Identity Crises in the Anglican Communion.

Cardinal Walter Kasper1 has said recently, "Ultimately it is a question of the identity of the Anglican Church, where does it belong2". Does she side with the historic Ecclesia Catholica or does she side with modern Protestantism? These difficult questions and more will be addressed in the Anglican Church's "Lambeth" meeting in July3.

The Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams has invited Kasper to address the Lambeth meeting which should be very interesting when considering the remarks Cardinal Kasper has made already concerning the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church is going through some tough times, with theological liberalism and feminism infiltrating the leadership of the church4.

It is ultimately not an easy decision for modern Anglicans to make. Since the theological creed as it were of Anglicanism "the 39 articles" makes plain, Anglicanism is by theological definition Protestant, and she subscribes to all the innovative sola's of Protestantism, (i.e, sola Scriptura, sola Fide, etc). Therefore, if one is an Anglican and intellectually consistent, he is a Protestant5.

We would argue that historic Catholicism (the regula fidei) is far different than Anglicanism as set out in the 39 articles. Ultimately the church of God on earth is providentially guided by His hand and we can only pray for our brothers and sisters facing deep crises in the Anglican Communion.

___________________________

1. President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity at the Vatican.

2. Quoted in the Catholic Herald.

3. The Lambeth conference is sort of the Anglican Church's version of Catholicism's ecumenical council's, however with many important differences. It is held every 10 years in which Anglican prelates from around the globe are called to attend.

4. Conservative Anglicans have been battling these degradations within their church. One voice of sound reason is that of Rev. Peter Toon, see further his blog- http://pbs1928.blogspot.com/.

5. What makes Anglicans different from say other Protestants such as the Presbyterians, is her fidelity to the historic liturgy and high view of patristics.

_____________________

itaque fratres state et tenete traditiones quas didicistis sive per sermonem sive per epistulam nostram