DECR ROC's Chairperson no longer sees common ground with Catholics

Chairperson of the DECR ROC, Metropolitan Anthony, and Pope Francis. Photo: VATICAN MEDIA

In a comment to TASS, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairperson of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, spoke about the emerging difficulties in interfaith relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church due to the latter's decision to allow blessings for homosexual couples.

"What we are witnessing today in the Catholic Church regarding traditional family values cannot help but cause bewilderment and concern," he stated.

The hierarch noted that the document "Fiducia Supplicans" introduces a new practice for Catholics – the blessing of same-sex couples.

"The Synodal Theological Commission of the ROC has analyzed this document and published its review, which contains numerous critical remarks. Departures from traditional Christian family ethics have already become a sad reality in many Protestant denominations," Metropolitan Anthony said.

According to him, the topic of family and traditional moral values was "one of the few subjects on which we and the Roman Catholic Church could speak the same language."

"The danger is that the issue of traditional Christian family ethics is essentially disappearing from our agenda. And if that does happen, I can hardly imagine what we could continue discussing with Catholics," stressed the Chairperson of the ROC's Department for External Church Relations.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in his book, Pope Francis stated that the Catholic Church welcomes everyone, including gays and transgender people.

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