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Posted on 07/21/2006 6:46:20 PM PDT by NYer
MOSCOW, JULY 21, 2006 (Zenit.org).- A meeting of the Russian Orthodox Church ruled in favor of continuing dialogue with the Vatican.
The Ordinary Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, presided over by the Patriarch of Moscow, Alexy II, was held July 17-19 in the Monastery of the Trinity and St. Sergius
According to reports of the Russian news agency Interfax, the key topic of the synod was dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, and in particular the common ground shared between the two Churches.
"These problems were discussed personally in May," reported Interfax, in a meeting between Benedict XVI and the head of the foreign relations department of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, "when both pointed out the closeness of the points of view of the two Churches on such topics, as well as their desire to continue their joint work."
"Also in this meeting, both representatives recognized the usefulness of developing a common position on bioethical problems and the need to join forces for the affirmation and defense of the family as institution, and the value of human life," the news service reported.
The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church also approved the results obtained, in early May of this year, at the Catholic-Orthodox international conference held in Vienna: "To Give Europe a Soul: Mission and Responsibility of the Church."
According to reports of the Russian news agency RIA, the synod considered "productive the continuation of the dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics on the topics discussed in the conference, such as the influence of Christian ethics on politics, dialogue with other religions and with the humanism of secularized cultures, the challenges of globalization, and the economy and mass media, among others."
In regard to the escalation of violence between Israel and Lebanon, the synod, like Benedict XVI, declared itself in favor of establishing "an equitable order in the Middle East" and the use of international justice as means to restore peace.
"The healing of the conflict in the Middle East, as of any other, will not be possible until all governments and political forces resist terrorism, which attempts against peaceful persons and takes hostages," states the meeting's document.
The Synod appealed "to the forces in conflict to abstain from any action and words that engender more violence and increase discord."
The Lutherans and Methodists have now both acknowledged that justification is accomplished by Christ's grace, not man's faith and the Anglicans are slowly moving to purge the deviants from their midst.
It is good to see that most of the people who can confidently affirm the Apostle's Creed are getting closer to one another and less tolerant of modernism.
Thank you for reading all of these threads and summarizing the pope's commentary. God bless you!
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