ATTITUDES OF CHURCH

Press, Volume C, Issue 29526, 30 May 1961, Page 18

ATTITUDES OF CHURCH

Future

Changes

(N Z.P.A •Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, May 28. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Geoffrey Fisher) said tonight that he felt “without any doubt" that the Church of England was going to get closer to the Roman Catholic Church. The 74-year-old Archbishop, interviewed on television three days before his retirement, said: "My visit to the Pope—the fart that the Pope received me — did not just happen out of nothing. “It was because many on both sides w’ere aware that the old relationship of hostility and division was wrong and that something must be done to put it right. “We have to begin with the Church of Rome where we began with the free churches 50 years ago: Which is gently to make an approach which will change people's instinctive reactions. “That can only be done by quiet conversation, discussion, co-operating where we can. and so getting on. And I know that is going to happen, because people say that they will never change their doctrine. Well, nor shall we. “So far as that goes the doctrine is the fruits of the past, but every doctrine for centuries has been changing as the world has changed: a different emphasis, a different angle.

“In the Church of Rome and in the Orthodox Church are friends of ours with whom tee are discussing doctrines now which we never could have a few years before.”