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Last Updated: 20 September 2016

CWN - Speaking on September 16 at a meeting of a joint Catholic-Orthodox theological commission, the chief ecumenical officer of the Russian Orthodox Church said that the activity of the "Uniates"-- the Eastern churches in communion with Rome-- is the greatest obstacle to greater unity between Catholics and Orthodox.

The statement by Metropolitan Hilarion was a familiar complaint from the Moscow patriarchate, which has frequently criticized the Eastern-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church, accusing that body of fueling tensions in Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Chuch regards Ukraine as its "canonical territory"-- a claim that the Holy See does not accept.

Despite his criticism of Eastern Catholic churches, the Moscow representative did not demand an immediate discussion of their status. This week's meeting of the joint Catholic-Orthodox commission is dedicated instead to the questions of synodal governance and primacy, and their contributions of ecumenical unity. A draft statement on that issue has been submitted for discussion and approval.

References:

• Metropolitan Hilarion: Unia remains the major stumbling block to Orthodox-Catholic dialogue

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Last Updated: 16 September 2016

CWN - Pope Francis received Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, president of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, in audience on September 15.

According to the Moscow Patriarchate, the two discussed the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, joint efforts in the area of culture, and the February joint statement between the Pope and Patriarch Kirill.

Metropolitan Hilarion also gave Pope Francis, as a gift from Patriarch Kirill, a relic of a Russian monk, St. Seraphim of Sarov (1754-1833).

In addition, Metropolitan Hilarion met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

“The participants focused on the situation of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa suffering at the hands of terrorists,” the Moscow Patriarchate said in a statement. “Both Metropolitan Hilarion and Cardinal Pietro Parolin consider the situation difficult, but hope that the negotiations between high-ranking officials of Russia and the USA will yield their good fruit.”

References:

• Audiences, 15.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Pope Francis of Rome (Moscow Patriarchate)
• Meeting between DECR chairman and Secretary of State of the Holy See takes places in Vatican (Moscow Patriarchate)

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Last Updated: 16 September 2016

CWN - The Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church began an eight-day meeting on September 15.

The meeting, hosted by the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, is devoted to the commission’s newest draft document, “Towards a common understanding of Synodality and Primacy in service to the Unity of the Church.”

According to the Holy See Press Office, participants will examine whether the draft “adequately reflects the currently existing consensus on the delicate question” or whether additional work on the draft is needed.

References:

• Fourteenth plenary session of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, 15.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)

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Last Updated: 16 September 2016

CWN - As the Iraqi government takes back land from the Islamic State, and as Christians and others return to the Nineveh Plain, mines need to be removed before schools and clinics are built, the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church said on September 13.

Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako said that “the jihadists of Daesh [ISIS], even when they pull back, they continue to sow death with mines and explosive devices.”

References:

• Appeal of the Chaldean Patriarch: help us to demine the Nineveh Plain (Fides)

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Last Updated: 16 September 2016

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk - The first English translation of the Pope's announcement on harmonising Eastern and Latin canon law. Translated by Fr James Bradley and Ed Condon

APOSTOLIC LETTER GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO

OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF FRANCIS

BY WHICH ARE CHANGED

VARIOUS NORMS OF THE CODE OF CANON LAW

Moved by Our constant solicitude for the concordance between the two Codes We became aware of some points not in perfect harmony between the rules of the Code of Canon Law and those of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

The two codes have, on the one hand, common standards, and on the other, peculiarities, which make them mutually independent. It is however necessary that even in the particular rules there be a sufficient amount of correlation. In fact these discrepancies could affect negatively on pastoral practice, especially in cases which pertain to the relationships of individuals belonging respectively to the Latin Church and to an Eastern Church.

This is particularly true in our day in which the mobility of the population has effected the presence of a large number of Eastern faithful in Latin territories. This new situation generates many pastoral and legal issues, which need to be resolved with appropriate standards. It must be recalled that the Eastern faithful are obliged to observe their own rite wherever they are (cf. CCEO c. 40 § 3; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 6) and therefore the “competent ecclesiastical authority has the serious responsibility to provide them with appropriate means for them to fulfill this obligation” (cf. CCEO c. 193 § 1; CIC c. 383 §§ 1-2; post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Pastores Gregis, 72). Legislative concordance is certainly one of the means by which the development of the venerable Eastern rites is beneficially promoted (cf. CCEO c. 39), allowing the Churches sui iuris to act pastorally in the most effective way.

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Last Updated: 13 September 2016

CWN - Christian leaders from around the Middle East, including six Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs, gathered in Amman, Jordan, at a meeting of the Council of Churches of the Middle East.

Participants in the meeting agreed to send a delegation to major political centers to explain the plight of the Middle East’s Christians.