Pope Benedict has been called "The Pope of Christian Unity", but the high praise from Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has surprised more than a few church-watchers throughout Europe.
In an interview with Ukrainian reporters, Kirill said, "I must say that the stance of incumbent Pope Benedict XVI gives rise to optimism."
He went on to say that His Holiness is often attacked by "liberal theologians and liberal mass media in the West."
There has been a question of Kirill meant the so-called "progressive" Catholics in North America and Western Europe who attack with a special fervor anything Catholic with even a hint of tradition or orthodoxy associated with it.
More Surprises
Despite the Russians normally being xenophobic, Kirill further shocked many by saying, "However, on many public and moral issues his approach fully coincides with the approach of the Russian Orthodox Church. This gives us an opportunity to advocate Christian values together with the Catholic Church, in particular at international organizations and on the international arena."
And in a shot directly across the bow of Protestantism, Kirill acknowledged that there is a "very dangerous phenomena" in Protestantism that "let sinful elements of the world enter their internal world and justify these elements, if they are offered by secular society" and because of such "secular philosophical liberal stock phrases are repeated within Protestant Churches and take root in religious thinking."
Wash The Gay Away
And sure to send Sodomites everywhere into a lisping frenzy and absolute tizzy, Kirill finished his interview with, "Another similar issue is the attitude to homosexuality. The word of God is distorted to please the secular liberal standard. It is written in black and white that it is a sin."
Comments
Praise Patriarch Kirill; he speaks the truth. May his thoughts, with time, help lead to the unity of the two Churches who once were one.
no the roman catholic church must change its view on the supremacy of the pope and his infalible status and the doctrine of indullgences and mary being born sinless and the idea that priest know the exact time the commuion becomes the actual body of christ also celibacy of the priesthood and naming mary the mother of god co metrix
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