Bishop Hilarion on relationships among Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants

[Peter_J]

This is a snippet from an interview of Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev (as translated by this blog):

Mikhail Serdyukov: When the reconciliation came… Glory to God! Now, shall we proceed to matters concerning the Catholics? Why have we had cool relations with them up to now?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: In principle, today, we have normal relations. Of course, one always wishes to see an improvement. Let’s examine Christians of the three main confessions, Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants. I would divide this into two main camps, the Orthodox and the Catholics are on one side, whilst the Protestant world is on the other side. I speak about this constantly in the West, which provokes much negative reaction from the Protestants.

Mikhail Serdyukov: What do you talk about?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: I speak about the fact that the Orthodox and Catholic churches are oriented to the retention of tradition, for instance, both believe in an apostolic succession for the hierarchy. However, our theological interpretation of the sacraments differs. But, in many respects, let us say, in the fields of moral theology and social doctrine, we are very close.

Mikhail Serdyukov: All right… let’s get to the heart of the matter… is it truly so difficult to agree on the disputed points and to remove all differences definitively?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: It is extraordinarily difficult. It seems to me that we should not waste our time in talking of a complete restoration of sacramental communion between the Orthodox and Catholic confessions. This division occurred almost 1,000 years ago, and, in practical terms, it is intractable. I am not confident that there shall ever be a complete solution of this problem.

Mikhail Serdyukov: Even so? In your opinion, shall the differences between the Orthodox and the Catholics be solved in the third millennium?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: This is not what I wish to see, but, this is the reality of the situation. In this case, nothing prevents us from cooperation and possible joint action in the face of a common threat to join forces in our moral and social theology to defend common traditional values. In other words, without being united as a single church we can from an alliance and become partners. We should not be rivals; we should be Christians who may differ on many theological points, but, who are united practically in our teaching on morals and social values. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Protestants. Our divergences with them, especially in the fields of moral and social theology, are very significant.

Mikhail Serdyukov: What is the essence of these disagreements? Does it mean that we cannot agree with these people?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: There was a radical liberalisation of morals in Protestant communities over the past several decades. These are things that are prohibited from the point of view of traditional Christianity, but, are almost standard from the point of view of liberal Christianity.

Mikhail Serdyukov: It is possible to name these “things”? Of what do you speak?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: Homosexuality, for instance. In some Protestant communities, they consider a unisexual union to be equivalent to a marriage. Such groups even have devised rites for the blessings of such unions. Some Protestant groups ordain practising homosexuals as priests and even bishops. This I not simple apostasy… this is blasphemy! Neither the Orthodox nor the Catholic churches can agree with this radical distortion of Christian moral teaching.

Mikhail Serdyukov: So, you are saying that they don’t have any problem with abortion either?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: Well… they seem to have no problems with homosexuals! I recall a dialogue that I had with a Lutheran bishop. When we discussed questions of bioethics, we reached the topic of abortion. I asked him whether we could say in our joint document that abortion is a sin. No, we cannot, he said. The Lutheran bishops apparently have a more liberal view on this problem. If we cannot find agreement on things that all Christians should reach obvious agreement, what does that tell you about our other problems? The differences are so deep that I would compare them with a bottomless pit…

Mikhail Serdyukov: What are you going to do, now? Be quiet about it?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: About what? Homosexual marriage and abortion? Never!

Mikhail Serdyukov: What about the differences?

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: I have been involved in ecumenical dialogues for over ten years. Sadly, our only real ally and partner are the Catholics. Although one does encounter Protestant people who are more conservative and traditional, this means is that it is not a simple situation.

5 June 2008

 

[Peter_J]

Personally, I don’t see that anyone should be offended by this. I mean, aren’t there plenty of Protestants who would likewise say “Our only real dialogue partners are our fellow Protestants, not Catholic or Orthodox.”?

 

[Peter_J]

This is an old article, but quite relevant I think.

 

[Peter_J]

One. A Catholic apologist and convert of my acquaintance says to me in passing about his efforts in apologetics: “We’ve been taking on the Fundamentalists almost exclusively, and we’ve been too nice to the Orthodox. We need to get tougher with them.”

I think some Catholics base their whole lives on that principle.

 

[Hesychios]

One

Well, they can always try.

I welcome it, I would rather see their true colors. If they think that they need to wage war on Holy Orthodoxy it’s best if the whole world knows it, especially important that the Orthodox know it.

Orthodox can deal with the reality.

 

[Hesychios]

One

Well, they can always try.

I welcome it, I would rather see their true colors. If they think that they need to wage war on Holy Orthodoxy it’s best if the whole world knows it, especially important that the Orthodox know it.

Orthodox can deal with the reality.

It goes without saying that there are Orthodox who do likewise against the Papacy. I wish they would not do that, it’s not necessary or helpful in the long run.

In this place, here at CAF, I often have to respond to questions or accusations (or what I consider mistakes) in some peoples representation of Orthodoxy. I respond as honestly as I can and then sometimes get accused of attacking the Papacy.

Well, I respond in kind sometimes, so it can seem like an attack and I am sorry for that. I would much rather build up a warm mutually respectful relationship with Latin Catholicism, we really can work together. There is no need to go out of our way to humiliate and degrade each other’s churches because our disagreements are really quite minor compared to our commonalities.

Our very existence as two very similar and historically relevant churches are mutually validating against the arguments of critics who would say our belief systems, sacraments and traditions are un-Apostolic.

 

[Peter_J]

It goes without saying that there are Orthodox who do likewise against the Papacy. I wish they would not do that, it’s not necessary or helpful in the long run.

That’s true. (And it’s refreshing to hear you say so. Are you sure you’re really Orthodox?

But seriously now folks … )

One of the main things I think of in that regard is the Orthodox rhetoric that Protestants are “crypto-Papists”. I grant that there’s some truth to that – Protestants certainly did pick-and-choose some aspects of Catholicism (such as the insertion of the “filioque” into the creed, but not the authority of the Pope to permit such an insertion). Nevertheless, I think that rhetoric is often used by Orthodox for a cheap shot at Catholicism, via guilt by association.

 

[Peter_J]

I welcome it, I would rather see their true colors. If they think that they need to wage war on Holy Orthodoxy it’s best if the whole world knows it, especially important that the Orthodox know it.

I know what you mean. (See also my recent comments concerning the subtle anti-Orthodoxy of the pre-conversion Scott Hahn.)

 

[Peter_J]

From Zenit:

Prelate in Russia: Desire for Unity Is Lacking

Archbishop Considers Prerequisites for Papal Moscow Trip

VATICAN CITY, JULY 4, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- Relations with the Russian Orthodox Church are progressing, but its main obstacle is a lack of desire for unity, says the leader of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow.

Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, in Rome last week to receive the pallium from Benedict XVI, spoke to L’Osservatore Romano about the relations between the two Churches.

He said that “on too many occasions, one perceives the concern to defend one’s plot or wanting to maintain a distance.”

“Certainly there are some knots that have not managed to be undone, and so are transformed into obstacles,” the prelate said. “If there is no real desire to move toward full unity, dialogue becomes difficult. Where there is a real desire, on the contrary, dialogue can be engaged in with honesty, sincerity and always in truth.”

Nevertheless, Catholics and Orthodox in Moscow are making efforts to collaborate, he affirmed.

“We try to carry out concrete forms of collaboration between the Churches, but also to engage in sincere friendship. Above all, we try to walk in the same direction,” the prelate said.

Archbishop Pezzi affirmed that his relationship with Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow is warm and cordial.

“He has invited me to the Orthodox liturgy, both at Christmas and Easter,” the archbishop said. "I must say that on all occasions I was warmly received. Patriarch Alexy has always been cordial and warm in his expressions to me.

"I remember, for example, that after the Christmas liturgy – it isn’t a secret – the patriarch greeted me publicly and stressed our common concern to care for God’s flock. These were significant words.

“However, he did not have words for me alone. [He] greeted and raised a prayer for Benedict XVI. In a word, he manifested respect for the Catholic Church. Essentially, I would say that I immediately noted a positive reception.”

Archbishop Pezzi was assigned to Moscow in September of last year.

Papal visit?

The archbishop suggested that in any case, a papal visit to Moscow is still not possible.

“Not all the conditions exist yet,” the prelate contended. But he said that recent events “show unquestionable steps forward on the path to closer proximity.”

He proposed two steps that need to be made first.

“A trip of this sort would mean, or should mean, that the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Moscow patriarchate has progressed significantly, allowing for an exchange of visits,” Archbishop Pezzi said. “I don’t think the Pope wants to visit Moscow without an explicit invitation from the Orthodox Church.”

Second, the prelate said he believes such a visit would have to be preceded by an earlier visit between the Pope and the patriarch, in different circumstances and in a third country.

Emphasizing that this suggestion is a “very personal opinion of his,” Archbishop Pezzi proposed that such a meeting “should be held in a particular circumstance, perhaps in the course of an ecumenical event, in any country of the world to which both have been invited.”

Archbishop Pezzi noted, however, that steps are already being taken in this direction. In this connection, he stressed the importance of the visit of Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople to Rome for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and Benedict XVI’s earlier visit to Constantinople.

“In my opinion it is necessary to continue on this path, and to try to foster continuous meetings in order to grow and to further reciprocal knowledge, essential to building the path toward the final meeting,” Archbishop Pezzi stated.

The prelate also pointed out that the Russian Orthodox have a “very positive” perception of Benedict XVI. He said they appreciate “the passion this Pope has for the development of tradition in the good sense and his constant ‘fresh return’ – to use John Paul II’s expression – to the sources of Christianity.”

They also appreciate “his clarity and sincerity when affirming the content of the Christian event and the Catholic faith,” he added.

What is “most important is to reinforce the desire to walk together and to ask for the Lord’s help,” Archbishop Pezzi affirmed. “We must not forget that full communion is a gift that we must pray for to the Spirit of Christ.”