Roman Catholic Claims by Charles Gore

Bishop Gore wrote Roman Catholic Claims in 1888. In the introductory matter he says "Roman Catholic claims may be dealt with by those who cannot accept them, in one of two ways. They may be examined and shown to be in them- selves in conflict with history, and untenable. This has been often done...But there is another method of dealing with the Roman claim. It is by strengthening the fabric of a positive Catholicity, which is not Roman. Such a defensive method it has been my aim to follow in this book. So far as attack is a necessary part of defence, it has not been possible to avoid it. But my purpose is positive, not negative-to build, not to destroy." He goes on to describe the contents: "I t was then in the belief that no labour is lost which goes to strengthen the fabric of the English Church, and enable her to realize with security her catholic polity and life, that this book was written (in 1888), and has been several times corrected and amplified...Thus Chapter I. is a general explanation of the Anglican position as the" via media," and a general statement of our attitude towards the Roman Church. After that follows an answer in detail to each article of the Roman assault. Thus Chapter II. vindicates the Anglican or Catholic con. ception of Church unity as against the Roman modification of it. Chapter III. endeavours to explain the true or priulitive conception of Church authority, and Chapter IV. the true relation of the Church to the Bible. Chapter V. examines the Roman interpretation of our Lord's promise to St. Peter. Chapters VI. and VII. bring to the test of history the modern claiIDs of the Roman see. Chapter VIII. expounds the meaning of schism, and clears the English Church from the charge of it. Chapter IX. is occupied in vindicating the validity and jurisdiction of the Anglican episcopate; and Chapter x. in defending the Anglican Church on the charge of heresy. Chapter XI. deals with some more recent topics; and among the appended notes is a paper dealing at some length with the ROInan theory of development."

This is an excellent treatment of Anglicanism and Anglican Orders as they relate to the Roman Catholic Church. It is a thoroughly instructive book that I highly recommend. It can still be found through many of the online book dealers (see my recommended sites elswher in this blog. However, you can find a digitized version at: http://www.archive.org/details/a583508500goreuoft