Published on April 28, 2022
7 minute read
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will be asked to host a landmark declaration of friendship with the Catholic Church of Scotland which offers “a decisive and irrevocable declaration of our friendship with each other, based on our faith shared in Christ”.
The culmination of more than 100 years of ecumenical relationship between the two churches, the Declaration of Friendship will be presented to the General Assembly on Monday, May 23.
It has already been approved by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church of Scotland.
The statement speaks of the shared faith and common ground that unites the churches, saying: “We recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and wish to express our friendship and respect for one another as Christian brothers, citizens and partners by announcing the kingdom of God in our country.
“Since the World Missionary Conference (Edinburgh, 1910) and the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), much has been done ecumenically to repair what has been broken and to restore mutual respect and friendship.
“Much has been accomplished spiritually, practically, and emotionally, through common prayer among our parishes, various joint commissions, and the growing knowledge and appreciation of one another as Christian friends and fellow pilgrims.”
Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Archbishop Leo Cushley, said: “Returning to Scotland after many years abroad, I was quickly struck by how far members of the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland have come on the path of friendship in during recent decades.
“We have spent forty years working diligently to respect and understand each other, what we have in common, what still divides us.
“In the meantime, through prayer together and social action, we have also become friends and learned to appreciate each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
“I think it’s something to recognize and celebrate.
“My brother bishops and I welcome this declaration, and we hope that it will also be well received by our Catholic brothers and sisters throughout the country.
“Threads of deeper dialogue will continue as before, but there is much to be said for acknowledging how much we have in common and celebrating the friendship of members of our two churches.
“I also hope it will lead to a deeper bond with all of our fellow Christians in Scotland.”
Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: “During my tenure as Moderator, I have greatly enjoyed the friendly and productive working relationship I have had with Archbishop Cushley, Bishop (now Archbishop) Nolan and other members. of the Catholic Church in Scotland as we sought to navigate our way through Covid restrictions and address critical issues facing our country and indeed our world, such as the burden of the cost of living and the climate crisis. also collaborated with Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees.
“And one of the deepest moments for me over the past few months has been joining worship and standing in solidarity with Father Vasyl and members of the Ukrainian Catholic community in Edinburgh as their homeland has was attacked without provocation.
“These are all ways of showing that what unites us is so important for the lives of our fellow citizens and for being witnesses of the message of the Gospel in this land of Scotland.”
An agreement based on shared faith and common ground
Written by leading figures from both churches, the statement outlines the churches’ shared beliefs, “rooted in the Apostles, first disciples of Christ”, and recognizes a common heritage as Christians in Scotland.
“We remember with gratitude to God the first missionaries, our ancestors in the faith, who lived and preached the Christian faith in our land,” he says. “We remember those of that time who led and shaped the Church, nurturing a society inspired by Christian values, including St Ninian, St Columba and St Margaret.”
The statement also acknowledges the divisions of the past, apologizes for the hurt and damage caused and seeks to make amends, saying “we repent and seek forgiveness from one another”.‘
Some divisions between churches remain difficult and more work will be needed on reconciliation and healing. Nevertheless, the churches say that what they have in common is greater than what divides them, and they pledge to continue to work for greater unity.
“We therefore commit ourselves to live as brothers and sisters in Christ, in public and in private, in life and in mission; pray with each other and for each other; to be good neighbours, both to each other and to all the people among whom we live, of all faiths and none; and to work together for the common good of the nation, as it is given to us to see it.
A Declaration of Friendship between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church of Scotland (Full text)
We, the undersigned, representing the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church of Scotland, wish to publicly express our mutual recognition as Christians and as children of God in Christ (Galatians 3:25-28). We recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and we wish to express our friendship and our respect for one another as Christian brothers, citizens and partners in the proclamation of the kingdom of God on our earth.
Since the World Missionary Conference (Edinburgh, 1910) and the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), much has been done ecumenically to mend what was broken and to restore mutual respect and friendship.
Much has been accomplished spiritually, practically, and emotionally through common prayer among our parishes, various joint commissions, and growing knowledge and appreciation of one another as Christian friends and fellow pilgrims.
A shared faith
Progress has been made on what we have in common.
We believe in one God, the Creator; we believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, true God and true man, fully divine and fully human, who died in the flesh and rose again to save us from sin and death; and we believe in the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons. We believe that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic; and we recognize one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that our faith is rooted in that of the Apostles, the first disciples of Christ, those who knew and followed our Lord in this life. We acknowledge and cherish the Holy Scriptures as God’s revelation of his love for all mankind. We recognize and share the great ecumenical councils of the first five Christian centuries.
Our common house
We recognize as our common heritage the gospel first brought to our shores so long ago. We remember with gratitude to God the first missionaries, our ancestors in the faith, who lived and preached the Christian faith in our country. We remember those of that time who led and shaped the Church, nurturing a society inspired by Christian values, including St Ninian, St Columba and St Margaret.
Past Divisions
We acknowledge the pain and hurt our ancestors have done to each other in the past, and we repent and ask forgiveness from each other. We also recognize that, even in more recent times, much could have been said between us with more kindness, written with more magnanimity and done with more charity, to promote forgiveness, healing and friendship among Christians. of our country.
Challenges that remain
There are still points on which we have not yet found a meeting place, and it is true that certain questions still divide us.
Recognizing what still separates us, we reaffirm that what we have in common is often greater than what divides us. While recognizing that unity does not mean uniformity, we commit to continue our pilgrimage towards greater unity, for we believe it is the Lord’s will that we be one (John 17:21). We believe that such unity that develops in Christ is the work of the Lord and the work of the Spirit.
Looking to the future
We therefore commit ourselves to live as brothers and sisters in Christ, in public and in private, in life and in mission; pray with each other and for each other; to be good neighbours, both to each other and to all the people among whom we live, of all faiths and none; and to work together for the common good of the nation, as it is given to us to see it.
May there be an ever more united Christian voice on earth, ever informed by the charity and love of Christ and our call to participate in God’s mission. May we contribute to the good of society, while humbly learning from others and from our own mistakes. May our theological reflections and initiatives flourish together; and may our pilgrimage together in our dear land of Scotland bear much fruit for the good of all, and for the greater glory of God.
