Vatican Signals Possible Dialogue with New Anglican Communion
The Vatican has indicated a willingness to engage in ecumenical dialogue with the newly formed, conservative Global Anglican Communion (GAC), which broke away from the traditional Anglican structure.
Significance of the Development
This potential dialogue marks a major shift in Catholic-Anglican relations, historically centered on the See of Canterbury, the Church of England's traditional leader known as "first among equals."
Official Statements
Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, publicly raised questions about who the Catholic Church will now engage with following the Anglican split. He said, “Who will we dialogue with in the future if the Anglican world community is so divided?”
Koch made these remarks during a symposium held in his honor in Vallendar, Germany, and noted that the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, along with her stance on sexual ethics, contributed to the formal division between the conservative GAFCON movement and the more liberal Church of England.
Context of the Anglican Split
- The Global Anglican Communion (GAC) was established by GAFCON as a conservative alternative after the historic break with the Church of England.
- This split challenges the Vatican to reconsider its official Anglican dialogue partner.
Implications
Cardinal Koch's remarks represent the first time a senior Vatican figure has publicly recognized the GAC as a serious candidate for ecumenical partnership.
Summary: The Vatican is reconsidering its ecumenical relations as the Anglican Communion splits, openly contemplating dialogue with the new conservative Global Anglican Communion.