Entente Cordiale.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 3, 1 September 1922, Page 405

Entente Cordiale.

As a step towards the better, understanding, between the Aigjic'&n and Eastern briiibhes of the' Ghii^cli a • sub-committee " qf the English Church Union, at tne suggestion : of the Oecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, has drawn up a statement of Faith and Doctrine for. the information of the. Eastern Church authorities m the form of a Declaration. The statement has been sigiied by large numbers of Anglican clergy, and is adopted by the Ahglicaii and Eastern Church Association/ the Federation of Catholic Priests ahd the Confraternity of the Blessed" "Sajiira-

ment. "It is possible, though we cannot at present hope for complete and dogmatic reunion, that this action may. result m the acceptance by the Eastern Orthodox Churches of Anglican Orders and other Sacraments. If that were the case -it would hardly be possible to exaggerate,- the importance of the step that; will have been gained. The effect of it will Be to shift -the ;Whole balance of things, m the .Catholic world, and enormously to strengthen our own position not only with the East but also m relation to Western Christendom. ' '— (' 'Church. Times ' ') .

The declaration sets forth ; ' the genuine" teaching of the English Church. The English Church accepts- the faith of the Undivided Church, as set forth m the Scriptures and' Fathers, .and reaffirmed by oecumenical councils. It affirms the independence of each "particular Church" m matters which are not essential; the supremacy of oecumenical councils and the binding nature of those dogmatic decisions that have been accepted by the whole Church. The number of Sacraments has never been formally determined but those of Baptism, the Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony and Unction are accepted as such specifically. The Apostolic Succession, transmitted b\> the. laying on of hands of the Bishops is an essential necessity. The office of a priest is (a) to preach and teach the word of God; (b) to offer the unbloody Sacrifice of the Eucharist for both the living and the departed-; (c) to absolve sinners;- and (d) otherwise to minister to the spiritual needs of the flock of Christ. In the Blessed

Sacrament, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, the elements are changed and become, the true Body and the true BloxJd of .Christ, and as such are given, to! and received "by the ''faithful.. The Eripsh Church defines neither, the mann^er* nor mode of this change. It is a Divine mystery which. passes, human .understanding. The. English • Church honors the Mother of Our. Lord and the Saints departed and we should ask for -their intercession. .