08.07.2008, [14:07] // Inter-Christian relations // RISU.ORG.UA
Constantinople—Patriarch Bartholomew considers the “double unity” of Greek Catholics impossible, which envisages simultaneous unity of Greek Catholics with Rome and Constantinople. A publication about the alleged support of Patriarch Bartholomew for this idea first appeared in a German source Каth.net, whose representatives interpreted the patriarch’s words in an interview with another German publication called Cyril and Methodius. The information from Kath.net was used by other media, including RISU.
On 5 July 2008, the Constantinople Patriarchate published the official disclaimer of this information. The statement says:
“Regarding the recent publications saying that His Holiness Universal Patriarch Bartholomew allegedly considers possible the ‘double unity’ of Greek Catholics (Uniates), their full communion with both Rome and Constantinople, The Universal Patriarchate hereby disclaims this as not true and does hereby reinstate its position that full unity in faith is the precondition for the communion in the sacraments.”
Recently, RISU also received the original text of Patriarch Bartholomew’s interview to the Cyril and Methodius magazine. The patriarch noted that with regard to the eastern Catholic Churches the mother Church keeps its door open; if they are willing to return, they can.