Cardinal Criticizes Appointment of Future Anglican Primate
The appointment of Sarah Mullally, aged 63, as the spiritual leader of the Church of England could harm the Catholic-Anglican dialogue. Curia Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, voiced this concern on Sunday at a symposium in Vallendar near Koblenz.
Division Within Anglican Communion
Cardinal Koch highlighted that Mullally's stance on sexual ethics has contributed to a split between the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) and the Church of England. This division prompts the question of who the Catholic Church will engage with ecumenically in the future:
“Who will we dialogue with in the future if the Anglican world community is so divided?”
Controversy Over LGBTQI+ Inclusion
In 2023, the Church of England's General Synod decided, following bishops' advice, to establish a "comprehensive pastoral service" aimed at welcoming LGBTQI+ individuals—including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and others. This decision faced strong opposition, especially from African churches.
As a consequence, the conservative Anglican group Gafcon separated from the Church of England.
New Archbishop of Canterbury
Recently, King Charles III named London Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the spiritual head of the Church of England and the honorary leader of the Anglican Communion.
Summary: The appointment of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury deepens divisions within the Anglican Communion and poses challenges for ongoing Catholic-Anglican dialogue.