The Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury have just prayed together and issued an agreed statement. Much of the common declaration is what one would expect, but one bit in particular struck me as of great interest, namely this passage:
Fifty years ago our predecessors recognised the 'serious obstacles' that stood in the way of a restoration of complete faith and sacramental life between us. Nevertheless, they set out undeterred, not knowing what steps could be taken along the way, but in fidelity to the Lord’s prayer that his disciples be one. Much progress has been made concerning many areas that have kept us apart. Yet new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us, particularly regarding the ordination of women and more recent questions regarding human sexuality. Behind these differences lies a perennial question about how authority is exercised in the Christian community.
