Bishop Ashby for reunion commission
The Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby, has been appointed a member of the second Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. The announcement makes Bishop Ashby the first New Zealander appointed to the commission, which was set up by Pope John Paul H and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Dr Robert Runcie, during a papal visit to Britain last year. . ” - ■ . The first commission, set up in 1966, comprised people front Europe only. Bishop Ashby see his appointment as an effort by the Vatican authorities to broaden the geographical spread of the commission, and employ the experience of people involved in the pastoral ministry'as’a balance to solely acMdemic expertise.
The commission to be known as ARCIC 11, will undertake doctrinal issues and make specific recommendations for the full reunion of the two churches.
In his appointment, Bishop Ashby believes the Rome authorities took into account the considerable ecumenical progress that has been made in New Zealand. Last year’s joint Anglican-Catholic services were a first, and drew considerable international comment, he said. He has been a member of the Vatican Secretariat for Christian Unity for five years. He was a founding co-chairman of the Joint Working Commission of the National Council of Churches and the Catholic Church in New Zealand, and is chairman of Ecumenical Secretariat on Development.
Bishop Ashby is also chairman of the National Commission for Evangelisation, Justice and Development, and past chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission. He was a member of the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments from 1968 to 1973, and served nine years on the Canterbury University council, finishing as pre-chancellor. He is a member of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, and has been awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Bishop Ashby is enthusiastic about his appointment and sees it as a tribute to the many people engaged in the ecumenical field in New Zealand.
He expects the commission, which will meet for the first time in Venice at the end of August, to meet annually.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830614.2.56
Bibliographic details
Press, 14 June 1983, Page 7
Word Count
340Bishop Ashby for reunion commission Press, 14 June 1983, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.