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

Archbishop Leo Cushley, Princess Anne and Dr Iain Greenshields, sign St Margaret Declaration

Source: SCMO

The 'St Margaret's Declaration' was signed at Dunfermline Abbey in Fife today 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."

Named after the 11th Century Scottish Queen who is buried in the abbey, the agreement is the culmination of years of ecumenical relationship building between the two Churches which recognise each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Written by senior figures from both Churches, the declaration describes the Churches' shared beliefs, 'rooted in the Apostles, Christ's first disciples,' and acknowledges a common heritage as Christians in Scotland.

It also recognises the divisions of the past, apologises for the hurt and harm caused and seeks to make amends, asserting 'we repent and ask forgiveness of one other.'

It is accepted that some divisions between the Churches remain challenging and more work is needed on reconciliation and healing. Nevertheless, both Christian denominations say that what they hold in common is far greater than what divides them, and they commit to continue working towards greater unity.

Princess Anne was among more than 300 invited guests in attendance from the local community, ecumenical partners, civic society and heritage organisations.

The Abbey Church of Dunfermline is the last resting place of Robert the Bruce and nine other Scottish monarchs.

* NOTE: Thomas Davidson writes:

A propos the Saint Margaret Declaration: first, thanks for publishing the article - it's cheering and encouraging to read such good news, especially given the bigotry to which Scottish Catholics have been subject, for which the Church of Scotland is in part to blame.

However, as I understand, Saint Margaret's remains are not in Dunfermline Abbey, having been removed at the Reformation along with those of her husband, King Malcolm. They both now rest in El Escorial, near Madrid.