CHURCH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1928, Page 3

CHURCH AFFAIRS

THE M A LINKS CONFERENCE. (Australian Press Association A Sun.) (Received this day at 11.1.1 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. When prominent members of Anglican and Roman Catholic churches met at Malincs at various times between 1921 and 192.1 to discuss the possibility of re-union, they were able to agree, according to an official report just issued, that in Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ are verily given, taken,

and received by the faithful; secondly, by Consecration Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. They were also in agreement upon the confession and absolution. Even upon the larger question of the recognition of the Rope’s authority, there was some measure of unitv.

It is pointed out that the talks wore unofficial, but it is recalled that the late Cardinal Merrier presided. Among the five English Churchmen were Viscount Halifax, Doctor Caro, formerly Bishop of Oxford. Dr Armitagc Robinson and Dean Wells.

In a report presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury, together with a memorandum from the Roman Catholics, one striking statement of an Anglican made with the full approval of his colleagues, reads: “We wish for unity, and if the necessary preliminary conditions have been met, we should not shrink from the idea of the Papacy acting as the centre unity, but not the Papacy existing to-day in theory and practice among Roman Catholics, but the conception of a unity such as may emerge from a future conference.”

Anglicans at the close of the fourth meeting issued a document which reads: The Church is a living body, under the authority of the bishops, as successors of the apostles. From the. beginning of the church the primacy and leadership among all bishops has been recognised as belonging to the Bishop of Rome.

The Mnlines document added: Nor can we Anglicans imagine any re-union of Christendom could be effected except by recognition of the primary of the Rope. A passage in the Roman Catholic’s report reads: The memories of ancient times left some bitterness of heart. It is better not to refer to the past, hut try to forecast the form which papal activity might take in the future. There is some divergence ol view concerning doctrine of papacy inevitable among members of a conference, hill not so radical in nature as to prevent the question being discussed afresh, with great prospects of a further advance and agreement of heart and spirit with the Anglicans. The net gain from, the conversations was the elimination of several subjects, which ceased to bo a cause of difference, and the elucidation of others still remaining. Roman Catholics write: The conversations impressed the participants with the conviction that proportionately as a mutual understanding and doctrinal agreement advance it will become possible to arrange a satisfactory adjustment of the disciplinary rules, however delicate the matter may seem at present. The Anglicans are ready to make sacrifices for the cause of union, continues the Roman Catholic’s statemnet. We desire to deal considerately with any approach by them regarding the methods of government to which they are accustomed in all matters, not endangering the unity which they have learned in accordance with the gospel and also four centuries of painful separation.