Maria immaculata
Simon Heans argues for a proper understanding
of the witness of Mary to the truth of the Gospel
I
s your church Papalist? A recent author would have us believe of Marian apparitions in the previous two centuries, beginning
that Anglican Papalism ended in 1960. At least that’s when with the appearances to Catherine Laboure at the Rue du Bac
Michael Yelton decides to conclude his history of Angli- in 1830. Yet early Anglican Papalists had no reservations at all
can Papalism. But if there was a Mass in your church for the about such phenomena.
Immaculate Conception, it is probable that it qualifies as Angli-
can Papalist. The witness of Lourdes
The trouble with Yelton’s decision to end his book when he Next month in Lourdes they will be celebrating the 149
th
anni-
does is that he can take no account of the work of the Angli- versary of the appearances of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous
can–Roman Catholic International Commission and its impor- in the course of which she declared herself to be the Immaculate
tant documents. And they are, arguably, the fruit of Anglican Conception. Mary says ‘There is need for careful discernment in
Papalism. Certainly they put Papalism, once considered to be so assessing the spiritual value of any alleged apparition.’ I wonder
extreme, firmly into the Anglican mainstream. if the following exchange between Malcolm Muggeridge and
Cardinal Heenan in the 1950s is the sort of thing the authors
Ecumenical agreement had in mind when they wrote that sentence:
Consider the latest ARCIC publication Mary: Grace and Hope Muggeridge: Let us take the absurd business of the Immaculate
in Christ. There we have clearly stated agreement on those two Conception of Mary… Heenan: Do you believe in original sin?
dogmas of Mary’s Assumption and Immaculate Conception Muggeridge: Of course not. Heenan: Then you certainly believe
which were once cited even by some catholic Anglicans as evi- in the Immaculate Conception. But you believe in the immacu-
dence that Rome had learned nothing since the Middle Ages and late conception of everyone. Catholics believe in the Immaculate
still wanted to lord it over the rest of Christendom. Moreover, Conception only of Our Blessed Lady.
after endorsing the Assumption and the Immaculate Concep- And now all Anglicans can say the same. But I wonder if
tion as ‘consonant with the Scriptures and the ancient common Mary with its careful and scholarly examination of Scripture and
traditions,’ the authors do not hesitate to offer an opinion on the Tradition misses the point that comes across in this encounter
wider significance of this agreement. between Muggeridge and Heenan. Muggeridge at that time was
Their view is that, ‘when accepted by our two Communions’ among those ‘who amplify the power of human reason in order
(note when not if) it ‘would place the question about authority to deny or diminish the benefits of revelation.’ (Pius IX) The
which arises from the two definitions of 1854 and 1950 in a new 1854 declaration was not merely the result of an academic trawl
ecumenical context’. In other words, the authors look forward to through the ancient sources of the Faith, valuable though that is,
a time when papal authority might come to be seen as a gift to be but a response to the specifically modern challenge to it, viz, the
received by Anglicans, which is of course how Anglican Papalists rationalist attack on the Christian revelation of our fallen state
of the period covered by Yelton always regarded it. and our redemption in Christ.
But there are differences as well as similarities between this Our Lady herself appeared four years later to confirm how
official, episcopally-sponsored Anglican Papalism, and the right that response had been. So, as well as December 8, the feast
earlier outlaw version. One of them is exposed to view by the of official Anglican Papalism, let us be sure also to keep February
omission from Mary of any analysis of the remarkable number 11, Our Lady of Lourdes. ND
Rights trump faith?
nor discriminate against homosexuals
out of bigotry or prejudice. However,
Andrea Williams on the forthcoming Sexual Orientation Regulations Scripture and tradition are both clear that
the only rightful sexual relationship for
A
n incredibly important piece of gave to themselves through the Equality which we were created, is a relationship
legislation threatens Christian Act 2006, the government are pushing between a man and a woman in the
freedom to act with integrity according through a new law (the SOR) without the context of a legitimate marriage.
to the Bible. The government have need for parliamentary debate, which will Consequently there are times when
proposed ‘Sexual Orientation Regulations’ make it illegal for anyone who provides Christians need to be free to discriminate
which will impact churches, Christian goods, services, facilities, premises, against homosexuals in order to make it
organizations, charities, groups and education or public functions to someone clear that we believe in the Bible’s teaching
individuals. The Regulations have been else, to discriminate against that person that homosexual practice is wrong.
described by some leading Christian on the grounds of their sexual orientation Consider a Christian couple who own a
figures from across denominational i.e. whether they are homosexual, bed and breakfast. They provide a ‘service’
lines as representing a greater threat to heterosexual or bisexual. according to the law. Therefore when the
Christian liberty than did the Racial and Why is it a problem? Firstly, we must SOR become law, it would be illegal for that
Religious Hatred Bill. stress that Christians are commanded Christian couple to refuse a homosexual
What are the Sexual Orientation to love all their neighbours equally. and his partner (who had a registered
Regulations (SOR)? Using power they Christians should never be homophobic civil partnership) a room with a double
18
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newdirections
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January 2007
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