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13-Feb-2002 -- ZENIT.org News Agency ZENIT material may not be reproduced without permission. Permission can be requested at info@zenit.org THE CHALLENGES FACING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RUSSIA One Diocese Is Larger Than U.S.
ROME, (ZENIT.org-Avvenire).- The task of the Catholic Church in Russia can be summarized in two words: evangelization and human development.
In the two dioceses of European Russia, formative and editorial activity is particularly intense, with books published for the clergy and laity. An effort is under way to complete the translation of the missal into Russian and to go forward with the plan for a Catholic encyclopedia.
In the four new dioceses created Monday by John Paul II, 190 parishes have been opened, surpassing the 150 that was the maximum number reached during the first years of the Soviet regime.
Sept. 8, 2000, was a historic day for the country�s Catholics. That is when the Cathedral of Irkutsk in Siberia was solemnly consecrated.
It is the see of Bishop Jerzy Mazur, whose eastern Siberian diocese has enormous needs, social and priestly. Its 10 million square kilometers (an area larger the United States) has 16 million inhabitants and 50,000 baptized faithful.
The bishop is preparing a pastoral program to form an authentic local clergy. It is a partial solution to overcoming the obstacles of a law that favors the traditional Orthodox religion.
Bishop Mazur is also traveling to Japan, the Philippines and Mongolia in search of missionaries who know Chinese and can speak to the people who cross the border into Russia.
Slightly more than 200 priests work in the four Russian dioceses, the great majority of them are foreign, and predominantly Polish (the origin of many Russian Catholics).
Catholics of German origin have diminished considerably in recent years, as many have returned to their ancestral homeland.
Many priests belong to religious communities, including the Salesians, Verbites and Marianists. Women religious are present in virtually all parishes. There are also lay missionaries of ecclesial movements, such as the Focolares, Neocatechumenals, and Communion and Liberation.
A seminary reopened in 1993, and since 1995 has been located in its historic St. Petersburg premises. There is a biannual pre-seminary in Novosibirsk, and a theology "college" for the laity in Moscow. The latter has affiliates in St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Novosibirsk, Saratow and Orenburg.
The Church has a weekly and other minor publications, a few editorial groups, a Daughters of St. Paul bookstore in downtown Moscow, a Jesuit television center in Novosibirsk, and two radio broadcasting stations -- in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Pastoral work over the first years has focused on the fundamental dimensions of the life of the Church: the liturgy and catechesis. The charitable group Caritas works throughout the territory.
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I find it interesting to see that according to this article, the Catholic Church has two main objectives: "Evangelization" and Human Development. Other Documents from EWTN and Vatican News sources states that the Roman Catholic Church is not in Russia to evangelize, or as the ROC calls it, "Proselytism", but rather to serve those Catholics Traditionally in the Country. It seems to me that there is a dichotomy here. On one hand the RCC asserts it is not trying to convert Russia to Roman Catholicism, but this newslink states otherwise. Unless we are to assume that the RCC intends to Evangelize Russians into the Russian Orthodox Church? I find that unlikely to believe. I think this quote sums up the Rhetorical Battle: The Vatican also responded Monday to the patriarch�s accusations of "proselytism," explaining that those who joined the Catholic Church in Russia today are not Orthodox but people who previously had no faith. To the RCC the Russian People are an open season to evangelize and convert because they are the "unchurched" Communists, not the Orthodox Believers. The ROC claims that all those unchurched communists were once Orthodox and seeks to close the door to evangeliztion from outside groups so that she can slowly convert Russia back to her traditional religion. I think the ROC needs to get into the 21st century and start actively "reevangelizing" there people, because the RCC is not going to stop. I think the posted article demonstrates the true intent of the RCC, fulfilling the vision of Fatima: converting Holy Russia. It is sad to note that no matter how much Rome may want Christian unity, their paramount concern is to get as many people into the Roman Catholic church as possible. Consider that in Ukraine, despite sizable funding by RC groups to the Lviv Theollogical Union, and programs to support the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, the RCC also is outpacing the Greek Catholic Church in Eastern Ukraine in a rapid evangelization campaign. Unofficial reports I have heard while in Ukraine claim that east of Halychyna, RC Parishes outnumber GC parishes 7 to 1. And this is between two churches who are in ecclesial union with one another. I have many thoughts on this issue and connot express them all here. What do you think of this article. What can both the ROC and RCC churches learn form this? Sinner, Ality
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If Rome ("if" is the operative word), despite all the disclaimers to the contrary, sees her new role in Russia as one of sheep stealer, then all of the irenicist Orthodox, who mocked and labeled the more conservative and skeptical Orthodox as fanatics and lunatics, will literally choke on humble pie.
What can the Orthodox learn from this experience? A new Latin (how ironic!) expression:
"Caveat emptor," tovarichi!
Isn't life a scream?
Every real Russian knows when to laugh at himself: right after the tears, (if you know what I mean.)
Mother Russia, we love you. Warts and all.
Regards,
MI Pat
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Ality,
Thank you for your post. I think it is worth noting that the Catholic Church has not said anything about evangelization in Russia. The one use of the term was by Zenit, a news agency.
Let me also note the ratio of Greek to Roman Catholics in Central Ukraine is due to the fact that a significant Polish minority lives in central Ukraine, while the ethnic Ukrainian community there has not been Greek Catholic since the 1690.
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Ality,
You said, "Unless we are to assume that the RCC intends to Evangelize Russians into the Russian Orthodox Church? I find that unlikely to believe."
Although, I find it difficult to believe that the RCC would evangelize Russians into the ROC it has happen before. I believe, if I am not mistaken, that some Fransicans tried to re-vert the Ethiopians back to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Therefore, it is quite possible that the RCC could something along these lines to help the ROC (which is lacking resources).
Russian can either be blessing to the world or another thorn. Russian is really at a cross roads in it history. It will be very interesting to see how things play out in the years to come.
God Bless!
[ 02-20-2002: Message edited by: aRomanCatholic@Work ]
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Dear Friends,
Unfortunately, this shows a number of problems with Rome's approach in Russia.
The number one problem is Rome's belief that it is quite justified in bringing "unchurched" Russians into the RC fold.
Rome seems not to realize the serious ecumenical implications that its current route is making.
And the contradiction is enormous. The Byzantine Rite is ignored because the "Unia" is no longer the model for church unity and this offends the Orthodox.
But somehow bringing Russians into the Roman Catholic Church under Polish bishops in Russian canonical territory (a fact Rome has recognized) is somehow less offensive?
The RC churches outnumbering the GC churches is occurring ONLY because the GC is not allowed to to outreach to any except its own existing flock. The RC is aggressively going after souls of all stripes in Russia and Ukraine, I already have some relatives who have become RC.
I think this approach will harden relations between the Churches. It is wrong-minded and virulently anti-ecumenical as it offends both Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics.
Rome has a "manifest" attitude toward the Orthodox, calling it a 'Sister Church' and Apostolic.
But its "latent" attitude hasn't really gone beyond pre-Vatican II days.
Alex
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Just a question: Do you think it might be possible that Liberal RCC Bishops are behind this push into ROC territory. After all the ROC is very conservative. I know that the attitude toward Orthodoxy before Vatican II is consistant with this new move of the Churches. However, things/theology have changed. What are your thoughts?
(Please remember I am simply throwing out a question here. I have no real opinion on this subject)
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Dear +Ray,
Actually, if the RC bishops were truly "liberal" as you say, they would probably acknowledge that the Russian Orthodox Church is truly as Apostolic as they and they would help the ROC bring people into the fold of that Church rather than the Latin Church.
This latest action smacks of pre-Vatican II conservatism that was very anti-Orthodox. I'm happy that much of it is gone - aren't you?
Alex
[ 02-20-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]
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Oh YES! I completely agree that the old attitude toward the Orthodox was wrong!
However, consider this:
Liberal Bishops want to get rid of old Church traditions (i.e. Icons, Beautiful buildings, Mystery of the Sacraments, Old try and true customs (covering crosses during lent)). Now, which church has really held on to Orthodoxy? ROC has. The RCC liberal bishops see Russian is weak now and ripe for conversions so they set up shop and tell the people that their old ways are no longer needed. They tell the people to get in line with the �New Way� of thinking. Now add to all of this the Fatima secret and how Russian will summit to Mary�s Immaculate heart. Remember of course that the Immaculate heart is RCC thing. So now the Bishops feel justified in their actions.
I know this sounds like a conspiracy theory. That is way I pose this as a question. Please remember that this is not my personal view but just something that popped into my head.
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Dear +Ray, The things that do pop into our heads . . . Actually, I know you won't mind me saying this is a bit far-fetched. Roman geopolitics and the desire to dominate goes back a ways in history. We know that the Union of Brest-Litovsk and others were failed attempts and schemes at doing this. After years of taking a "hands-off" approach, Rome is now taking the direct route - into the heartland of Russia. This approach in and of itself is quite the old conservative one. In terms of a conspiracy, certainly we can't blame the Orthodox for seeing these actions in this way, can we? You're another matter  . God bless ! How's the weather in Florida these days, I'm coming down in March to your sunshine state - oh, stop gloating! Alex
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Ality rightly raises some real issues here.
On one hand the Roman Catholic Church should not be proselytizing in the home territories of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is right that they do actively proselytize even in Ukraine among Byzantine / Greek Catholics.
Yet the Roman Catholic Church has every right to evangelize the unchurched following the Gospel command and all those who choose the Roman Catholic Church over Russian Orthodoxy. It appears that the Orthodox Church in Russia is complaining louder about the activities of the Roman Catholic Church than it is about the well funded effort of the various American Protestant groups.
The Roman Catholic Church has a very poor record in respecting the East and many RCs do feel that we should all become Roman Catholics. The Orthodox in Russia is rightly concerned.
Yet Orthodox Church in Russia is pretty much incapable of evangelizing both because it was the state religion for so many centuries and because it was infiltrated and controlled by the communists for seventy years. There is a huge in Russia interest in "Greek Catholicism" because many Russians see the pope as one who did not collaborate with the communists (and, therefore, free from taint).
Roman Catholic parishes reach out to the community (something we Byzantine Christians in America are still only learning to do after centuries of oppression by Islam and communism). Many Orthodox in Russia feel that they should minister to the needs of the community only by celebrating the liturgical services.
The plans for a Catholic encyclopedia for Russians reminds me of why the Roman Catholic Church became so powerful in the Mid East. It offered education and offered it at a level that Eastern Christians have never offered it. If we are honest we realize that many people seek a Church only for what they get out of it. If Orthodoxy in Russia expects to be the dominant Church a century from now it needs to take a crash course in what it needs to offer its people. While the Protestants do not hold the fullness of the Gospel we can certainly learn from the methods in which they evangelize.
What Rome should be doing is to quietly minister to those in Russia who choose Roman Catholicism over Orthodoxy while at the same time offering to help the Russian Orthodox Church develop plans to evangelize Russia. I wonder if Orthodoxy would accept?
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Dear Moose, The Russian Orthodox Church does indeed try to assist their peoples and there are Orthodox foundations outside Russia that help in this respect as well. I've contributed personally to the OCA for this purpose and I know they help the Russian Church do great work. As for collaborationism, I believe the unchurched Russians are more interested in the West and its mysteries, ready to try something new and exotic, including the many sects and cults that are there in Russia now. Yes, the Pope is an attractive figure and that is a factor too. The point is that after soviet repression, the majority of the unchurched just don't see the difference between one church or sect and another, including the Hare Krishnas who have likewise made some inroads. A Roman Catholic church gets set up in the neighbourhood? It's the same God, let's go there! Perhaps they know somebody and will help us to immigrate? Perhaps they can help us buy a new house? If not, we can always try the Adventists or Baptists! I work with immigrants from Eastern Europe and hear this frequently. In my father-in-law's parish there is now a sizeable number of Orthodox Christians who really didn't go to Church at home, but now attend a Ukrainian Catholic Church without realizing, or caring about, any theological differences. My father-in-law could probably be charged with proselytizing the Orthodox in this respect too . The other day during his weekly 4-hour coffee period following the liturgy, he met another Orthodox Christian who wandered in for some "pampushki." He asked him to join the parish. The fellow said he was Russian Orthodox, but was told "That's O.K. you can still belong." So he signed up . . . I sometimes wonder if you told some of these people that you represented a cult that worshipped the veal cutlet if they wouldn't consider signing up to it - at least they would be guaranteed good meals! My point is that if Rome does truly believe the Orthodox Church is a sister Church, then it could give assistance in Russia by helping the Russian Church return its people back to it once more. That would be the gentlemanly thing to do, the Christian thing to do, as the Anglicans did in the Middle East. In short, Rome should put its money where its mouth is. Alex
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Alex,
I could not agree more! Well Stated My Friend!
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Dear +Ray,
You are wonderful as well!!
See how people can be nice to one another?!
One of the things I do to keep warm here in Canada is that I read about Florida.
I understand that "Florida" is the Spanish name for "Easter" or "Pasqua di Florida" the "Pascha of Flowers" since Ponce de Leon discovered Florida on Easter Day.
What a beautiful place-name!
Alex
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Liberal Bishops want to get rid of old Church traditions (i.e. Icons, Beautiful buildings, Mystery of the Sacraments, Old try and true customs (covering crosses during lent)). Now, which church has really held on to Orthodoxy? ROC has. The RCC liberal bishops see Russian is weak now and ripe for conversions so they set up shop and tell the people that their old ways are no longer needed. They tell the people to get in line with the �New Way� of thinking. I really don't see any basis for this at all. In America, many Latin Catholic parishes that are considered "liberal" like New York's Corpus Christi, St. Igantius, St. Paul the Apostle and in Washington, DC, St. Joseph's, also have the reputation of beautiful and reverent liturgy. Many RC parishes that are considered 'conservative' have a regretable habit of rigid legalism -- do no more than that which is required by the letter of the law, after all, meeting the letter of the law is all we are concerned about. I don't know what 'really held on to Orthodoxy' means. Is the ROC 'more' Orthodox than the Greek, Serbian, Polish, or Alexandrian Churches? I also see no evidence that any Catholic authority in Russia -- conservative, liberal, latin or greek -- has told anyone that the 'old ways are no longer needed'. I do see an incredable blindness to the fact that most Russians are not embroynic Orthodox. They have no more connection to Orthodoxy than they do to Masonic ritual. The actions or inactions of the Catholic Church are a minor factor in this situation. The real issue is the continued false assertion of large elements of the ROC that Russia and the Russian people are Orthodox. They are not. The denial of this fact is what is causeing the greatest harm to the ROC. K.
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