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Cardinal Bertone: We Don't Proselytize
Comments in Wake of Reported Statements by Alexy II

ROME, DEC. 5, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church has good relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and is not trying to engage in proselytism, says the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

The cardinal made this observation today when journalists asked him, at the Pontifical Urbanian University, to comment on Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II's appeal to the Vatican to stop its "unfriendly" actions toward the canonical Church in Russia, Ukraine and other Commonwealth of Independent States.

"I do not know Patriarch Alexy's statement, but I believe that relations between Moscow's patriarchate and the Holy See are sufficiently good and talks are taking place, with frequent visits," said the cardinal.

"Moreover, we do not want to engage in proselytism in Russia," he added.

According to Interfax, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow told his clergy at the Christ the Savior Cathedral today: "The Catholic mission continues among people [who are] baptized Orthodox Christians in Russia and other CIS member-nations. So does the exceedingly unfriendly policy by the administration of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church toward the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

The Orthodox patriarch said he hopes that the Vatican will take concrete steps to improve the situation.

"Without it," Alexy II said, "our meetings with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church will be just formal events, which will not help relieve the pain of people who suffer from non-fraternal actions."
ZE06120504

Every time the MP brings up Ukraine, the Latin Church should bring up France and the Western Rite Orthodox - I wonder how the Patriarchate would answer.

That this group isn't under their jurisdiction and they aren't financially supporting them. I would imagine those would be the first words out of their mouth.

Here's the story from Interfax. http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2339

Seems like interesting timing.

I would also like to add this point in the way you (Michael Thoma) would like to misrepresent something such as the western rite in France. I would strongly suggest you arm yourself with history and fact. The group that entered as western rite and eventually became known as l'ECOF came into communion from the Liberal Catholic Church, not the Roman Catholic Church. The bulk of their earlier adherents came from the Russian emigration not through proselytization, and the unfortunate fact that their efforts to remain under one patriarchate or another has not been successful.

As Ilian has pointed out, the efforts of l'ECOF have never been organized into any proselytizing effort, and I do not believe their adherents ever exceeded 10,000 faithful ever in their history. I find it shameful that you bring this example up by your gross misrepresentation and implying that this is a movement on par with what has happened elsewhere. Though I do not condone the Patriarch's sentiments in the least, I find cheap shots as you posted to be deplorable and disgusting. But, then again that seems to be your pattern and posting style as of late.

I would strongly suggest you think, check more than one resource (which is quite evident that you didn't) and start posting something factual and not a gross exaggeration before you post again.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

The Russian Orthodox Church with the help of the Soviet government liquidated the Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church. Moscow then scattered people from Western Ukraine across Eastern Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union. Now the ROC is upset by the presence of "uniates" in "traditionally Orthodox territories".

As you sow, so shall you reap...

This is the second part of the talk. Here Father General takes up the topic of the Orthodox churches, which are not in union with Rome. Please note that the terms �Eastern� and �Byzantine� refer to Roman Catholics of the Eastern Rites and are used interchangeably.

Some people still have some misgivings. They try to convert the Byzantine Catholics to the Latin Mass. That is wrong. They don�t need to be converted because they are Catholic, whether Byzantine or Latin. The Holy Father is continually telling us to explain these two Liturgies and their history.

This is why during every Path to Rome convention we have a celebration of the Byzantine Liturgy.

The Holy Father is crying and praying that one day there will be unity between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, whether they are of the Latin rite or the Byzantine rite.

In Ukraine alone, about a thousand priests and five bishops have joined the Catholic Church from the Orthodox. I visited the Byzantine Rite Catholic bishop of the capital of Ukraine about two years ago and he told me that he had 40 Orthodox priests that were applying to become Catholics.

But don�t think the Catholic Church accepts people easily. No, the Church has conditions. The Church knows that some of those bishops in the Orthodox church are not true bishops because they were not validly consecrated. In most cases, the priests who become Catholics are actually ordained again, conditionally.