Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission

The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) is an organization which seeks to make ecumenical progress between the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion. The sponsors are the Anglican Consultative Council and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (formerly the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity).

ARCIC seeks to identify common ground between the two communions. Ecumenical relations have become strained due to the ordination of women within the Anglican Communion and, in more recent years, Anglican controversies over homosexuality.

Joint Preparatory Commission (1967-68)

In 1967 there were three meetings, a preparatory meeting in ItalyJanuary 9-13, 1967 - Villa Cagnola, Gazzada, Italy - "First Steps Toward Restoring Full Unity; identifying themes for dialogue"] , a meeting on the place of scripture in EnglandAugust 30 - September 3, 1967 - Huntercombe Manor, Buckinghamshire, England - "The Authority of the Word of God and its Relationship to the Church"] and culminating in a meeting in MaltaDecember 31, 1967 - January 3, 1968 - Mount St. Joseph, Malta] culminating in the Malta Report."A Vision for Unity" [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_malta.html The Malta Report] Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission]

First Phase (1970-1981)

The first phase of ARCIC was held under the aegis of the Most Reverend Henry McAdoo (Anglican Archbishop of Dublin) and the Right Reverend Alan Clark (Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia). The co-secretaries were Anglicans Colin Daveyuntil July 1974] and Christopher Hillfrom August 1974] and the Roman Catholic Monsignor William A. Purdy.

In 1970 and 1971 there were a number of meetings on eucharistic doctrineJanuary 9-15, 1970 - Windsor, England - "Fundamentals of the Faith; Authority; Church; Intercommunion and Ministry; Eucharist"] September 21-28, 1970 - Venice, Italy - "Church and Ministry; Church and Authority; Church and Eucharist; the Relation of Men and Women; Making of Moral Judgements"] September 1-8, 1971 - Windsor, England - "Eucharistic Doctrine"] , ending with an agreed statement. [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_eucharist.html Agreed Statement on Eucharistic Doctrine] ] An elucidation was issued in 1979.January 12-20, 1979 - Salisbury, England - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_elucid_euch.html Elucidations on Eucharist] ]

In 1972] there was a meeting on the subject of ordination paving the way for an agreed statement [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_ministry.html A statement on The Doctrine of the Ministry Agreed by the Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission Canterbury, 1973] ] from Canterbury.August 28 - September 6, 1973 - Canterbury, England - "Ministry and Ordination"] An elucidation was issued in 1979.January 12-20, 1979 - Salisbury, England - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_elucid_min.html Elucidations on Ministry] ]

In the mid 1970s a number of meetings were held on the issue of authorityAugust 27 - September 5, 1974 - Grottaferrata, Italy - "Authority"] August 27 - September 5, 1975 - Oxford, England - "Authority in the Church, Primacy, Infallibility"] culminating in a statement [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_authority1.html Authority in the Church I] Agreed Statement] made at Venice.August 24 - September 2, 1976 - Venice, Italy - "Authority in the Church I"] Further discussions on the subject of authority were held in 1977August 30 - September 8, 1977 - Chichester, England - "How to treat the reaction to the Statement"] , 1979August 28 - September 6, 1979 - Venice, Italy further discussion of `Authority' statement] and 1980August 26 - September 4, 1980 - Venice, Italy Authority and universal jurisdiction] with elucidationsAugust 25 - September 3, 1981 - Windsor, England - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_elucid_auth.html Elucidations on Authority in the Church] ] and a further statementAugust 25 - September 3, 1981 - Windsor, England - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_authority2.html Authority in the Church II] ] issued at Windsor in 1981 with the final statement.

A final statement for "ARCIC I" was issued in 1981 at Windsor.August 25 - September 3, 1981 - Windsor, England - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_final.html ARCIC I The Final Report] ] There were responses from both the Lambeth Conference [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_angresponse.html LAMBETH CONFERENCE'S RESPONSE TO THE FINAL REPORT OF ARCIC I] , 1988] and the Catholic Church. [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_responseva.html The Catholic Response to ARCIC I] , December 6, 1991] Further clarifications on the Eucharist and Ministry were issued in 1993. [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_classifications.html Clarifications of certain aspects of the agreed statements on Eucharist and Ministry of the first Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission] September 1993]

econd Phase (since 1983)

In the second phase the Co-Chairs were the Anglican bishops Mark SanterBishop of Birmingham, England (1982-1999)] , Frank GriswoldPresiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (1999-2003)] and Peter CarnleyArchbishop of Perth and Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia (2003- )] and the Roman Catholic bishops Cormac Murphy O'ConnorBishop of Arundel and Brighton, England (1982-1999)] and Alexander Joseph Brunett.Archbishop of Seattle, USA (1999-)] A number of AnglicanCanon Christopher Hill 1967-1990; Canon Stephen George Platten 1990-1994; Rev. Dr. Donald Anderson 1994-1996; Canon David Hamid (Anglican) 1996-2002; Canon Gregory Cameron 2003- ] and Roman CatholicMsgr Richard L. Stewart (Roman Catholic) 1983-1985; Msgr Kevin McDonald (Roman Catholic) 1985-1993; Msgr Timothy Galligan (Roman Catholic) 1993-2001; Rev. Donald Bolen (Roman Catholic) 2001-] clerics served as co-secretaries.

The topics covered by ARCIC II included the doctrine of salvationAugust 30 - September 6, 1983 - Venice, Italy - "The Church, Grace and Salvation"] August 22-31, 1984 - Durham, England - "The Church, Salvation and the Doctrine of Justification"] August 26 - September 4, 1985 - Graymoor, New York, USA - "Salvation and the Church"] August 26 - September 4, 1986 - Llandaff, Wales - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcicII_salvation.html Salvation and the Church An Agreed Statement] ] , communion,September 1-10, 1987 - Palazzola, Italy - "Growth in Communion"] August 24 - September 2, 1988 - Edinburgh, Scotland - "Communion: Commonalities and Differences"] August 28 - September 6, 1989 - Venice, Italy - "The Theology of Communion; Moral Issues"] August 28 - September 6, 1990 - Dublin, Ireland - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcicII_communion.html The Church as Communion] ] August 27 - September 5, 1991 - Paris, France - "Morals and Ecclesial Communion"] August 28 - September 6, 1992 - Windsor, England - "Common Witness to Moral Values; Morals, Communion and the Church"] August 28 - September 6, 1993 - Venice, Italy - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcicII_morals.html Life in Christ: Morals, Communion and the Church] ] teaching authority,August 31 - September 9, 1994 - Jerusalem, Israel - "Authority in the Church"] August 28 - September 6, 1995 - Venice, Italy - "Teaching Authority in the Church and its Relation to Scripture and Tradition"] August 26 - September 4, 1996 - Mechelen, Belgium - "Scripture, Tradition and the Exercise of Authority" (substitute Anglican co-chairman: Rt Revd John Baycroft)] August 26 - September 4, 1997 - Alexandria, Virginia, USA - "Scripture, Tradition and the Gift of Authority in the Church"] August 25 - September 3, 1998 - Palazzola, Italy - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcicII_05.html The Gift of Authority (Authority in the Church III)] ] [http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/1999/jul1999p6_326.html New ARCIC document on Papal authority] , Peter Westmore, p. 6, AD2000, Vol 12 No 6 (July 1999)] and the role of Mary the mother of God.August 26 - September 2, 1999 - Mississauga, Ontario, Canada - "Review of Reactions to The Gift of Authority. Preliminary Discussion of Marian Issues"] August 26 - September 4, 2000 - Paris, France - "Marian issues"] August 27 - September 4, 2001 - Dublin, Ireland - "Marian Issues"] ] July 10-18, 2003 - West Palm Beach, Florida, USA - "Marian Issues"] January 28-February 3, 2004 - Seattle, Washington, USA - [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/arcic/doc/e_arcic_mary.html "Marian Issues and Final Document" "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ"] ]

In 2007 the commission issued "Growing Together in Unity and Mission" which stated that “The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the ministry of the Bishop of Rome [the Pope] as universal primate is in accordance with Christ’s will for the Church and an essential element of maintaining it in unity and truth. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1403702.ece] ”. Not only that but the document goes on to say that “We urge Anglicans and Roman Catholics to explore together how the ministry of the Bishop of Rome might be offered and received in order to assist our Communions to grow towards full, ecclesial communion.”

Controversy

ARCIC has met with some hostile reaction from traditionalist Roman Catholics. [http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_1992/features_junjul92.html Truth Prevails (The Vatican Response to ARCIC)] by Michael Davies] [http://www.seattlecatholic.com/article_20020104_The_Futility_of_ARCIC.html The Futility of ARCIC - Chasing false unity with a faltering sect] , Peter W. Miller, Seattle Catholic, 1 April 2002] Although ARCIC had just completed the major document on Marian theology in 2003, Pope John Paul II suspended official talks between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion due to the consecration of Gene Robinson, a gay man in a non-celibate relationship, as a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/01/nchur01.xml Telegraph Newspaper article on the breaking off of Catholic-Anglican ecumenical dialogue following the Gene Robinson consecration.] ]

Notes and references