Author: Ruth Gledhill
Publication: The Times,
London
Date: September 4, 2000
THE Church of England
and all other Protestant churches are not "proper" churches because they
suffer from "defects", according to the Roman Catholic Church.
In a declaration approved
by the Pope, the Vatican will also state that followers of all non-Christian
religions are "gravely deficient" and their rituals constitute "an obstacle
to salvation".
The statements are contained
in Declaration Dominus Iesus, to be published in Rome tomorrow. Although
not in the name of the Pope, it was approved by him and "reflects his thinking".
The declaration, which
has been received with "stunned horror" by bishops and Roman Catholic theologians
throughout the world, threatens to undo decades of inter-faith bridge-building.
The Church of England called it disappointing and negotiations have taken
place between Catholic officials and Lambeth Palace, the London headquarters
of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in an attempt to limit damage.
With the Pope and the
Queen due to meet in Rome next month, the document will also threaten relations
between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which the
Queen is the Supreme Governor.
Although written by Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
the Vatican body formerly known as the Inquisition, the declaration has
the authority of Pope John Paul II.
It was ratified and confirmed
by him "with sure knowledge and by his apostolic authority".
The declaration is merciless
in its cutting through of the diplomatic language of ecumenism and inter-faith
relations of recent decades.
It is also an attack
on a number of priests and theologians, in particular in India and South-East
Asia, as well as a warning to other Roman Catholics to stay in line.
Churches such as the
Church of England, where the apostolic succession of bishops from the time
of St Peter is disputed by Rome, and Churches without bishops, are not
considered "proper" Churches.
The declaration concedes
that some Churches - this would include the Eastern Orthodox - are "true
particular Churches" because they have preserved the "apostolic succession"
of bishops from the time of the Apostles.
John Fitzsimmons, former
Rector of the Scots College in Rome who currently chairs the faith and
order commission of ACTS, the churches' ecumenical body in Scotland, said:
"The tenor of this document gives me a sense of disappointment and dismay.
It is a return to the idea that the Catholic Church is the embodiment of
the truth and anything that falls short of the Catholic Church is not the
fullness of the truth. It is terrible."
The Catholic Media Office
in London said it was important to distinguish between the "theological"
and "common" uses of terms such as "proper Church". A spokesman said:
"In common usage, of course the Church of England is a proper Church.
But if you ask me whether the Church of England is a Church in the specific,
theological sense, then we have to say 'no', and that is nothing new.
But we are not going to stop calling the Church of England the Church of
England."
