Anglican In Rome Finds Friendly Reception

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 26

Anglican In Rome Finds Friendly Reception

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

ROME, October 15. A leading Anglican churchman said today that Pope John had "broken the ice” in the movement toward closer contacts between the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations, the Associated Press reported. “Now it is up to the Ecumenical Council to follow up the Pope's good work,” said the Archdeacon of Ceylon (the Ven. Archdeacon Harold de Soysa) who has spent 21 years working on a scheme of church union in Ceylon. He said in an interview there was an “urgent need” for friendlier church contacts to be created in Rome—so that Christianity could present a less divided face in the part of the world where Christians were in a minority.

The Archdeacon is one of more than 30 non-Roman Catholic observers sitting in at sessions in Rome with the Vatican secretariat for Christian unity. “We have been very warmly received,” he said. "They have been extremely friendly and understanding. They have treated us almost as part of themselves. “But we have to be careful not to judge the attitude throughout the Roman Catholic Church by the cordial reception given to us.’’ The Archdeacon said he believed a limited number of practical results could be expected from the Ecumenical Council. “I do not foresee any form of actual union being promulgated for many years,” he said. “But I would hope for increasing contacts between Catholics and other Christians.”