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Bishop Hilarion, the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Vienna and Austria, has said in an interview that the Orthodox and Catholic Churches are allies who could form a strategic alliance to defend Christian values, Interfax reports. He also criticized many Protestants for having a “light version” of Christianity.

Sure, defend Christianity by taking shots at other Christians, this is right of Christ's teachings (SIC). Christ loves us all and no one (bishops included) should judge others if they are light or otherwise in their Christian faith.

Incidentally, I was raised Christian Orthodox and this man completely disappoints me. But than maybe because he is just a man (and I don't mean gender).

“I don't mean union, administrative merger or compromise in theological teaching, I mean strategical partnership,"

OK ... "strategical partnership" is good ... folks in a "strategical partnership" tend to talk and listen respectfully to each other.

In this case, that's good.

hopefully this will help heal the schism that has been a horrible wound to the body of the Apostolic Church.

Even when in full Communion, the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Catholic) halves of the original Church had theological and practical disagreements (for example, the role and power of the Pope). Hopefully they can reach some sort of agreement or compromise solution that will allow these two halves of the original Apostolic Church to enter back into Communion with each other.

God bless Bishop Hilarion!

I don’t really care whether their hosts are leavened or unleavened, or whether they think the west has, since Augustine, put to fine a point to original sin (we probably have). And as long as they continue forth in Christianity as they have, I think it quite secondary if they don’t obey the Pope. As long as they obey the Pope’s boss. :^)

We have a common foe, Satan, and he is running rampant across all our lands. He is destroying Christianity across the globe. But more importantly, we have a common savior. And He is gathering his flock.

>> Bishop Hilarion, the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Vienna and Austria, <<

Last I saw Vienna wasn’t in Russia, but that’s quite alright. We need all the help we can get in providing spiritual leadership for Vienna.

>> Bishop Hilarion’s statement comes just days after Pope Benedict addressed an ecumenical gathering in New York where he also denounced versions of Christianity that contradict apostolic teachings. At the gathering of about 300 people, the Pope said that Christian churches which change their beliefs by so-called ‘prophetic actions,’ often use a method of interpretation that is inconsistent with Scripture and Tradition.

The Holy Father added that this causes those interested in Christianity to become “understandably confused about the Gospel message itself” because they see Christians splintering and disagreeing about the beliefs of the faith. <<

I thought the Anglican ping list might be interested in these comments. They seemed aimed at TEC / Church of England

50 Days of Easter 2008 Celebration ping, dedicated to converts to the Catholic faith. If you want to be on the list but are not on it already, or if you are on it but do not want to be, let me know either publicly or privately.

This is a re-ping to this article that is a good illustration of the state of ecumenical relations today. The thread I pinged you to yesterday was pulled as duplicate.

Happy Easter. Christ is risen!

Alex.

Previously posted conversion stories:

Anti-Catholicism, Hypocrisy and Double Standards
Hauled Aboard the Ark
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part I: Darkness
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part II: Doubts
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part III: Tradition and Church
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part IV: Crucifix and Altar
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part V: The Catholics and the Pope
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part VI: The Biblical Reality
His Open Arms Welcomed Me
Catholic Conversion Stories & Resources
My Personal Conversion Story
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
Catholics Come Home
My Journey of Faith
LOGIC AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF PROTESTANTISM
"What is Truth?" An Examination of Sola Scriptura
"Have you not read?" The Authority behind Biblical Interpretation
The Crisis of Authority in the Reformation
Our Journey Home
Our Lady’s Gentle Call to Peace
A story of conversion at the Lamb of God Shrine
Who is Mary of Nazareth?
Mary and the Problem of Christian Unity
Why I'm Catholic
A Convert's Response to Friends
My Story

Also see:
Sheep That Go Astray
Pope Benedict Goes to Washington Ecumenical Meeting at St. Joseph's Church, New York