CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
Russia: Patriarch Kirill on relations with RomeThe Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias Kirill considers that, in spite of a "significant improvement" of relations between Russian Orthodox Church and Catholic Church, the conditions for a possible meeting between him and Benedict XVI don’t yet exist. "As before, I am of the view that the condition for such a meeting to have any success is that all the questions of conflict between us either be resolved or a greater commitment be made to resolve them", said the Russian Patriarch in an interview with the Serbian daily "Vecernje Novisti", which was then transmitted by the official website of the Russian Patriarchate www.mospat.ru. Referring more particularly to press reports on a possible meeting between him and the Pope, Kirill observed that "the mass media exclusively underline the sensationalist aspect of such a possible meeting", "whereas I would not like the effect of such a meeting to be reduced to sensationalism alone". In Kirill’s view, "if the meeting (with the Pope) is to be really useful for the further development of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, it is essential we work together to improve the atmosphere by solving the problems that still remain between us". The Patriarch did however admit that relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church "have significantly improved over the last ten years". "The problem of proselytism is not as acute as it was in the 1990s, when Catholic missionaries came to Russia to work actively" in evangelization, said Kirill. He also underlined how essential it was "to develop cooperation between Orthodox and Catholics, who preserve the Christian tradition and share similar views on personal and social ethics, on scientific and technological progress, on bioethics and on other problems of our time". Another of the problems that still remains unresolved is that of the Uniates and the occupation of Orthodox churches in Ukraine by Catholics of Greek rite. The Patriarch then referred to the "ever more pressing problem of christianophobia, the persecution of Christians because of their faith". That’s why "close collaboration between Orthodox and Catholics in the field of the defence of human rights" is indispensable.CEC: Guy Liacre, the new General SecretaryThe Rev. Dr. Guy Liagre, currently President of the United Protestant Church in Belgium, is to be the new General Secretary of the Conference of the European Churches (CEC/KEK). Elected during the last meeting of the Central Committee of the CEC held in Geneva (Switzerland) on 24-25 January, the Rev. Liagre will take up his post on 1st June and succeeds the theologian Viorel Ionita of the Romanian Orthodox Church, who filled the post ad interim. "For many years – said Liagre immediately after his election the CEC has worked to ensure that the Christian voice is not neglected on the European scene. I see it as a challenge to work as a general secretary of a European ecumenical organization in a time in which Europe and the world are rapidly changing into something too hard to easily predict. The CEC itself is in the midst of renewing its organization and I am delighted to be able to participate in and stimulate that renewal". The new General Secretary was born in 1957. Author of many books and an accomplished linguist, he is married, the father of four children and with three grandchildren. He currently chairs the Belgian Council of Religious Leaders and is also President of the Council that represents all Protestant and Evangelical Churches in their relations with the Belgian government.Middle East: "Christians in the Arab world"A Christian-Muslim consultation on the Christian presence and witness in the Arab world", organized jointly by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was held in the seat of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias from 24 to 28 January. Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars participated in the consultation. Patriarch Michel Sabbah of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem also addressed the meeting. The General Secretary of the WCC, Olav Fykse Tveit, reaffirmed the commitment of the WCC to justice and peace in the Middle East, while emphasizing the importance of a common approach to the cohabitation of Christians and Muslims in the Arab world. "Our faith said Tveit has its roots in this region and is nourished and strengthened by the uninterrupted witness of the local churches, which have had their own roots here ever since apostolic times". "Without this Christian presence, conviviality between peoples of different faiths, cultures and civilization, which is a sign of God’s love for the whole of humanity, is in danger". The WCC General Secretary also said he appreciated the participation of a wide range of Muslims in the consultation. He also emphasized the challenges and especially the sense of insecurity that Christians who live in the Arab world have to face due to persisting political conflicts.
