SA: Archbishop s doubt of resurrection astonishing Bishop

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-1999
SA: Archbishop s doubt of resurrection astonishing Bishop

ADELAIDE, Aug 2 AAP - Doubt about the resurrection suggested in a statement by the
Archbishop of Canterbury was astonishing, a leading Australian Anglican Bishop said today.

Anglican Bishop of North Sydney Paul Barnett said the resurrection of Jesus was a fact of
history and was central to Christian faith.

Dr Barnett was responding to a report of the planned Millennial message of the Archbishop
of Canterbury, George Carey, in which he says the resurrection of Jesus could not be known
with the same certainty as the crucifixion.

"I want to offer the firm assurance that we can believe and depend on the gospel teaching
as reliable historical fact," Dr Barnett said.

"Anglicans, as all Christians, believe that Christ did truly rise again from death."

A report in London newspaper the Mail on Sunday, said Dr Carey's message included the line:

"I can tell you frankly that while we can be absolutely sure that Jesus lived, and that he
was certainly crucified on the cross, we cannot with the same certainty say that we know he
was raised by God from the dead."

But Vicar General of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Bishop John Stewart, said it was an
uncontroversial statement that had been taken out of context.

"I would suspect that one of the English tabloids, looking for a way they could make a
bland statement controversial, has probably headlined it to give it a certain emphasis," Dr
Stewart said.

He said he had been surprised to read the headline in a newspaper himself, but on further
reading it seemed Dr Carey was simply highlighting the need to have faith in the resurrection,
rather than rely on historical evidence.

"The crucifixion is in the realm of historical fact, had there been a television back then
it could have been on film," Dr Stewart said.

"With the resurrection, whilst Christians believe it happened in history it takes us into a
different realm, a realm of faith.

"He (Dr Carey) is not denying the resurrection, it's an absolutely vital plank of the
Christian faith, that's not controversial, it is something that so many have grasped."

AAP scl/ah/de

KEYWORD: RELIGION CAREY AUST

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