Re: Conflicts, contrasts or differences between Catholics and Protestants in Great Britain

On 2006-04-24, Alec Brady <alec.brady@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

That wasn't what I was referring to. It was your statement that RCs
coming forward to receive Anglican communion was ecumenical and a
'good thing'. That seems to me to be encouraging RCs to break their
church's rules. I understand that you may think it a good thing. I
can't agree that it's ecumenism.

I'm sorry I offended you. I'll try to express my opinions more
tactfully and less glibly in the future.


How would you define genuine ecumenism?

I wouldn't have the temerity to offer a comprehensive definition, but
to me it's to do with relations between churches. I can't see that
encouraging members of one denomination to flout their own rules is
ecumenism. It's proselytising.

Is it worse than claiming that another church's sacraments are
invalid?


If you genuinely want warm relations between our churches, don't
encourage individuals to ignore their own traditions. If you think
it's right to tell people to ignore their own traditions, don't call
it ecumenism.

I think it's right for people with different traditions to discuss
them with each other with an open mind. Stating that I disagree with
one rule from your tradition is not an attack on the whole tradition.
.