Critical View on Appointment of Future Anglican Primate
Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church of England. However, her appointment has been met with significant controversy within the global Anglican community.
Impact on Catholic-Anglican Dialogue
Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, expressed concerns about this appointment at a symposium in Vallendar near Koblenz. He highlighted that Mullally’s stance on sexual ethics has caused a division between the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) and the Church of England, raising questions for the Catholic Church about its future ecumenical dialogue partners.
“Who will we dialogue with in the future if the Anglican world community is so divided?”
Dispute Over Treatment of Sexual Minorities
In 2023, the Church of England's General Synod, following recommendations from bishops, decided to develop a “comprehensive pastoral service” to welcome LGBTQI+ individuals, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and others. This decision sparked strong opposition, notably from African Anglican communities.
As a consequence, the conservative Anglican network Gafcon separated from the Church of England due to these differing views.
Summary
The appointment of Sarah Mullally as head of the Church of England exposes deep divisions within the Anglican Communion and poses challenges for ongoing Catholic-Anglican relations.