There is discontent in some parts of the Anglican Church about Pope Benedict XVI’s visit later this year.Many see the Pope as exploiting the invitation as an opportunity to sleight the history of the Church of England, which split from Rome in the 16th century.
Perhaps this would be the most sensible action of the Pope, at a time when the Church of England seems to be in difficulty.
Last year, Benedict coaxed discontented Anglicans to quit and come over to his Roman Catholic denomination, which was regarded by some to be rude, at worse, and impolite, at best.
The plan is for Benedict to address Parliament in Westminster Hall, which is also where Sir Thomas More was tried by Henry VIII for his refusal to accept the king’s supremacy, in place of the pope.
He is likely to associate himself with More, whose example was a great influence on his priesthood, and thereby challenge some of the tenets of Anglicanism.
The visit is certainly different in tone from the 1982 visit by Pope John Paul II. Then it was described as a ‘pastoral’ visit and the well-known pope was masterful in the way he managed every tension, at a time when Britain was at war.
Benedict seems more spirited and direct. It will be interesting to see how he manages his more high profile diplomatic visit, including a tour of Scotland and his time with The Queen at Balmoral.
In 1982 some members of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly railed against John Paul as the “Anti-Christ”. Will there be demonstrations at the gates of Balmoral in September?
Probably not.
Nor is there likely to be much protest from Anglicans, who will probably be prayerful; just as the Archbishop of Canterbury always seems to be – no matter what happens.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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