Cardinal met with protests at St. Paul's

BY A STAFF REPORTER
CHRISTIAN unity has "largely been achieved", said Cardinal Heenan preaching in St. Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday, midway through the Unity Octave. To underline his point he praised the "forbearance and compassion" shown by the Anglican Church at the time of Hurnanae Vitae, when the Pope was under attack from some Catholics.
The ecumenical service at which the Cardinal was preaching was one of the major events of Christian Unity Week, which has been celebrated by all denominations throughout the country.
There were noisy protests by extreme antiCatholic groups, including Mr. Paisley and his followers, outside St. Paul's. While the Cardinal
was giving his sermon he was interrupted several times by extremists, who were eventually removed from the Cathedral.
The Cardinal made his remarks about unity having largely been achieved in recalling the difference between unity and reunion. "There is no pretence or hypocrisy in the charity actually existing
between separated Christians," he said.
An excellent illustration of this was seen last summer when Pope Paul reaffirmed the teaching of earlier Popes on the question of contraception. His words were greeted with an angry roar as if he had been seeking to impose new doctrine on his flock.
"Ecumenism was thus provided with a remarkable test. The Lambeth Conference was in session when the encyclical was published. Clearly it was proper for the conference to comment, and this it did in moderate terms.
"The Anglican bishops were content to reiterate the view of the more recent Lambeth Conferences. They issued no criticism or condemnation.
"Our community, embarrassed by attacks on the Pope from some of its own members, was grateful beyond measure for the forbearance and compassion shown by the Anglicans.
'Impressive progress'
"I have deliberately awaited this opportunity of speaking in St. Paul's Cathedral to express our appreciation of this act of friendship."
The Cardinal began his sermon by thanking the Anglican authorities for inviting him to preach in St. Paul's. "Christian Unity has made such impressive progress that we almost take for granted such courtesies as we are practising here this evening.
"Those who believe — and they are the majority of Christians—that the work for unity is of God, resent the activities of the few who are out of sympathy with the ecumenical movement.
"Yet if ecumenism were what its critics believe it to be, it would rightly be resisted and rejected. For they regard ecumenism as an exercise in insincerity leading inevitably to religious indifference. Brought up to see members of other Churches as rivals, they feel it their duty to resist them.
Charity "It is well to remind ourselves that until recent times this was the common outlook of Christians. Most of us did not understand that true Christian charity extends beyond those with whom we agree to those whom we believe to be in error. It is not through any virtue of ours but by God's grace that we have come to renounce the old attitudes.
"Ecumenism implies a change not only of attitude but of heart. It is not enough to refrain from attack. The spirit of ecumenism is shown not by how we speak but how we think and act. Mind and heart are involved. We must seek true friendship with all who share the Christian name.
"Nor can our goodwill be limited to our fellow Christians. All the children of God are within the range of our charity. Otherwise we could not call ourselves Christians. Christ is the Redeemer of all mankind and that is why if we claim to be His followers we must embrace all men.
Less important
"But what of reunion? That is less important than Christian Unity and far less under our control. When people ask impatiently, 'When will corporate reunion come?' I think of the Apostles who no less impatiently awaited the day of victory. 'Lord,' they asked, 'wilt Thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.' (Acts 1, 6, 7).
In God's way'
"Reunion will come in God's time and in God's way. Meanwhile we should be prospecting the way to reunion by examining the essential meaning of our differing beliefs. It would nevertheless be a mistake to approach reunion with panic haste.
"It is often said that the divisions in Christendom are a sin and a scandal. That is a statement more easily made than proved. It should be no scandal if men and women born into devout Christian families cling to their beliefs.
"Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans, members of the Russian Orthodox Church or of the Church of Rome are not guilty of sin and scandal by following their religious convictions. On the contrary, it would be sinful and scandalous to recite a common creed without believing it.
"Scandal is caused not by divisions of faith but by Tack of charity. Of this sin, thank God, most Christians have repented. We are not likely to fall again and if we do so we shall not have the excuse of ignorance.
"I do not believe that Christians of different traditions can ever again live in enmity. Difficulties still remain but eventually with goodwill they can be resolved. They must not be allowed to become grounds for fresh hostilities.
"Our chief task is to preach the Gospel. Works of charity such as Christian Aid, Caritas and Shelter are examples of modern preaching. Men and
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