The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-09-14

probation Of Scripture. since
IT paid regard to the tradi-
ton Of the early Church. In
addition, Anglicans retained
more Of the hturgical riches
Of the old Church and many
forms Of its public worship.
THE ANGLICAN Church.
though possessing so many
and diverse elements. natur-
ally acquired a leading posi-
ton in the ecumenical move
ment. Their sense for Church
order, tradition and visible
unity gave the Anglican
leaders a constant stimulus
TO look for points Of contact
with other communities.
A number of conversations
have been held and connec-
tons formed between the An
glican and the Orthodox
Churches. On November %,
1860, the Archbishop Of Can
terbury left London for
Jerusalem. where he met the
Orthodox patriarch and 9TH
er Church leaders of the
Near East. and reaffirmed
the close friendship long ex~
listing between the Anglican
and Orthodox Churches.
On the return journey DR..
Fisher visited in Constan-
tinople the Orthodox patri-
arch, Athenagoras /; and
afterwards, on December 2,
paid a courtesy visit" in
Rome to Pope John XIII.
This was the first time
since the Reformation that
the chief representative of
the Anglican world was able
TO take the initiative in an
act of friendly regard to the
Pope. 1t is significant too
that the non-C Catholic world
for the most part welcomed
or at least respected the act.
and only a small minority
gave voice to misgivings.
DR.. Fisher, when in Rome
pointed out: For the first
time for 400 years an Arch
bishop of Canterbury has
come officially to'Rome not
to air his own views or COM
plants, but solely to show
respect to His Holiness, the
Pope, in the spirit of cour-
tesy and Christian brother
hood. This visit has become
possible because the Pope let
it be known that he would re-
ceive me in the same spirit
of Christian brotherhood"
The reception lasted a
good hour, and the Pope
showed special interest in
DR.. Fishers visit to the
East, recalling Pope Greg
DRY the Greats sending of
Christian missionaries 10
England. He presented the
Archbishop with a number
of Volumes, among them the
resolutions of the Roman
Synod, his addresses as Pat
riarch of Venice, and the
first volume of preparatory
acts for the Ecumenical
Council. Tn addition. he gave
him and the accompanying
chaplains the medal of his
pontificate.
NEITHER Catholics nor
AngllcanS entertain any illu-
slonS about the direct results
of a courtesy visit like this.
No doubt. it means an i'm
proVement in the attitude of
the confessions to each other
and SO facilitates theological
discussions later on.
But it does not herald the
beginning of a summit con-
ference" as some journalists
think, nor of the converSa-
tons on union between the
two Churches. A sober an
praisal of the facts should
keep US from undue Opt
miSm
We owe ii to the Anglicans
and our other separated
brethren as well as to oursel-
YES to be honest in the mat
ter. If false hopes were fos-
tered and later found to be
deceptive. there would per-
hapS ensue a severe setback
IN the creating of a climate
of calmness, charity and UNI
derstanding between the diff
ferent confessions.
But with such a climate it
will be easy for the separat-
ed bodies to feel that the
coming Council is an invita-
ton to them to seek that UNI
ity for which Christ prayer
to His Father on the eve of
His passion.
COLOR IS MY SPECIALITY