolution possible”. The bishop recalled “the challenge of unity in diversity” and the calling to being “an inclusive community where there is space for everyone”. From Sunday 27 to the 30th of July the Lambeth Conference will be attended also by Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Catholic Primate of England and Wales, by Msgr. Andrew Faley, responsible for ecumenism for the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales, and a Catholic delegation led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. As relates to the contribution which Catholics wish to give Anglicans in this delicate phase of transition, Silvia Guzzetti (from London) interviewed, for SIR Europe, Msgr. Andrew Faley. Why was Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor invited? “Because for most of his life as a Bishop he was part of “Arcic”, the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for dialogue. He has a long-dated experience in the work done by the two Churches in favour of unity. As archbishop, he will take the floor during the meetings of Anglican bishops, where only bishops are admitted. However, the content of those encounters won’t be made public unless the press office of the “Church of England” decides to publish part of what will be said. The addresses delivered by Catholic dignitaries are however aimed at offering the best possible contribution to Anglicans’ debate regarding the preservation of unity within their Church”. Do you believe that this is possible?“As Catholics, we pray that the Anglican Church remains united, since this will have an impact on the relationship with the Catholic Church, which until now has been very rich and fruitful. At present it’s not clear whether they will succeed in preserving unity, or if the way in which the Church views itself, which is the topic of unity, will be modified. Divisions regarding homosexuality and the role of women have led Anglicans to seek and identify their source of authority. The problem of the Anglican Communion is that there isn’t only one source of authority, since Primate Rowan Williams is the first of many, or rather, he has no authoritative role within the communion”. Considering that a third of Anglican bishops have already boycotted the Lambeth Conference, do you believe there is still hope for the unity of this communion? “There’s always hope when we speak of the presence of Christ in his Church. What we do not know is the direction in which the breath of the Holy Spirit will lead this Church.”What’s your opinion of the march that Catholic and Anglican bishops, along with the leaders of Jewish, Muslim and other faiths will make together on July 24 to remind world governments of their commitment to halve world poverty by 2015? “The fact that a joint testimony is made to Governments, is a sign of the solidarity between Christians. The dignity of the human person, which is at the very heart of the Gospel, must be preserved at all costs”.