Cardinal Ratzinger sends greetings to gathering of Episcopalians

Published: 2003-10-10

DALLAS (CNS) -- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, sent the Catholic Church's "fraternal regards" to a gathering of Episcopalians who are seeking to overturn their church's approval of an openly homosexual bishop and the blessing of same-sex unions. A letter from Cardinal Ratzinger to the American Anglican Council's "A Place to Stand" gathering in Dallas received a standing ovation when it was read to the more than 2,600 participants in the meeting Oct. 8. Meeting organizers said it was sent "on behalf of Pope John Paul II." "The significance of your meeting is sensed far beyond (Dallas), and even in this city (Rome) from which St. Augustine of Canterbury was sent to confirm and strengthen the preaching of Christ's Gospel in England," said the letter, as released by the American Anglican Council. The council did not say when or to whom it was sent. At the close of the meeting Oct. 9, participants approved a "call to action" condemning the general convention of the Episcopal Church in early August for its "confirmation of a noncelibate homosexual to be a bishop of the church, and its acceptance of same-sex blessings as part of our common life."

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