The Anglo-Orthodox Rapprochement and the Catholic Church

Extract

The Convocations of Canterbury and York having confirmed the terms of the agreement concluded at Bonn on July 2nd, 1931, by the representatives of the Church of England and of the ‘Old Catholics,’ intercommunion has been established between the State Church of this country and a religious body which, however unimportant and numerically insignificant, possesses, nevertheless, a valid Hierarchy and true Sacraments. The terms of this agreement, ratified also by the ‘Old Catholic’ Bishops on September 7th, 1931, are expressed in three paragraphs :

(1). Each communion recognises the catholicity and independence of the other, and maintains its own.

(2). Each communion agrees to admit members of the other communion to participate in the Sacraments.

(3). Intercommunion does not require from either communion the acceptance of all doctrinal opinion, devotion or liturgical practices characteristic of the other, but implies that each believes the other to hold all the essentials of the Christian faith.