A major theological document prepared by the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ", which aims to reach a common viewpoint on the place of Mary in Church doctrine for both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches worldwide, was recently endorsed by the Anglican Churches across the world.
The principal launch took place in St James' Roman Catholic Cathedral, Seattle, on Monday 16th May with the ARCIC Co-Chairs leading the celebration.
Anglican Co-Chair, Archbishop Peter Carnley of Australia preached at Solemn Vespers following a press launch in the Chancery Office, with both national and international media coverage as a result. Roman Catholic Co-Chair Archbishop Alex Brunett hosted the day and presided at the service.
The official launch in the UK - home to the Anglican Communion - was held at the prestigious Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey in London on Thursday 19th May with ARCIC members Abbey Canon Nicholas Sagovsky (Anglican) and Bishop Michael McMahon, Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham, addressing the gathering. Guests included representatives of Walsingham, the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary among many others.
According to the message of Canon Nicholas Sagovsky on the launching ceremony in London, the publication of the Mary document is truly something for both the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church to celebrate.
Roman Catholic and Anglican theologians have long been painfully divisive on the teaching of Mary in the Churches. While the Catholic Church believes that Mary was free of original sin and how she was assumed into heaven. Protestants, including the Anglicans, traditionally reject such a teaching because there is no Biblical basis for the claims that she was the product of immaculate conception and so free of original sin, or evidence that she was accepted body and soul into heaven upon her death.
Despite the centuries-long division, the Mary document issued by the ARCIC recently marks one more significant step along the road to unity. However, Canon Sagovsky cautiously pointed out that these are "not statements which have been agreed by a majority of members of the Commission" but "unanimous statements made in common".
