Tuesday, March 16, 2010

European Union Presses Turkey to Recognize Istanbul Patriarch as Ecumenical Patriarch

The Catholic Culture website reports today (March 16, 2010) that a European commission is pressing Turkey's government to recognize the status of Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I as the acknowledged "first among equals" of the world's Orthodox prelates.

The Islamic Turkish government has refused to recognize that status, instead treating the Ecumenical Patriarch as only the leader of Turkey's small Orthodox community.

This pressure from the European Union -- which Turkey has been unsuccessful in its many efforts to join -- might actually be welcomed by Turkey's government leaders, who now appear to be pushing for their own democratic reforms.

No comments:

Post a Comment