Symposium on Pope Benedict’s recent Apostolic Constitution planned

The Rev. Albert Kennington one of three priests on the ecumenical panel

MOBILE — An ecumenical panel of three priests will lead a symposium on Pope Benedict’s recent Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus, on Sunday, December 13, at 7:00 pm at Our Savior Roman Catholic Church on Cody Road in Mobile, Alabama.  Panelists include Rev. David Tokarz, ecumenical liaison of the Archdiocese of Mobile and pastor of Our Savior Church; Rev. William Bry Shields, president of McGill-Toolen School, administrator of St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church, and a former Episcopal priest; and The Rev. S. Albert Kennington, priest associate of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Daphne, former Diocesan secretary and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, former member of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical/Interfaith Relations for The Episcopal Church, and retired rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Mobile.

This new proclamation by the Pope responds to members and former members of the Anglican Communion, who have asked to be received into the Roman Catholic Church while retaining something of their Anglican heritage.  Since its publication, there have been many questions about how this will work in actual practice.

Pope Benedict and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams have pledged to continue to move forward with ecumenical dialogue.  Read the joint statement

Locally, both Archbishop Thomas Rodi and Bishop Duncan have voiced appreciation for this symposium to which all are invited. Bishop Duncan invites the clergy and lay leadership to attend this important ecumenical event, if at all possible.