Pope tells English bishops to fight relativism with truth

Vatican City, Feb 1, 2010 / (CNA).-

Pope Benedict XVI spoke to members of the English and Welsh Conference of Catholic Bishops on Monday in Rome as part of their "ad Limina" visit. He used the meeting to respond to the wide range of issues being confronted by local Church and urged them to look to Cardinal John Henry Newman as a model for combating relativism and increasing vocations.

The Pope led off his speech with optimism, granting that "even amid the pressures of a secular age, there are many signs of living faith and devotion among the Catholics of England and Wales." As examples he cited the enthusiastic reaction in Britain to the visit of the relics of St. Therese and the growing anticipation for the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, as well as the popularity among young people for World Youth Day pilgrimages.

Benedict XVI also confirmed that he would in fact be visiting Britain, saying, "On the occasion of my forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain, I shall be able to witness that faith for myself and, as Successor of Peter, to strengthen and confirm it.”

He then moved on to the business of the day, starting with a reference to current laws in the countries that "impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs." In response to these, the Holy Father urged the bishops "to ensure that the Church’s moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended."

"Fidelity to the Gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others – on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth," he added.

Benedict XVI incited the bishops to be insistent in declaring that they have a right to enter the national debate "through respectful dialogue with other elements in society" to make the Gospel known.

Additionally, the Pope invited all members of the Catholic community of England and Wales involved in communicating the Gospel: to "speak with a united voice" and to "be attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, who guides the whole Church into the truth, gathers her into unity and inspires her with missionary zeal."

The Holy Father continued by emphasizing that the lay faithful must be "equipped to hand on the faith to new generations comprehensively, accurately, and with a keen awareness that in so doing they are playing their part in the Church’s mission."

Pope Benedict XVI also presented the bishops with Cardinal Newman's "outstanding example of faithfulness to revealed truth" as a model for not giving in to the voices of relativism and to "spare no effort in encouraging priestly vocations and emphasizing to the faithful the true meaning and necessity of the priesthood."

He also implored them to make an effort to promote support and understanding among the lay faithful of the pastoral life and its difficulties, especially in the midst of "declining numbers and increasing pressures."

The Holy Father concluded by inviting the bishops to "be generous in implementing the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus," to bring members of the Anglican community into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Delegates from the Holy See and Great Britain are still negotiating the arrangements for the pastoral visit to the island in 2010. The culminating event of the trip could be the Pope officiating of the beatification rite of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Anglicans are a 'blessing for the entire Church,' states Pope Benedict

Vatican City, Feb 1, 2010 / (CNA).-

Pope Benedict once again commented on the theme of Anglican-Catholic relations, this time as he met with Welsh and English bishops at the Vatican on Monday. During their meeting Pope Benedict confirmed the importance of his recent Apostolic Constitution "Anglicanorum Coetibus."

The Holy Father welcomed bishops from England and Wales in audience on Monday morning in the Consistory Room of the Apostolic Palace as they complete their “ad Limina” visit.

After encouraging the bishops' important work in the areas of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, given the "varied demographic profile" of their flocks, Pope Benedict added, "I would ask you to be generous in implementing the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution 'Anglicanorum Coetibus,' so as to assist those groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church."

"I am convinced that, if given a warm and open-hearted welcome, such groups will be a blessing for the entire Church.”

Archbishop Vincent G. Nichols of Westminster also referred to Catholic – Anglican relations in a speech he had given to the Pope just minutes earlier.

Speaking on behalf of the countries' bishops, he mentioned that the Anglican situation was of “particular delicacy for us.”

Archbishop Nichols attributed the “years of close cooperation and deepening friendship and communion with our brothers and sisters in the Church of England” to saving the relationship between the two in the face of various interpretations of and reactions to ‘Anglicorum Coetibus.' ”

The Apostolic Constitution was published in November 2009 and introduced a canonical structure that provides Anglicans who have a desire to re-enter into full communion with the Catholic Church a way to do so via the creation of Personal Ordinariates. The ordinariate model allows those seeking full communion to preserve “elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony," according to the document.

The archbishop added that the commitment of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission to a third round of discussion “has reinforced this relationship" and that the bishops of England and Wales “remain ready to explore with those Anglicans in England and Wales who wish to take up your generous and paternal response to their requests the ways forward towards full communion.”