Month: January 2010

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The DECR Chairman: “We vigorously oppose atheism perceived as a ‘common denominator’ of all religions”

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We vigorously oppose atheism perceived as a ‘common denominator’ of all religions, as secular politicians sometimes try to present it, saying, ‘There are differences among religions; therefore, let us proceed from atheistic prerequisites so that no religion feels offended.’ This position is absolutely false and unacceptable to us. We state that traditional religions have much more in common rather than different in the sphere of morality…”

13.01.2010 · DECR Chairman, The Far Abroad

On 12 January 2010, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with journalists at the Moscow Patriarchate Department for external church relations. While answering their questions, he told them that the Russian Orthodox Church intended to continue dialogue with different European institutions, including the European Union and the Council of Europe, “on the problems linked to the moral and spiritual human life.”

“We shall try to attain the decision-making, in legislation in particular, that would take into account not only the atheistic and secular world outlook, but also the religious one,” Archbishop Hilarion said.

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church makes public its resolution on abortions and same-sex marriages

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“Putting a homosexual marriage on the same level with a conventional one is a conscious destruction of fundamental public morals providing a basis for a global demoralization of society.”

On 21 January 2010, the Theological and Canonical Commission at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church made public its Resolution on abortions and same-sex marriages. The document is timed to the session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) due to take place later in January to consider discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The resolution says the PACE drafts imply to impose an extensively distorted concept of marriage. The resolution condemns propagation of homosexuality as a fancy way of life because it undermines the foundations of family relations which are an integral part of relations in society. Using slogans to protect the rights of people “with nontraditional sexual orientation” as a cover,” – the document of the Theological and Canonical Commission at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church underscores, – “their advocates have set up a background in society which largely discriminates natural marital relations of men and women.” Putting a homosexual marriage on the same level with a conventional one is a conscious destruction of fundamental public morals providing a basis for a global demoralization of society.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church presented her vision of the issue in the addresses to the President, Prime Minister, to the leaders of the Verkhovna Rada, and to other Ukrainian statespersons.

“The Pope Is the First Among the Patriarchs.” Just How Remains to Be Seen

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ROME, January 25, 2010 – This evening, with vespers in the basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls, Benedict XVI is closing the week of prayer for Christian unity.

There are some who say that ecumenism has entered a phase of retreat and chill. But as soon as one that looks to the East, the facts say the opposite. Relations with the Orthodox Churches have never been so promising as they have since Joseph Ratzinger has been pope.

The dates speak for themselves. A period of chill in the theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches of Byzantine tradition began in 1990, when the two sides clashed over so-called “uniatism,” meaning the ways in which Catholic communities of the Eastern rites duplicate in everything the parallel Orthodox communities, differing only by their obedience to the Church of Rome.

In Balamond, in Lebanon, the dialogue came to a halt. It hit an even bigger obstacle on the Russian side, where the patriarchate of Moscow could not tolerate seeing itself “invaded” by Catholic missionaries sent there by Pope John Paul II, who were all the more suspect because they were of Polish nationality, historically a rival.

The dialogue remained frozen until, in 2005, the German Joseph Ratzinger ascended to the throne of Peter, a pope highly appreciated in the East for the same reason he prompts criticisms in the West: for his attachment to the great Tradition.

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Wheaton and the Fathers

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From Ancient Faith Radio:

Wheaton College, the epicenter of Evangelical Protestantism, has just opened a Center for Early Christian Studies that will immerse students in the fields of Patristics, the Ecumenical Councils, and early Christian literature. This audio documentary, exclusive to AFR, explores the reasons for the sudden Evangelical interest in the Church Fathers, as well as the potential ramifications of this interest.

Listen here:

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Robert P. George: Why I signed the Manhattan Declaration

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Peter and Helen Evans are posting interviews with signers of the Manhattan Declaration. The latest is Robert P. George. They have around 20 interviews including some Orthodox signers on their site www.peterandhelenevans.com.

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