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Vatican’s Rep in Russia disagrees with the US Congress Assessment
Interfax Religion ^ | 13 April 2006, 11:33

Posted on 4/13/2006, 1:42:15 PM by x5452

13 April 2006, 11:33 Vatican’s representative in Russia disagrees with the US Congress’s negative assessment of religious freedoms in Russia

Moscow, April 13, Interfax - Archbishop Antonio Mennini, representative of the Holy See in Russia, does not share the US Congress’s critical remarks on the infringement of religious freedom in Russia and considers the Russian legislation to be optimal for local Catholics.

In mid-March, the US Congress House of Representatives adopted a resolution stating once again that the rights of believers are violated and the freedom of religion is restricted in Russia.

‘Unfortunately, I am not aware of any specific facts prompting the US Congress to make this kind of reproaches. Therefore, it is easier for me to base my answer on what I know not through hearsay. I am delighted to testify that the current Russian legislation provides for a real opportunity for the communities and structures of the Catholic Church in Russia to exist normally and to develop’, Archbishop Mennini said in an interview to Interfax.

He also said that the Catholic parishes and communities, schools and charities can act in Russia ‘without any obstructions’ and ‘without any restrictions from outside’.

The representative of the Holy See also stressed that in his opinion ‘the existing mechanism of resolving particular local conflicts makes it possible to reach a desired and lawful result almost in any case.’

As for harsh public accusations as a means of solving problems, they, the archbishop believes, ‘give only temporary advantages, but do not help in any way to build reliable partnership relations’.

See the full text of interview under the Exclusive heading.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Orthodox Christian; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: 109th; catholic; orthodox; putin; russia; russians

1 posted on 4/13/2006, 1:42:17 PM by x5452
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To: x5452

Full Interview from same site:

13 April 2006, 10:52
I am not aware of any concrete facts that have prompted the US Congress to reproach Russia with a failure to observe religious freedoms


Who will represent the Vatican at the World Summit of Religious Leaders to be held in Moscow? What is the Catholic Church's attitude to the idea of teaching Basic Orthodox Culture in school and allowing the presence of clergy in the army on a permanent basis? What is the mission of the Catholics in Russia and in the West? How must one treat Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown? These and other questions were answered by the Holy See official representative in Moscow, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, in his interview to Interfax-Religion.


- What was the Vatican's response to the initiative to hold a World Summit of Religious Leaders in Moscow? Who will represent the Holy See at this forum?

- It was with great and well-deserved interest that the Holy Sea responded to the Russian Orthodox Church's initiative to convene a World Summit of Religious Leader early this July with the declared aim to strengthen considerably the cooperation between traditional religions and express their position on urgent issues facing the world today. The Catholic Church leaders have always appreciated proposals for dialogue and cooperation in overcoming the major problems of humanity today and have normally taken a direct and active part in realizing such initiatives. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking of his support for the initiative of His Holiness Alexy II, said that 'in today's times I consider it important to strengthen moral and spiritual values common to all confessions. Faith in good and justice, mercy and love of peace are basic affirmations of all the world religions'.

For me it remains only to join the opinion expressed by the Russian leader. It is also noteworthy that in recent months there have been repeated statements by high-ranking representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church speaking positively of closeness in Orthodox and Catholic positions on most of the challenges brought by modern times. These statements give a special hope for fruitful cooperation during the forthcoming forum.

With regard to the personal composition of the delegation to represent the Holy See and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at it, I can say nothing specific, since it has not been formed and approved as yet. But I can already state now that it will be a high-level representation. I am also pleased to remind you that during the Millennium of the Baptism of Russia celebration, the official delegation of the Holy See was one of the most representative.

- The idea of introduction of Basic Orthodox Culture to the secondary school curriculum and the institution of army chaplaincy have been discussed widely in recent weeks in Russia. Does the Catholic Church share the Russian Orthodox Church's concern over the lack of both in Russia?

- The Catholic Church throughout the world has always used any opportunity for pastoral care of various groups of people. First and foremost is certainly the promotion of adequate education on the basis of Christian faith and moral values proclaimed by the Gospel. Christian education in school and pastoral service in the army is a long tradition in the Catholic Church. Therefore, we cannot by sympathize with the plans to develop both in Russia.

Certainly, this service should not be coercive, but, as far as I am aware of the background, there is no such point in Russia today. If appropriate, I would like to express the wish that this work should be well considered and prepared by the Church so that any manipulation of political and ideological nature could be avoided. I am convinced though that the leaders of the appropriate structures in the Russian Orthodox Church are well aware of the situation. It remains only to wish them God's help and every success on this difficult but important path.

- Do you think the reproaches made by the US Congress for Russia's alleged failure to observe religious freedoms are justified?

- Unfortunately, I am not aware of any specific facts prompting the US Congress to make this kind of reproaches. Therefore, it is easier for me to base my answer on what I know not through hearsay. I am delighted to testify that the current Russian legislation provides for a real opportunity for the communities and structures of the Catholic Church in Russia to exist normally and to develop.

The parishes, schools and monastic communities work without any restrictions from outside and the Catholic charities carry out their service without any obstructions. The Catholic Church, just as other religious organizations, uses tax and other benefits. Certainly, there are some difficulties (in provinces as a rule), which come from an insufficient experience of life in a law-governed society. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that the existing mechanism of resolving conflict situations makes it possible to reach a desired and lawful result almost in any case without resorting to harsh public accusations, which normally give only temporary advantages, but do not help in any way to build reliable partnership relations.

- What would you like to wish to the Russian Catholics? What is their mission towards Russia and the West?

- I would like to wish to the Russian Catholics first of all to build their spiritual, public, professional and family life on the basis of the Gospel and church teaching. I wish to my brothers and sisters in faith, just as to my Orthodox brothers and sisters, to seek the most important thing with the confidence that the rest will be given to them. It is my profound conviction that if a Christian community ensures an appropriate education for its member, then sooner or later it will produce from its midst those who are capable of lofty public and professional service.

A good Christian, whether Catholic or Orthodox, is always a good citizen of his country and a faithful son of his people not only willing to but also capable of working for its well-being at the place where the Lord set him up. My experience of the present Russian reality allows me to hope that the Catholic communities may, together with other Christians, bear witness to the Truth before the world which needs it more than ever.

- What do you think of the decision of the Moscow authorities to ban the holding of a gay parade in the capital city?

- I think it is a wise decision. Complying with all the arguments dictated by Christian faith against such public actions, I would like to point out what is essential and indisputable to any reasonable person: such a manifestation would certainly lead to an aggravated tension in Russian society and possibly even to violence, which is inadmissible in any case.

- In mid-March the Vatican came out as a sponsor of the conference in the Pontifical University that treated crusades as a war with a 'noble goal' to return the Holy Land to Christendom. However, as is known, the previous pope described those crusades as 'a mistake of the Church'. Can a reassessment of the crusades be expected to be made in the nearest future?

- It seems to me that it is inappropriate to make conclusions on the basis of an opinion expressed by one of the participants in the conference, not knowing either the precise formulation of the theme discussed or the character of arguments given. It appears that in this case we face, not for the first time, alas, with an attempt to make a sensation of what is not such in the least.

To my mind, what was said about the justified intentions that guided initiators of the crusade movement - such as protection of holy places from profanation and defense of the Christian population from non-Christian violence) - cannot in any way deny the fact that in reality there were deplorable distortions of the original noble design. Indeed, this happened not only in the history of crusades. The regret that Pope John Paul II expressed concerning deplorable mistakes made during the 4th Crusade - as a reminder, the same judgment was made by Pope Innocent III as far back as the 13th century - does not in any way deny the fact that among the participants in the crusade movement there were, along with adventurers, those who were guided by the noblest motives.

- What is your attitude to screening of Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown?

- This is exactly a clear case of search for a false sensation, already mentioned, aimed against the Church and Christianity to discredit them. The stir around the book and its screening, unfortunately, is indicative of the state of society not in the best way. There is nothing to be added to it, except that the harm brought by such 'cultural events' would be considerably lesser if the mass media did not have a hand in it.


2 posted on 4/13/2006, 1:44:07 PM by x5452
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To: x5452

Yeah, but his eyes were blinking, "Bravo Sierra."

No, I'm only kidding. I'm glad to hear it.


3 posted on 4/14/2006, 12:40:08 AM by dangus
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To: NYer

ping


4 posted on 4/14/2006, 12:25:25 PM by x5452
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To: x5452; dsmatuska; aomagrat; GipperCT; MarMema; crazykatz; don-o; JosephW; lambo; MoJoWork_n; ...

An Orthodox ping and a bookmark!


5 posted on 4/15/2006, 7:57:23 PM by FormerLib ("...the past ten years in Kosovo will be replayed here in what some call Aztlan.")
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To: FormerLib

Thank you!


6 posted on 4/15/2006, 9:15:54 PM by MarMema (Buy Danish, support freedom)
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To: MarMema
Does the Orthodox Church have a massive history of child molestor priests and pay-offs of lawsuits in many child molestor cases, like the RC do??

Since I have never seen it presented in the MSM , I was just wondering???

7 posted on 4/17/2006, 2:52:12 AM by Lion in Winter (Violent islam is the same as plain islam. No peace at all.... Just mass mayhem.)
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