Anglicans, Catholics complete work on 'Seattle Statement' on Mary

Published: 2004-02-04

SEATTLE (CNS) -- With Catholic Archbishop Alex J. Brunett of Seattle as host and the Puget Sound as backdrop, a group of international clergy and scholars representing the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion completed work in early February on a statement that articulates a common approach to the subject of Mary. The statement, which will be submitted to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultative Council, will be known as the "Seattle Statement." The text is the fifth statement published by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission over the past 20 years and represents more than five years of work by the group co-chaired by Archbishop Brunett. "I am totally elated and grateful that we were able to bring together a work that was challenging as well as uplifting," Archbishop Brunett said. "It took five years of dialogue on the scriptural background as well as the ancient Christian traditions to lay the foundation for the conclusions arrived at in the statement. As co-chairman, I was deeply impressed by the dedication, care and committed study offered to us by the scholars who donate their time and efforts for the sake of Christian unity," he added.

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