ROC rep: After RCC blesses gays, reunification with Orthodoxy is impossible
Pope Francis and Metropolitan Hilarion. Photo: Vatican News
Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest, the former head of the DECR-MP, said in an interview with Rod Dreher, an American writer and editor-at-large at “The American Conservative”, that the Vatican's document allowing the blessing of same-sex couples makes it impossible to talk about a possible reunion between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The interview was published on the YouTube channel Jesus Portal.
The metropolitan said he was shocked by the decision because "we have always looked at the RCC as a beacon of traditional Christianity".
Asked by a journalist whether the Vatican document was the end of talks between Catholics and Orthodox about the possibility of reuniting the Church after the Great Schism of 1054, the hierarch answered in the affirmative.
"If we are realistic, we can no longer hope for future unity between Orthodox and Catholics. Such steps, of course, do not make us closer but will create new lines of separation," the Metropolitan said.
As reported, the Vatican allowed the RCC priests to bless homosexual couples.
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.