Is the ecumenical project alive and well?
In Russia? As the Holy Father said in his recent book when he gave the long interview to the German journalist that there are number of people in Russia who are frightened of the Catholic Church. Not only because of the many centuries of division, but because unfortunately the Orthodox know very little about the Catholic Church and the Catholic faithful in Russia they know little about the Orthodox Church. From the beginning of my mission in Russia I wanted to be present at the liturgy of His Holiness the Patriarch every year to give him a gesture of respect as he is the head of the most important Church in Russia and considering also the meaning, the importance of Orthodox spirituality and the suffering the Russian people have passed through many decades of atheism and persecution. They have had a sad fate, with a high toll of martyrs and people who lost their lives for Jesus.
Will one of your tasks be improving relations with the Church of England in the wake of Anglicanorum coetibus?
I have not yet met His Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, but we have an appointment at the beginning of the next month. From what I know the official relations are very good and very friendly. On the other hand, we understand that this passage is a delicate matter, not only for the Catholic side but also the Anglican side, and so the Holy See wants to make clear that we are ready to accept them, but we don’t want to incite them to leave their identities as Anglican faithful.
Moscow and Canterbury are two very different subjects in Rome’s ecumenical universe. I am convinced that although they are too polite to say it out loud Rome has given up on the long cherished dream of full restoration of communion with the CofE. Too many things have happened and too many deal-breakers have been put in place by Canterbury. Ecumenical dialogue will continue but Rome now sees the objective as simply mutual respect, a sort of live and let live arrangement. The most obvious proof that Rome has, no doubt reluctantly, come to terms with this reality is the Ordinariate. There is zero chance that would have happened if Rome entertained even a slim hope of bringing the CofE back into communion.
Game over.
Moscow is rather a mirror situation. Rome desperately wants to restore communion with the Orthodox. But there is very little hope of it for much the same reasons as cited above in reverse. Rome has made too many doctrinal innovations some of which are just not acceptable, for any hope of communion to be seriously entertained. Rome of course disagrees, but the evidence weighs against her. After nearly five decades of ecumenical meetings and dialogue not one single outstanding issue which divides Rome from the Orthodox Church has been resolved.
On the other hand Moscow does see Rome as an excellent ally and partner on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, such as combating the rising tide of militant Islam and secularism, especially in Europe. Likewise charitable works are a point where cooperation is not only possible but indeed has been ongoing. But there is very little serious expectation within Orthodoxy that communion with the West may be restored anytime in the foreseeable future. A thousand years of doctrinal innovations now separate us. And that can not be overcome without one or the other ceasing to exist.
I just found a very interesting [url=http://rbth.ru/articles/2011/03/24/russian_orthodox_leadership_proposes_alliance_with_catholics_12607.html ]article on this subject[/url].
To the RCC, Christian unity means that everyone must submit to the pope and become RCs. Dialogue with them is a waste of time and resources.
I wonder how the Orthodox would react if Rome decided they could boost their numbers of devout believers by starting an assertive campaign aimed at Orthodoxy?
Teatime
[blockquote] I wonder how the Orthodox would react if Rome decided they could boost their numbers of devout believers by starting an assertive campaign aimed at Orthodoxy? [/blockquote]
What’s with the “if?” You should check out the history of the uniate Eastern Catholic churches. This has been going on for centuries. But yea. You are correct. Communion with Rome has always implied 100% submission. In fairness they have never suggested otherwise. Rome has been very consistent.