A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 19 - Tuesday, May 11th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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Catholic account of Orthodox-Catholic dialogueREPORT OF MEETING OF JOINT WORKING GROUP ON IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIAN ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION (Portal-credo.ru, 7 May 2004) - On 5-6 May 2004 a meeting of the joint working group for improving relations between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic churches in the Russian federation was held. In accordance with previous agreement, the session was held in sequence on the territories of the Catholic and Orthodox sides, on 5 May in the building of the secretariate of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia and on 6 May in the Pilgrimage Center of the Moscow patriarchate ("Universitetskaia" hotel). Despite substantial difficulties, positive achievements have been observed recently in relations between both churches. At the time of the visit to Poland by the head of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow patriarchate Metropolitan Kirill declared that there have been no instructions with regard to proselytizing activity either on the part of the Vatican or on the part of local Catholic bishops in Russia, but the joint group will deal with separate incidents. The Catholic church in Russia always was, now is, and remains a religious minority that is always ready for constructive cooperation with the Russian Orthodox church for the welfare of Russian society. But, along with this there have existed separate incidents which because of misunderstanding and the absence of appropriate information have evoked disturbance among representatives of RPTs and some strata of society. These incidents sometimes have been interpreted by them as cases of proselytism. At the session of the working group the Orthodox side presented to the Catholic side several such incidents that occurred on the territory of the Russian federation. This must not be viewed as a trial of the Catholic church with intent to accuse it of proselytism and the establishment of control over its activity in Russia. The sides came to the conclusion that an analysis of the causes of disturbance and the absence of mutual understanding in some specific cases will help in working out a code of conduct for both churches. The Orthodox side presented also positive examples of cooperation between our churches which could be clear Christian testimony for the contemporary world. These examples were supplemented by the Catholic side. The sides came to the conclusion about the necessity of informing one another more broadly and of close common action and constructive cooperation, particularly in social projects. Special concern was shown with regard to news media which often interpret inaccurately incidents and statements of representatives of individual churches which do not promote normalization of Orthodox-Catholic relations. The atmosphere during the work was friendly and one hopes that the group that was created at the local level will help work in the area of correcting problems that arise between our churches. The Catholic side also took into account the concern of the Orthodox side with regard to problems of inter-church relations outside the boundaries of Russia, although a review of such problems does not enter into the competence of the working group. Father Igor Kowalewsky General
Secretary of the Conference of Catholic
Bishops of Russia. (tr. by PDS) |
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