Posted on 09/14/2010 2:42:59 PM PDT by NYer
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk is Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Recently he gave an address to the Annual Nicean Club Dinner at Lambeth Palace in which he politely but firmly pointed out that the dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Anglicans,
"is doomed to closure if the unrestrained liberalization of Christian values continues in many communities of the Anglican world."He referred particularly to the impact on this dialogue of the proposed ordination of women Bishops:
We have studied the preparatory documents for the decision on female episcopate and were struck by the conviction expressed in them that even if the female episcopate were introduced, ecumenical contacts with the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Churches would not come to an end. What made the authors of these documents so certain?He also referred to the ordination in the USA of Jim Robertson, an openly homosexual Bishop, leading to the suspension of contact with the Episcopalian Church, and to the rupture of relations with the Church of Sweden in 2005 as a result of the ordination of the lesbian Eva Brunne as "Bishop" of Stockholm.
We are not alone in our concern for the preservation of Christian values. Liberal tendencies in Protestant and Anglican communities present a challenge to those Christians and churches that have remained faithful to Gospel principles in doctrine, church order and morality. Certainly, we seek and find allies in opposing the destruction of the very essence of Christianity. One of the major tasks in our inter-Christian work today is to unite the efforts of Christians for building a system of solidarity on the basis of Gospel morality in Europe and throughout the world. Our positions are shared by the Roman Catholic Church, with which we have held numerous meetings and conferences. Together we are considering the possibility of establishing an Orthodox-Catholic alliance in Europe for defending the traditional values of Christianity. The primary aim of this alliance would be to restore a Christian soul to Europe. We should be engaged in common defence of Christian values against secularism and relativism.From a Catholic point of view, it could be said that the close relationship of the Orthodox Church with Anglicanism, a relationship whose history Metropolitan Hilarion recalled warmly, was perhaps partly inspired by a resistance to closer links with the Roman Catholic Church. Now that it is apparent that the Anglican Communion is wantonly abandoning much of what is recognised as traditional Christianity in both sacramental and moral matters, it is very much to be welcomed that the Orthodox Church is discovering that the Roman Catholic Church is a true ally on many central questions. We have much to learn from the Orthodox Church too, in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. Pope Benedict has helped that rapprochement significantly.
Catholic / Anglican Ping!
Correction, that would be Gene Robinson, the homosexual Episcopal Bishop that used to sponsor “Outright” an organization dedicated to recruiting children aged 12-18 into the homosexual lifestyle.
Thanks for the correction and here is yet another. That would be "Vicki" Gene Robinson!
I don’t have any major disagreements here. As an Anglican, I am incredibly frustrated with the whole mess.
I joined the Episcopal Church just in time to see all the problems with TECUSA come to light. I rode the wave of schism between TECUSA and the parishes that realigned themselves within the Anglican communion, only to see other problems there.
I’m not a Papist, so that keeps me out of the Roman Catholic Church.
I’m sure there’s some reason or other I wouldn’t fit within the Orthodox branch.
I’m at the point where I don’t even care. I’m Catholic in the strict definition of the word, as in “Universal.” Beyond that, I won’t really be happy with any church or another, so I just do the best I can with what I’ve got.
Jim Robertson? That’s a laugh.The Commie fag’s name is Vicky Gene Robinson!
The Patriarch is correct in his observations on a number of issues. First, there are various christianities. Since there is only one Christ, there can only be one Christianity. The liberal christianities are not following the one Christ. They have created a false christ. The God of the Anglican, Episcopal, ELCA, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian USA is not the God revealed in Scripture. I would include in this list much of Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism. There are some Evangelicals that have not abandoned historical Christianity. Much of modern Protestantism can be described as moralistic, therapeutic Deism.
Christ In His Fullness details the journey of Bruce Sullivan into the Catholic Church. This book presents a full-length treatment of the primary issue that propelled Bruce on his journey, namely that of authority.
Like you, Bruce was decidedly not a papist. He was a minister in the Church of Christ. He was the guest last night on EWTN's The Journey Home. You can listen to the program here.
You may want to drop in to the forum at The Coming Home Network. The forum has many discussions including several on this particular topic.
Pax et Bonum
I’ll check it out. I appreciate the suggestion.
Honestly, the ONLY thing that’s kept me out of communion with Rome is the Pope issue. Any other potential conflicts are outside my scope of knowledge, I guess.
Well, that and I never bothered to do the RCIA. ;-)
But yes, I will check out those links and the book.
Swim the Tiber.
Resistance is futile.
All your ecclesiastical and spiritual distinctiveness will become our own.
If there was ever an approach likely to convert me, it’s this. I love it!
Flee to Augsburg!
I did not leave the Episcopalian Church. It left me.
I hear you. I was Anglican once myself. Fled to Dordrecht and then to Rome.
I used to be an Episcopalian myself, rather 'high' than otherwise, but after some serious thought and prayer I was able to accept the authority of the Pope and the Magisterium.
You have to be sure that you're rejecting what really is, and not what other people have said about the Pope and his authority. It's not as authoritarian, as arbitrary, or as scary as some folks say.
You also kind of have to look around for an orthodox parish. There’s a good deal of variation among Catholic parishes — not as much as among Episcopalians with their low-high-broad-evangelical-charismatic-etc. But there are some fairly loosey-goosey Catholic parishes around, more or less indistinguishable from a liberal low-church Episcopal parish.
That is his real name.
He is not a “Patriarch,” but Archbishop (which in the Slavonic tradition is called Metropolitan).
Thanks for the correction.
No problem. :)
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