Russian Orthodox prelate warns against praying together with Catholics

Moscow, Jun. 26, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church have warned the faithful about praying in Catholic churches, and especially about joining in the services of Byzantine-rite churches that are in union with Rome.

During a meeting of the Russian hierarchy, the bishops discussed at length the question of whether it is proper for Orthodox believers to pray in other Christian churches or even in non-Christian shrines such as the ancient Hebrew temples of the Holy Land. "Until recently this practice has never been challenged," observed Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk in a briefing for reporters. But the Russian Orthodox bishops now recognize the question as problematical, and have prepared a statement on the proper approach.

In a report to the body of bishops, Metropolitan Kirill-- who heads the ecumenical-affairs department of the Russian Orthodox Church-- said that prayer services in non-Orthodox churches should be approached with care. He reminded his fellow bishops that the Orthodox tradition forbids praying together with non-Orthodox.

Metropolitan Kirill called for "special care and discretion" in any dealings with Eastern-rite Catholics, to whom he referred as "schismatics and Uniates." The Russian prelate said that "prayers in such churches are dangerous for the unity of the Orthodox Church as they are fraught with sharing in schismatic actions."

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