(Rome) When one of the most Catholic voices in Rome is that of the Moscow Patriarchate, this is a problem. Last Tuesday Hilarion of Volokolamsk Metropolitan addressed the Pope and the Synod of Bishops, a message of greeting from the Moscow Patriarchate. Archbishop Hilarion is head of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church. Here is the full speech of Metropolitan. The highlights come from the editorial:
Holiness,
Beatitudes, Eminences and Excellencies,
On behalf of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and the whole Russian Orthodox Church, I address our fraternal greetings to you all on the occasion of the XIV. General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, which is dedicated to the theme of the family.
In our turbulent and unsettling world, man needs solid and unshakable foundations on which he can rely in order to fully trust to be able to build their lives on them. The secular society that is geared primarily to the satisfaction of individual desires can give man no clear moral orientations. The crisis of traditional values that we experience in the consumer society leads to a contradiction between the different preferences, even in family relationships. When on the one side, extreme feminism sees in motherhood an obstacle to the self-realization of women who have children, on the other hand, more and more regard children as a right that can be realized by any means. Increasingly, the family is seen as a connection between two people, regardless of their gender, and it is believed that the individual can choose the affiliation to one or the other sex according to his personal taste.
On the other hand, new problems occur that directly affect the foundations of the traditional family. The armed conflicts of the modern world causing a mass exodus from the war-affected regions towards the richer countries. Emigration often leads to breaking of family ties while creating a new social environment, creating connections that often have an interethnic and inter-religious character.
These challenges and threats are, for all Christian churches alike, the need to look for the answers, by relying on the order entrusted to them by Christ, to lead the people to salvation. Unfortunately, we often hear in Christian circles, voices demanding that there be a "Modernization" of the Church's conscience, thus the rejection of the apparently Christian apparently obsolete doctrine on the family. Nevertheless, we must not forget the words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome: "conform not on this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God: what He desires, is what is good and perfect."
The Church is called to be a light and a beacon in the darkness of this world, and Christians are called to be the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world". We all need to remember the harrowing admonition of the Savior: "If the salt loses its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing; it is thrown out and trampled by men." (cf.. Mt. 5:13 to 14). Such a salt that has lost the power of its own taste, are in our time what some Protestant communities who call themselves Christian but preach moral ideals that are incompatible with Christianity. When a community of this kind, introduces the rite of blessing homosexual unions, and a lesbian woman who describes herself as a "bishop", who prompts her churches to remove the crosses from the steeples and replace them with Islamic crescents, can such a community may be called "church"? Before our eyes is Christianity is betrayed by those who are willing to play the game of secularized, anti-clerical and Godless society.
The leadership of various countries of Europe and America, despite numerous protests, even by the Catholic faithful, continue a policy aimed deliberately at destroying the understanding of family. Not only are homosexual connections made legally equivalent to marriage. One goes so far as to prosecute those who because of their Christian faith, refuse to register these connections. Immediately after the end of the visit of Pope Francis, the American president Barack Obama has openly declared that the rights of homosexuals are more important than religious freedom. This clearly shows the intention of the secular authority to continue the attack against the healthy forces of society who defend traditional family values. The Catholics are in the front line in this fight, and just against the Catholic Church, there is a veritable campaign of discredit and lies under way. Therefore, the force in defending the Christian conviction and fidelity to the tradition of the Church today are particularly necessary.
Society today comes to resemble more and more the foolish man, "who built his house on sand" (Mt see. 7.26). It is the duty of the Church, to remind society of its established foundation - the family as a union between man and woman, who has the birth and education of children as its goal. Only such a family, established by the Lord at the time of the creation of the world itself, is able to prevent the release of modern society into the abyss of moral relativism, or at least slow it down.
The Orthodox Church, like the Catholic, has always followed the Holy Scriptures and Holy Tradition in their teaching about the family and established the principle of the sanctity of marriage affirming that based on the words of the Savior Himself (cf.. Matt 19:6 ;. Mk 10:9) In our time, this position must be united and unanimous. We must work together to defend dialogue with the legislative and executive powers of each country and at the level of international institutions such as the UN and the European Union. We can not only limit ourselves to exhortations. We need to ensure the legal protection of the family completely.
The solidarity of the Church and all people of good will is essential for the purpose, to protect the family from the threats of the secular world, and thus to safeguard our future. I hope that the fruit of this Synodal Assembly will be a development of Catholic-Orthodox collaboration in this direction.
I wish you peace, God's blessing and success in your work!
Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Il Timone
Image: Il Timone
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
What strange times. This is an example
ReplyDeleteof out Lords teaching "Whoever is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:40). Even though they are schismatic, when they vigorously defend Catholic truth, they do the work of our Lord.
Similarly, those who oppose our Lords teaching, even though they be of the holy Church, do the will of the devil.
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DeleteToo bad he's not in the running to be the next Pope ! LOL
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that this church is no more Catholic, is environmental, i.e. a nothingness among the absolute nothing of empty churches, don't forget how many were they at the beginning , 12 , and founded the Catholica.....
ReplyDeleteAre they schismatic, or are we? The sooner we Catholics repudiate Vatican I, the sooner we can be shot of Vatican II as well, and real re-union will be possible.
ReplyDeleteHow embarrassing for the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
ReplyDeleteBut great speech from Hilarion, who, at this point in time, ironically, is 'more Catholic than the Pope'.
This is the sort of speech Francis should have given to Catholics in Cuba and the US. And what type of useless spiritual succour did they get...?
The pope is not Catholic as he is manifestly in deliberate, obstinate heresy. Lord, have mercy.
DeleteRegarding Marriage, nothing more needs to be said or done. It is all here.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.catholictradition.org/Encyclicals/casti.htm
Damask Rose offer my comment. Heaven help us all.
ReplyDeleteThere is something to this as to other things such as Russia banning abortion and insisting on moral behavior. The consecration has not yet been made but these are precursor signs in my estimation which are happening prior to the consecration which should be very soon and no, not by Bergoglio but I could be wrong of course.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't preserve the apostolic faith all those years because they were quitters ;) Although I'd say there were not a few other synod fathers who were fairly strong in their defense. Witness our very own Byzantine Hungarian metropolitan archbishop, Cards. Arinze and Sarah, Chaput and Pell.
ReplyDeleteThe consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was made by Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1952 in his Apostolic Letter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacro_Vergente Providentially, Putin was born exactly three months later on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and secretly baptized by his mother on the Russian Orthodox calendar on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel.
ReplyDeleteFALSE FALSE FALSE. Don't even come here saying that happened it's total BS. This is nothing against Piux XII. the secret was read and the consecration was to be made by the Pope in 1960.
DeleteAlso, are you saying our Lady lied in telling us we would have an "age of peace".
Pius XII made the consecration.. I have heard it all now.
True. Pius XII, acting alone as pope, consecrated Russia to the IHM, as you point out. This did not fulfill the Fatima request, which required that the act be done with the bishops of the world. However, as you indicate, Our Lady nonetheless provided. On September 28 of this year, at the very same UN forum of world leaders that Pope Francis had just addressed, Putin announced his intention to make war on ISIS (the Islamic State). The bombing began on September 30. As you know, September 29 is the feast day of St. Michael in the Roman calendar. Along with our TLM parish, and I am sure with many others in the Church, my wife and I had finished the nine-day novena to St. Michael the day before, praying Leo XIII's prayer to the great archangel. Our first thoughts were on the Synod, but Russia's war on ISIS is also a welcome outcome.
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Delete@Lucy: How do you Protestant heretics honor her?
DeleteThat was not how Our Lady, the Mother of God, requested that the consecration be done. Our Blessed Mother told us what would happen upon consecration and what would happen if it were delayed, and until it was done.
DeleteThe events at Fatima happened, the sun danced this is a fact that the bergoglites and newchurchers have been trying to overcome for decades now specifically because our Lady warned us just about them (the new chruchers). which is exactly why they have been trying to bury Fatima for years esp by trying to sweep the whole thing under the rug (nothing to see here, consecration already happened).
DeleteIf you post this crap on a blog you are either one of two things: Ignorant, or a shill/troll for newchruch.
Where was the age of peace? When did it occur? in the late 1950s after the Korean war but BEFORE the Vietnam war? If there is a freakin' war anywhere on the globe that's not a "period of peace" is it? So tell me shills for Vatican II/Newchruch, when wsa the promised age of peace? Did we sleep through it?
Also, just because Russia is showing some precursor signs such as some morality and Christianity leading up to the consecration being done doesn't mean they're converted. According to the approved prophecies there is another chapter yet to be played out where they blitz with their armies into western Europe and stop when the consecration IS done but not before their flag flies over the dome of St. Peters. Of course if Pope Benedict would just do the consecration now that could be avoided but this won't happen with the faithless bishops in the world at the moment, How would one organize them (many of them evidently faithless heretics) to do their part of the consecration simultaneously?
Calm down. To say that "Our Lady provided" is not to say that the consecration was the one that was requested; it simply means that Our Lady responded. Nor does it rule out that the possibility that "Russia is showing some precursor signs". Lyda's post should perhaps begin "A consecration of Russia...." But if Lyda believes that it was truly the consecration requested by Our Lady, then this is a good opportunity to educate people about Fatima without getting shrill.
DeleteCalm down? First we deal with 50 years of dishonest churchmen hide, lie about, distort and conceal the messages of our Lady to the people.(not the faithless churchment) and now random ignorant and/or foolish people spread the disinformation on blog sites. I will NEVER miss the opportunity to HAMMER home the truth about the Fatima messeges. Our Lord will spit you out if you're lukewarm, don't forget that fact.
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DeleteExcuse me. I don't recall that Our Lady ever spoke about "precursor signs" happening before the consecration. Are you making things up, perhaps, or are you sweeping some inconvenient facts under the rug? You need to do better than that.
DeleteIf we had to bet today, my bet would be that HILARION will be the next Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus. I think they look at us Latins and wish that they could ally with us in the culture war in the West, but all they see (at least all that I see) is limp-wristed left wing thinking at the highest levels, and, truth to tell, that is what most of the laity in the West want as well. So even leaving out the ever-contentious issue of the Greek Catholics, don't bet on much real alliance during this failed pontificate.
ReplyDeleteThey WILL ally with us, just as soon as the consecration is made. Until then nothing but misfortune.
DeleteAs a Russian Orthodox Christian, I believe you are right about Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk as the next patriarch. (The church has a number of metropolitans named Hilarion.) About union with Rome, I believe that is really wishful thinking. Theological differences are too great. In addition, the Vatican has changed regimes twice in 10 years. Vladyka Hilarion himself has said he believes the possibility of union is at least several generations away.
DeleteOn a personal note, I don't know any Orthodox who wants union with the Catholic church as currently constituted. There is no way a majority of Orthodox would accept the Pope.
Get out of Ukraine. Seven million Ukrainians were starved to death under Stalin while the leaders of our own "indigenous" church were murdered by the Russian invaders. To HELL with Kirill.
DeleteBreaking News!!!..Patriarch of Moscow says Pope Francis is a sinner!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message2988980/pg1
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ReplyDeleteThe Catholic Church is built o the Rock of St Peter and the gates of hell shall never prevail against Her.
DeleteNewsflash for you: church men are not the same thing as The Church.
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ReplyDeleteI just wish that those making 'anonymous' comments would not hide behind that nomenclature. Many blogs won't accept them
ReplyDeleteGod knows they have all been warned often enough.
DeleteThe Church is indefectible, while the masonic liberal modernist neo-church is crumbling on its false foundations. The two paradigms are almost completely antithetical.
ReplyDeleteThe Muscovite patriarch is a common thief. Get out of Ukraine. Go home. Our people OUR church.
ReplyDeletePatriarch Kiril is many things, and I'm no fan. But common thief isn't one of them. Most blogs don't allow this kind of invective.
DeleteYou're right on that Tim.
DeleteThe Ukrainian Catholics have legitimate grievances against the Orthodox which to my knowledge, have been largely if not completely ignored by the "dialogue" of the conciliar period
DeleteAt the risk of having my head bitten off by certain posters here, can I say that I believe the Consecration of Russia has been done.
ReplyDeleteI believe this for one reason only and that is because Sr Lucia, when asked, said it had been done and that Heaven had accepted it.
I think it is the height of arrogance on our part to continue with our own theories on the consecration when the principal seer of Fatima has herself assured us that the Consecration has been done.
Sure, I no less than most here, hold the present regime in Rome in low regard and I also know that they are quite capable of withholding the truth. But Sr Lucia's words are enough for me.
As for the argument that there does not appear to have been a period of peace after the consecration, I think that the term "period of peace" is totally relative. It may be that without the Consecration we could have had a World War, or that the Cold War would have continued unabated.
Also I note a real revival of the Christian Faith in Russia and it may be just a matter of time before they join the Catholic Church.
The real problem now is that the present state of the top end of the Catholic Church is hardly inducing for anyone to convert!
The Russian Premier's comments on homosexuality leave all the Western leaders in the shade. Far more embarrassingly, Putin's support of laws restricting homosexual propaganda make our Pope and his senior advisers look like the Gay Brigade by comparison.
If we want Russia to take the next step and come over to the Catholic Church then I believe we must pray as hard as we can that the Catholic Church will have a second Counter Reformation and clean out its corrupt, heretical hierarchy, all the way up to the Throne of Peter.
As one modern prophet has indicated when things in the Catholic Church were predicted to go astray, "Look to the East." This prediction given years ago is coming true right before our very eyes. Now our Orthodox brethren will show us the way in the midst of what seems to be the distortion of Catholic teaching.
ReplyDeleteIf you analyze the church structure of the Russian Orthodox within the socialist government entity, you will note that religion is a department under the control of the Russian dictator. It is noted that all Russian patriarchs are KGB. Nikodem died in the arms of JPI during his 33 day pontificate. He was a colonel in the KGB who had been tortured numerous times in the Gulag to make him compliant.
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