CHURCH REUNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 86, 21 January 1928, Page 2

CHURCH REUNION.

BISHOP BARNES'S VIEW. "ROME MUST REFORM FIRST." (Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, January 19. "Archbishop Cramner, in the .16th century, also Latimer, the predecessor of the modern bishops of Birmingham, were burned at the stake because they denied Papal supremacy and transubstantiation," stud Dr. Barnes (Bishop of Birmingham) in an interview. "It now appears that Lord Halifax, Bishop Gore (formerly of .Oxford), and their friends imagine that English churchmen are prepared to accept Papal primacy and transubstantiation. They are mistaken. We regard transubstantiation as a superstition. We are not prepared to admit the Roman Church to our communion until the Vatican reforms more than theology." The Rector of Birmingham (Canon Rogers) one. of the leading clergy in Bishop Barnes's diocese, expresses the opinion that if the laity are allowed to ballot freely, they would endorse the House of Commons' rejection of the New Prayer Book.' The bishops acted precipitately since the book was defeated. He regrets that the defeated stalwarts panted for a fight to a finish. Unless bishops meet the rising tide of popular feeling regarding the Reserved Sacrament the book will again be defeated in. the Commons. Referring to the conversations at Malines, Canon Robers says the Pope has slammed the door on reunion with Rome during the present generation.