Here is a reference to what Mark+ is talking about-- the catholic remant so to speak. STATEMENT FROM THE BISHOP OF EBBSFLEET POPE BENEDICT XVI (The Bishop of Ebbsfleet is one of the Provincial Episcopal Visitors - "Flying Bishops" of the Church of England) THE ELECTION of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, after a short conclave, is truly a great cause for joy. Joseph Ratzinger, one of leading theologians of the day, is a symbol for the Christian world not only of holiness and orthodox teaching, but also of apostolic continuity and catholic stability in the Church. Commentators, sacred and secular, had described the papal election as a battle between conservatives and liberals and many early assumptions, such as that one, will surely prove unfounded. We know, from the homilies preached at the papal funeral and before the conclave began, that the new pope is profoundly centred on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He sees theological relativism as a real danger to the Church, but the enemy of the Church, is not a questioning faith amongst Christ's disciples but the determined secularisation espoused by so many opinion-formers in contemporary Western society. A new pope usually arrives on stage as a stranger to most. Pope Benedict XVI became an almost familiar figure internationally when he presided over the funeral rites of his predecessor and helped shape the superb presentation to a media-focused world of rites and ceremonies previously not seen by the general public. Again, and perhaps no less unusually, the Pope arrives in office with extensive writings and interviews already published. One interview, with the journalist Peter Seewald, is published in German and in English translation: in Salt of the Earth (Ignatius 1997) the then Cardinal Ratzinger was asked about England and English Catholicism. He begins his answer by saying: 'Much of Catholicism remained in Anglicanism (p 145). He goes on to say that 'in Anglicanism there have always been vital currents that have strengthened the Catholic inheritance'. The new pope is not uncritical however: 'A new situation has been brought about by two circumstances: the extending of the majority principle to questions of doctrine and the entrusting of doctrinal decisions to the national Churches. Both of these are in themselves nonsensical'. He finishes his answer by saying that the Church of England: '...is not eager to lose the Catholic element and therefore consciously admits bishops who are not for women's ordination and who provide a sort of refuge for the Catholic part of Anglicanism. A strong Catholic potency has always remained in Anglicanism, and it is becoming very visible again in the present crisis'. As one of the bishops who help 'provide a sort of refuge for the Catholic part of Anglicanism', I rejoice in Pope Benedict's election. Priests and parishes who look to me for episcopal care will pray regularly not only for him but for the ending, in God's good time, of the separation of Catholic Anglicans from full communion with the See of Peter. + Andrew Ebbsfleet Quoting The Claviers <anglican@...>: > Mike+, > > Yeah, though I do believe Benedict XVI has in the past referred to > Anglicanism as being one of those churches in which there is a remnant (or > some such language) of Catholic order left. Funny that...it's precisely > what Hooker et al said about Rome! > > Mark+ > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: faithandlife-unsubscribe@... > > -- The Very Rev'd Erich A. Zwingert, SSC, Rector St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church 101 Homewood Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33445 561.265.1960