Cardinal takes a critical view of appointment of future Anglican primate

Cardinal criticizes appointment of future Anglican primate

The appointment of Sarah Mullally, aged 63, as the new spiritual leader of the Anglican Church of England may negatively influence the Catholic-Anglican dialogue. Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, expressed this view on Sunday during a symposium in Vallendar near Koblenz.

According to Koch, Bishop Mullally's stance on sexual ethics has deepened a rift between the conservative Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) and the Church of England.

“Who will we dialogue with in the future if the Anglican world community is so divided?”

Controversy over sexual minorities

In 2023, the General Synod of the Church of England resolved, on the bishops’ advice, to develop a “comprehensive pastoral service” welcoming LGBTQI+ individuals—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and others. This decision provoked strong opposition, particularly across Africa.

As a result, Gafcon, representing the theologically conservative Anglicans, severed ties with the Church of England. Recently, King Charles III appointed London Bishop Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, making her both the Church of England’s spiritual head and the honorary leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Author’s summary

The Vatican warns that Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury may further strain ecumenical relations between the Catholic Church and a divided Anglican Communion.

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Katholisch.de Katholisch.de — 2025-11-03

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