Saturday, September 25, 2010

Progress Is Made On Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue; Participants Say "Sister Churches" Could Unite

The Star website reports today (September 25, 2010) that Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theologians reported promising progress in their current dialogue on overcoming the Great Schism of 1054 -- which split Christianity into the two largest Christian denominations -- and bring the two denominations back to full communion.

Theologians meeting in Vienna, Austria this week agreed the two could eventually become "sister churches" that recognize the Roman pope as their titular head but retain many church structures, liturgy, and customs that developed over the past millenium.

"There are no clouds of mistrust between our two churches," Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizoulas of Pergamon told a news conference. "If we continue like that, God will find a way to overcome all the difficulties that remain."

Archbishop Kurt Koch -- the top Vatican official for Christian unity -- said the joint dialogue must continue "intensively" so that "we see each other fully as sister churches."

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