Russian Orthodox Abandon Ecumenism with the Episcopalians, but Rome Goes on With the Show

by Christopher A. Ferrara

        On November 19, 2003, Associated Press reported that "the Russian Orthodox Church announced Monday that it is suspending ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church over its consecration of an openly gay bishop, saying that homosexuality is a sin and that it ‘cannot condone the perversion of human nature. Homosexual sexual contact has always been considered a grave sin by the Christian Church,’ the Russian Orthodox Church’s Moscow Patriarchate said in a statement posted on its Web site."

        The AP story notes that "the Russian Orthodox Church said it had maintained friendly relations with the Episcopal Church in the United States for nearly 200 years. Ties grew particularly warm in the early 1990s, when the churches created a Joint Coordinating Committee, whose work the Russian Orthodox Church said was being halted because of Robinson’s consecration." But the ordination of a homosexual "bishop" prompted the Moscow Patriarchate to declare: "We have no right to allow even a shadow of agreement with their position, which we consider deeply anti-Christian and blasphemous."

        And Rome? Well, as far as the Vatican apparatus is concerned, the Episcopalians’ ordination of a homosexual "bishop" who lives in sin with another man is a mere "obstacle" to "ecumenical progress," but will in no way prevent further "ecumenical dialogue." In fact, the Vatican has just bestowed a Catholic order of knighthood on Rowan Williams, the so-called "Archbishop of Canterbury," who has done nothing to address the scandal among the Episcopalians, and who is himself in favor of the "ordination" of practicing homosexuals in "the Anglican communion."

        As reported by the Western Mail on November 15, 2003, "the Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday received one of the top honours awarded by the Catholic Church. Former Archbishop of Wales Dr. Rowan Williams is the first Archbishop of Canterbury to be made Knight of the Grand Cross — the highest grade — of the Royal Order of Francis I."

        Even the corrupt Russian Orthodox Church is repelled by the scandal of homosexual "bishops" in the "Anglican communion," but Rome bestows a high honor upon the head of the same "communion" — whose own members (as I have pointed out in a previous column) shun Rowan as a heretic.

        According to AP, "The Russian church said it hopes to maintain contacts with American Episcopalians who ‘clearly pronounce their adherence to the moral teachings’ of Christianity." Funny, but the Vatican imposes no such requirement. Any heretic can participate in "ecumenical dialogue" with the Vatican’s tireless ecumenists — who have accomplished exactly nothing for Christian unity.

        How much loonier can the ecumenical circus get? As loony as the diabolical disorientation of the Catholic Church will allow. Things will get much worse before they get better. That is what the Third Secret of Fatima is all about.