"Mixed" marriages (between a Catholic and a baptised of a different Christian confession) and marriages with "difference in cult" (between a Catholic and a non-baptised) are an "extremely lively" reality in south-eastern Europe, where Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim devotees live together, but "they are spreading all over Europe, as a consequence of a powerful migratory phenomenon". This is one of the findings of the 7th meeting of the Presidents of the Bishops Conferences of south-eastern Europe, accompanied by experts, which took place in the last few days in Oradea (Romania), promoted by Ccee (Council of the European Bishops Conferences). If "inter-ritual" marriages, i.e. marriages between Catholics from different rites, cause no particular problem, for marriages between Catholic and orthodox people specify the European bishops "there is the fundamental foundation of a shared faith, but they do not share the same theological view of the sacramental nature of the marriage and as a consequence their approach to the value and stability of the marriage tie and divorce differs as well". With the Reformed Churches, according to Ccee, dialogue on these subjects has "made more progress", even if sometimes the Catholic bride or groom may have to be baptised again, because his or her baptism is not considered valid (to be continued).
