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ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY RECEIVES NEW BRAZIL PRIMATE AND RECIFE BISHOP
Eyebrows Raised Over Implications for Southern Cone Primate
News Analysis
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
10/10/2006
In an action that will likely force deeper divisions in the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury has received the new Primate of Brazil the Most Rev. Mauricio Andrade and the new Bishop "Diocese B" of the Diocese of Recife, the Rt. Rev. Sebastião Gameleira Soares.
At the Province of Brazil's website, www.ieab.org.br a photo op is shown of the ABC and both bishops, it says that "the purpose of the meeting was to talk about the Report of the Archbishop of Canterbury's recent emissaries to the Anglican Diocese of Recife by Bishops Patrick Harris and William Godfrey, who were present at the Provincial Synod, in Curitiba, and then in Recife."
A source in Brazil told VOL that the meeting took place in two phases. "First, Archbishop Williams talked privately with the Primate, and, then, with the whole delegation".
The Diocese of Recife was the first case to ask to be referred to the Panel of Reference. To date its appeal for Alternative Provincial Oversight was not answered. The then Primate Orlando Oliveira issued an angry public with a veto against "external interference in domestic matters of the Province of Brazil." Dr. Rowan Williams then stepped back and sent two emissaries to the province.
They went first to the Provincial Synod, where they were surprised and shocked to learn that Primate Orlando was defeated in his attempt to be re-elected as archbishop. Also defeated was the Suffragan bishop Filadelfo Oliveira as the new bishop for "Diocese B".
Following that visit, both bishops then traveled to Recife and talked with both bishops Robinson Cavalcanti and Filadelfo Oliveira, and their clergy. They then traveled to Brasilia, for conversations with the new Primate Andrade and the new bishop-elect Soares.
On the same night Bishop Bill Godfrey lead a prayer during the Thanksgiving Service for the election of the new Primate. The new Primate then offered to the Diocese of Recife forgiveness and reconciliation under an unlimited comprehensiveness plan that was apparently put forth by the Episcopal Church USA.
Bishop Cavilcanti refused the plan, the details of which are unknown.
The two emissaries are supposed to write a report with analyses and advice to the Archbishop of Canterbury about how the ABC should proceed.
"It is clear from the two websites that the new Brazilian liberal leadership was at Lambeth to put pressure on the ABC to push things in their direction," said the source.
The appearance of these two bishops at Lambeth Palace does raise some serious questions.
What message does it send the Archbishop of the Southern Cone, the Most Rev. Gregory Venables who has taken the Diocese of Recife, and its orthodox bishop Robinson Cavilcanti under his ecclesiastical wing?
What is Lambeth Palace trying to prove? How will the ABC's picture with these two ultra-liberal bishops defuse an already explosive situation in that part of the Anglican Communion? The archbishop's Panel of Reference has been asked to adjudicate the actions of that province against its bishop, Robinson Cavilcanti, and now it would appear that his being seen and photographed with these two bishops may have derailed that.
In a couple of weeks, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Frank Griswold will personally introduce Katherine Schori as the next leader of the American branch of the Anglican Communion, with a photo op that will surely ricochet around the Anglican Communion.
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