Christian

Orthodox and Catholic Churches are allies

Europe

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev

Sofia, Bulgaria, Apr 24, 2008 / 02:02 am .-
Bishop Hilarion, the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Vienna and Austria, has
said in an interview that the Orthodox and Catholic Churches are allies
who could form a strategic alliance to defend Christian values,
Interfax reports.   He also criticized many Protestants for having a
“light version” of Christianity.

Speaking to the Bulgarian magazine Christianity and Culture, Bishop
Hilarion said, “We must realize that Orthodox and Catholic believers
are no longer rivals. We are allies. The rivalry must be gone once and
for all. If we understand that, proselytism will stop.”
 
The
bishop said that “romantic ecumenism,“ which he said characterizes the
World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, is
not viable.  He said that many Protestants have created a “light
version of Christianity, without apostolic succession, without
sacraments, without strict dogmatic teaching and what is also important
they don't require sticking to Christian moral norms.”

He said this version of Christianity, when it revises Christian
theological or moral teachings to become more “modern” or “politically
correct,” becomes “a direct way to spiritual death.”  He said this
version of Christianity had stopped recognizing centuries-old sins, and
now even promotes them.

Bishop Hilarion’s statement comes just days after Pope Benedict
addressed an ecumenical gathering in New York where he also denounced
versions of Christianity that contradict apostolic teachings. At the
gathering of about 300 people, the Pope said that Christian churches
which change their beliefs by so-called ‘prophetic actions,’ often use
a method of interpretation that is inconsistent with Scripture and
Tradition.

The Holy Father added that this causes those interested in
Christianity to become “understandably confused about the Gospel
message itself” because they see Christians splintering and disagreeing
about the beliefs of the faith.

The “message that the world is waiting to hear from us,” the Pope
said, is “a clear, convincing testimony to the salvation wrought for us
in Christ Jesus”… “based upon the notion of normative apostolic
teaching: a teaching which indeed underlies the inspired word of God
and sustains the sacramental life of Christians today.”

According to Interfax, Bishop Hilarion said a joint
Orthodox-Catholic “front” is necessary to oppose both the challenges of
secularism and dialogue with other world religions.  Bilateral,
strategic partnerships between the two Churches, he thought, would be
the best way to achieve this.