Guide to ecumenical twinning

by Joanna Moorhead ANGLICANS holidaying in France may receive Holy Communion at a Catholic church if they are unable to attend their own eucharistic service, a document published this week by the Anglican-Roman Catholic Committees of France and Vngland makes clear.
, The document, "Twinning and Exchanges: Guidelines proposed by the AnglicanRoman Catholic Committees of Prance and England", has been Written to clarify misunderstandings about shared worship for French Catholics visiting Britain and British Anglicans visiting France.
It also seeks to make clear to clergy and other Christians what is and is not possible in establishing links as a result of town twinning arrangements, which have become widespread in recent years.
English tourists visiting France with their own priest can easily celebrate the eucharist in a separate group, says the document. But, it goes on, "individual Anglicans or families unable to attend their own eucharistic celebrations are welcome, after seeking the priest's approval, to receive Holy Communion in a Roman Catholic church".
However, the document makes clear, the priest concerned must ensure that the case meets with certain criteria, including a —real need" or proven spiritual desire on the part of the recipient; deep and sustained bonds of fraternal communion with Catholics; and an unambigious faith regarding the real presence.
Anglican priests, the document continues, should not, in present circumstances concelebrate at a Catholic eucharist. Such an action would be "unhelpful and sometimes embarrassing!'.
Where French groups visiting England wish to worship they should, according to the guidelines, make contact with the local Catholic church in the area involved. If they have a priest and are in an area without a Catholic church, they can celebrate their eucharist separately in an Anglican one or, if without a priest, attend an Anglican eucharist without receiving communion. Where mixed groups of Anglicans and Catholics in either England or France hope to share worship, the document acknowledges there is a problem. It suggests people might consider holding an Anglican eucharist and a Catholic vespers.
Other ways of sharing should not be forgotten, the document goes on. "House groups, informal meetings, services of prayer, meals in the homes of parishioners, visiting local religious communities, study of common documents, meetings of Christians in local and world social and political movements," are all suggested.
In their preface to the booklet, Bishop Charles Henderson, auxiliary in Southwark, and Dr John Dennis, Anglican bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, cochairmen of the English AnglicanRoman Catholic Committee, say the fostering of good relations between Anglican and Catholic dioceses and parishes in France and England and Wales can play a significant part in the fostering of good relationships essential in the build up to 1992.
Anglican-Roman Catholic committees (ARCS) exist in many countries, and the English and French ARCs are two of the most active.
The booklet encourages the further development of links between churchgoers of different denominations across the Channel. "The existence of civic twinnings should oblige Christian communities to consider how to make good pastoral use of them. They should try to establish direct ecclesiastical links between dioceses, cathedrals or parishes according to the situation," it says.