UKRAINE'S CATHOLICS NOT HOPEFUL OVER POPE FRANCIS' MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PATRIARCH

Colin · Feb 8, 2016

Ukrainian Catholic leaders gave a very cautious welcome to news that Pope Francis would meet in Cuba with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

"I do not expect that the meeting of Pope Francis with Patriarch Kirill will bring any particular changes. Although it is good that the meeting will take place," said Ukrainian Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, the major archbishop of the church.

"I am pleased," the archbishop said, that "we are no longer considered an obstacle and aren't being used to justify one's unwillingness to engage in such dialogue."

Although both St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI expressed hopes for a meeting with the Moscow patriarch, the Russian Orthodox insisted the activity of the Ukrainian Catholics and of Latin-rite Catholics in Russia amounted to "proselytism" and was an obstacle to such a meeting.

Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, director of foreign relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, said that the presence and activity of the Ukrainian Catholics were still an obstacle to fully normal church relations; he insisted that Patriarch Kirill agreed to meet the pope because finding a common way to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East is a more pressing matter.

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/301...r-pope-francis-meeting-with-russian-patriarch

Anhelyna · Feb 8, 2016

Please remember that Patriarch Sviatoslav is speaking for the Ukrainian Greko [ Greek]Catholic Church not the Latin Catholic Church here.

Rhamiel · Feb 8, 2016

interesting news

pdudgeon · Feb 8, 2016

at least it's a starting point. :oldthumbsup:

finding things in common that we can work on together
is always pleasing to God.

Anhelyna · Feb 8, 2016

I will be very happy if the topics discussed at the meeting are to do solely with the situation in the Middle East.

stage five · Feb 8, 2016

So Russia do not proselytize any Catholics? Do they condemn Orthodox missions in Latin America that do that?

Anhelyna · Feb 9, 2016

Is that comment directed at me ?

stage five · Feb 9, 2016

I think directing it toward you would be unfair, as you are not in the position to answer it. I suppose it was rhetorical.

pdudgeon · Feb 9, 2016

stage five said:
So Russia do not proselytize any Catholics? Do they condemn Orthodox missions in Latin America that do that?

judging from the life and experience of Saint John Paul II, I think the answer to your question would be in the affirmative.

pdudgeon · Feb 9, 2016

Anhelyna said:
I will be very happy if the topics discussed at the meeting are to do solely with the situation in the Middle East.

yes, we know that.

maybe someday............

Anhelyna · Feb 9, 2016

Perhaps you would care to explain that last part of your statement, Pam

pdudgeon · Feb 9, 2016

Anhelyna said:
Perhaps you would care to explain that last part of your statement, Pam

what, maybe someday?

that's easy. when we get to heaven we will all know what God wants us to know. we"ll all be one family, we'll all be united,
and we'll all wonder at ourselves and how we could have missed seeing all this before.

so instead of needing a gazillion Community and Faith forums, and a ton of rules to follow, we'll have one. :clap:

Anhelyna · Feb 9, 2016

Thanks for your explanation

Rhamiel · Feb 9, 2016

pdudgeon said:
what, maybe someday?

that's easy. when we get to heaven we will all know what God wants us to know. we"ll all be one family, we'll all be united,
and we'll all wonder at ourselves and how we could have missed seeing all this before.

so instead of needing a gazillion Community and Faith forums, and a ton of rules to follow, we'll have one.

well it would be great if the Schism could be healed before we die

many people believe that all schisms will heal before the end of the world

Michie · Feb 9, 2016

Rhamiel said:
well it would be great if the Schism could be healed before we die

many people believe that all schisms will heal before the end of the world

One thing I have noticed since the beginning of when I started paying attention to this subject is that it appears that many seem like they do not want reconciliation. It confuses me because it was Jesus' desire that we all become one. I have seen people actually become offended at the very thought of it.

chevyontheriver · Feb 9, 2016

Michie said:
One thing I have noticed since the beginning of when I started paying attention to this subject is that it appears that many seem like they do not want reconciliation. It confuses me because it was Jesus' desire that we all become one. I have seen people actually become offended at the very thought of it.

I see that too. Like it is some measure of faithfulness to oppose reconciliation.

Michie · Feb 9, 2016

I do not understand it.

chevyontheriver said:
I see that too. Like it is some measure of faithfulness to oppose reconciliation.

Anhelyna · Feb 9, 2016

I'm now speaking very much as an individual here - as a member of the UGCC , the Church which was persecuted and had to go underground to survive.

I think we are all hoping for Re-union at some point in the future - but the question is how will that re-union happen ?

In threads on OBOB in the past it has always been that the Orthodox Christians must come over to join the Catholics

In TAW it is that Catholics must come and join the Orthodox.

Somehow the idea that you need to find common ground in the middle just doesn't seem to take hold.

I personally find that this sort of discussion is not fruitful - particularly at this time - Latin Catholics start the Lenten Season tomorrow and we Eastern Catholics on the Julian Calendar start the preparations for the Great Fast with Zaccheus Sunday on the 14th. We enter the Great Fast on March 14

Michie · Feb 9, 2016

I think everyone assumes the other group needs to change and that is pride. Past history is holding grudges but I do not think it being a taboo subject does any good. Because I think it needs to start from the ground up. Talk of desired reconciliation as Jesus wanted all believers to be one is not a bad thing to discuss. It breaks down the walls and builds bridges.

dzheremi · Feb 9, 2016

Anhelyna said:
I will be very happy if the topics discussed at the meeting are to do solely with the situation in the Middle East.

This is what they're meeting about, right? That's all I've heard of from any Church-based news source. Other people's speculations, as we can see from this thread, are perhaps about other issues.

UKRAINE'S CATHOLICS NOT HOPEFUL OVER POPE FRANCIS' MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PATRIARCH

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