Vatican Report. JT: It was not so long ago that the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches were in a kind of “cold war” over territorial jurisdiction, property and evangelization methods. But there …More
Vatican Report.
JT: It was not so long ago that the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches were in a kind of “cold war” over territorial jurisdiction, property and evangelization methods. But there has been an ecumenical breakthrough in the last two years, and the most recent sign was an offer by the Russian Orthodox to team up with the Vatican against secularization in Europe. We will talk about it today on the Vatican Report. I am John Thavis, Catholic News Service Rome bureau chief.
CG: And I am Carol Glatz, CNS Rome correspondent. Attentive readers of the Vatican newspaper noticed a very long article 10 days ago by Russian Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion, He acts as a kind of foreign minister for the Russian Orthodox Church. The article urged cooperation with the Vatican against what it called “militant secularization” across Europe. It warned that religion was losing public influence and being closed off in the “ghetto” of private devotion. It proposed a more forceful battle against practices like abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and destruction of embryos.
JT: Archbishop Hilarion even suggested that civil disobedience may be necessary at times when Christians resist participation in activities that go against divine law. By the way, Archbishop Hilarion is not the voice of a bygone generation. He is 43 years old, and is considered one of the Russian Orthodox Church’s most dynamic young leaders. Now, what is interesting is that his proposal was very similar to a statement issued by more than 140 Christian leaders in New York a few weeks ago. Called the “Manhattan Declaration”, it also advised a tougher battle on these very same issues, again saying non-compliance and perhaps even civil disobedience may be necessary. So in Europe and the United States, there seem to be parallel movements to aggressively fight secularism, both of them involving ecumenical cooperation.
CG: Now, keep in mind the Russian Orthodox Church survived more than 70 years of communist repression. And its leaders feel that gives it some insight into how religion is marginalized in society. As Archbishop Hilarion put it, militant secularism is just as dangerous as militant atheism. He talked about seminaries and churches being turned into museums under Soviet communism. In modern Europe, he said, seminaries are empty and churches are being turned into pubs -- not because of state confiscation, but because of a drastic decline in religious practice. And he said part of the reason for that is a climate of intimidation against religion.
JT: The Vatican has not responded formally to the Russian Orthodox suggestion to team up against European secularism, but for many years Catholic officials have been suggesting ecumenical collaboration on these kinds of issues. What did happen at the Vatican last week was a diplomatic move that has some relevance here -- after Pope Benedict met with the Russian president, the Vatican and Russia agreed to establish full diplomatic relations. Most observers say …
JT: It was not so long ago that the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches were in a kind of “cold war” over territorial jurisdiction, property and evangelization methods. But there has been an ecumenical breakthrough in the last two years, and the most recent sign was an offer by the Russian Orthodox to team up with the Vatican against secularization in Europe. We will talk about it today on the Vatican Report. I am John Thavis, Catholic News Service Rome bureau chief.
CG: And I am Carol Glatz, CNS Rome correspondent. Attentive readers of the Vatican newspaper noticed a very long article 10 days ago by Russian Orthodox Archbishop Hilarion, He acts as a kind of foreign minister for the Russian Orthodox Church. The article urged cooperation with the Vatican against what it called “militant secularization” across Europe. It warned that religion was losing public influence and being closed off in the “ghetto” of private devotion. It proposed a more forceful battle against practices like abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and destruction of embryos.
JT: Archbishop Hilarion even suggested that civil disobedience may be necessary at times when Christians resist participation in activities that go against divine law. By the way, Archbishop Hilarion is not the voice of a bygone generation. He is 43 years old, and is considered one of the Russian Orthodox Church’s most dynamic young leaders. Now, what is interesting is that his proposal was very similar to a statement issued by more than 140 Christian leaders in New York a few weeks ago. Called the “Manhattan Declaration”, it also advised a tougher battle on these very same issues, again saying non-compliance and perhaps even civil disobedience may be necessary. So in Europe and the United States, there seem to be parallel movements to aggressively fight secularism, both of them involving ecumenical cooperation.
CG: Now, keep in mind the Russian Orthodox Church survived more than 70 years of communist repression. And its leaders feel that gives it some insight into how religion is marginalized in society. As Archbishop Hilarion put it, militant secularism is just as dangerous as militant atheism. He talked about seminaries and churches being turned into museums under Soviet communism. In modern Europe, he said, seminaries are empty and churches are being turned into pubs -- not because of state confiscation, but because of a drastic decline in religious practice. And he said part of the reason for that is a climate of intimidation against religion.
JT: The Vatican has not responded formally to the Russian Orthodox suggestion to team up against European secularism, but for many years Catholic officials have been suggesting ecumenical collaboration on these kinds of issues. What did happen at the Vatican last week was a diplomatic move that has some relevance here -- after Pope Benedict met with the Russian president, the Vatican and Russia agreed to establish full diplomatic relations. Most observers say …