RUSSIA: "We are stronger together" say Orthodox and Catholic leaders

By John Pontifex and Eva-Maria Kolmann

Orthodox, Catholic and Oriental Church leaders met together to emphasise the importance of solidarity in the face of persecution

Orthodox and Catholic Church leaders agree that standing together in solidarity is crucial amid reports that Christians suffer the worst persecution.

The call for joint action to combat hatred against Christians was spelled out at a conference on 'Religious freedom: the problem of discrimination and persecution of Christians', hosted by the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow.

The two-day conference, held in Moscow, involved a Papal ambassador (nuncio), Oriental Church leaders, experts on inter-faith relations and concluded with an address by Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Hailing the success of the event was Peter Humeniuk, who took part in his role as a Russian expert representing Aid to the Church in Need, which helped fund the conference.

Speaking after the conference, Mr Humeniuk said: "We Christians are all in the same boat. At times when Christians are suffering persecution, our solidarity is needed."

He added: "We Christians of different confessions are inseparably connected in good times and bad. Christians are currently the most persecuted group in the world."

Mr Humeniuk said that ways must be found for Christians to make their voice heard at an international level and work together to combat the problem.

Joint initiatives, he said, were "very much needed right now in view of the present dramatic situation".

He added: "The conference in Moscow represents an important step in these combined efforts.

"In view of the burning issues facing us at the present time, further initiatives are possible and necessary."

It comes after reports from the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community showing that at least 75 percent of all persecution is directed against Christians.

Participating in the conference, held in December, were Monsignor Ivan Jurkovitch, Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation, Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender from the Vatican, and the Archbishop of the Diocese of Mother of God at Moscow, Paolo Pezzi.

Inter-faith representatives also took part in the talks, including Farid Salman, Russia's senior Mufti (Islamic scholar), and Pinchas Goldschmidt, chairman of the conference of European Rabbis.

During the religious freedom conference, Father Andrzej Halemba, Aid to the Church in Need's Middle East expert, described the problems for Christians in the region, especially in the aftermath of the 'Arab Spring'.

He stressed Aid to the Church in Need's commitment to the Pope's desire to help Christians stay in their ancient homelands, wherever possible.

Father Halemba also underlined the importance of education, adding: "Christians must not be worse educated than the rest of society – they must be better educated."

He said that Church schools are open to Muslims as well as Christians and foster mutual understanding and respect.

Father Halemba also pointed to the need to help Middle East Christians who have escaped persecution and have sought sanctuary abroad.

He said that Aid to the Church in Need had always been "the voice of those who have no public voice".  

Tagged with

• Ecumenism
• Persecution
• Russia

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