Pro Cantuar

For the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Just because we were smiling on the outside doesn't mean we weren't ranting on the inside!

The Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams is a strong proponent of Catholic principles in the Anglican Communion. He stands head and (almost) shoulders above the lot of us, wouldn't you say? After all, he is an Instrument of Communion.

These days, to be an Anglican Catholic Christian, and to be heard, is to rant, it would seem, or at least to me.

But Dr Williams can't rant; he's Cantuar in communio.

I speak here personally; he must speak everywhere 'communally'. That's because he personifies communion for Anglicans in an absolutely unique manner, ontologically and practically.

Compared to me and to all of you who are Anglican Catholic Christians, Cantuar has

• less freedom, but
• more authority,
  

each relative goods with respect to roles. Accordingly, Cantuar is both competent and charismatic:

• Nature and nurture provide his character and theology (to desire and to affirm communion).
• God and grace provide his charisms and efficacy (to confect and to effect communion).

FrD+

Ranticon above taken on 22nd April 2006, three days before my father died. The smile didn't last very long and is only just coming back. This blog is a means to that end.