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Handout #271 |
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The development of M. Portal |
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When he first met the Anglican Lord
Halifax, Fernand PortaL A Lazarist, was thinking in terms of bringing back
non-Catholic to the Church of Rome. He very soon arrived at a conception of
ecumenism which was much more respectful of the personality of the members
of other Christian confessions.
As a priest, of course I had to have the hope of converting this Anglican who came of his own accord to talk to me about religious questions. However, I soon observed that nothing allowed me to have any hope of such a result, and that if despite my opinions to the contrary I continued with a relationship which seemed pointless to others, it was which seemed pointless to others, it was because I believed that conversion was not the only goal to pursue. A meeting of minds, the discarding of prejudices are also substantial results worthy of being sought for their own sake. For his part I think that Lord Halifax felt equally soon the desire to instruct a Priest who was still young about the Church of England. Notes by F. Portal (1909) on the events of 1890-1896. The means to be employed are not attempts at individual conversions, but work to break down the prejudices which still exist among Catholics and among separated Christians. Individual conversions get in the way, and only lead to the increase of mistrust. There is an analogy between current conditions in the apostolate to the people and the apostolate as we see it in the separated churches. The problem of church union can only be a distant goal which automatically appears as a conclusion of our studies. It is important to understand that there is a question of the church alongside the social question, the religious question and the philosophical question. Proposal made to the Group for the Union of the Churches by F. Portal at its first meeting, 5 May 1911. |
