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Historic 'St Margaret's declaration' signed by Catholic Church and Church of Scotland

Categories: Articles:Peacemaking, Articles:Social Justice | Published: 17/11/2022 | Views: 251

The “St Margaret’s Declaration” was signed at Dunfermline Abbey in Fife by Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Archbishop Leo Cushley, Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh.



The document was also signed by the Princess Royal who endorsed the historic friendship agreement between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland. The document was signed during a service at Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary on what is St Margaret’s Day. 
 
In his homily at the service, Archbishop Cushley said: "The declaration is a consciously new approach to ecumenism, an attempt to re-imagine the path towards Christian unity.
 
"Instead of listing our problems and points of friction or grievance, old or new, the Declaration chooses to focus on what we have in common and underline that we treasure together, so much that is inspiring and ancient, profound and beautiful.  
 
"We stand shoulder to shoulder before an unbelieving world and we wish to respect each other, to be a support to each other, and to do all we can to achieve the unity that the Lord prayed for.”
 
Dr Greenshields said: “I am deeply honoured and privileged to be one of the signatories of the St Margaret’s Declaration at Dunfermline Abbey in its 950th year and on St Margaret’s Day.
 
“This new friendship agreement has been many years in the making and is aptly named after a Scottish Queen who was venerated for her missionary Christian faith and her kindness and generosity to poor people.
 
“The declaration reflects the steadfast desire of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland and the Church of Scotland to continue to journey together and to see the healing of division within our nation.
  
"I would want people across Scottish society to look at this new relationship between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church and take away a powerful message – there is more that unites us than divides us as we strive to be an ever more united Christian voice in this land.”
 

 

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