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Letter to the Editor
Eucharistic hospitality
Dermot O’Callaghan (Letter, 26th March) assumes that I was commenting on Roman Catholic and Anglican differences (Letter, 12th March).
I was, however, making a general comment on a complex scene. It should be noted that the Roman Catholic Church does have theological dialogue partners other than the Anglican Communion!
His points regarding the Anglican Reformers are well made. However, the work of the Anglican/Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), far from wishing away differences, has done much to identify areas of significant agreement on precisely such issues as ministry. Teaching on the Eucharist is the subject of ongoing theological exploration among many Churches.
In neither my original address nor subsequent letter did I refer either to Rome or the Pope, as Mr O’Callaghan suggests. One Bread, One Body, published by the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland (1998) makes it clear that:
"Part 4 (95) Each diocesan bishop should establish norms for judging situations of grave and pressing spiritual need when Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church may be admitted to Holy Communion."
and…
"(96) ... the doctrine that ‘common worship’ should signify the unity of the church generally rules out sacramental sharing, but the gaining of grace may sometime commend it."
My argument is that the Eucharistic Congress (2012) is an occasion when the grace gained through such Eucharistic hospitality might take precedence over theology and be a powerful witness to all we share in and through Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, wrote what many hold:
His was the word that spake it, He took the bread and brake it; And what His word doth make it, That I believe and take it!
Quite so!
Mr O’Callaghan and I are coming from different places on this - I suspect we may need to agree to differ!
Gillian Kingston (Mrs)
Clareen
Shinrone
Birr
Co. Offaly