Russian Orthodox Bishop Stands Up For Christianity And Common Sense
The European Organisation representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop Hilarion of Vienna, considers that Christian leaders should not make it their aim to defend the values of other religions or those of secular society.
‘Out task is not to defend Sharia law, promote ‘alternative’ lifestyles or preach secular values. Our sacred mission is to proclaim that which Christ proclaimed and teach that which the apostles taught’, declared Bishop Hilarion at the opening of the session of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Thus he commented on the recent controversy surrounding the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and his statement that the inclusion of certain parts of Sharia law into British legislation was inevitable.
‘Many Christians all around the world look to Christian leaders in the hope that they will defend Christianity against the challenges which they encounter’, said Bishop Hilarion. He also subjected ‘liberal’ and ‘politically correct’ Christianity to some harsh criticism, since those ideas have been developing for some decades among Protestants and Anglicans. In the opinion of the representative of the Russian Church, the gap between ‘traditional’ (= normal) and ‘liberal’ (= faithless) Christianity is growing very rapidly and it is now no longer possible to speak of Christians all sharing the same moral values ‘Politically correct Christianity will die out. We are already seeing the process of the gradual collapse of liberal Christianity as the introduction of novel moral standards leads to divisions and splits among several Christian denominations’, remarked Bishop Hilarion.
How heartening it is that at last someone among the elite at the World Council of Churches speaks out and says exactly what we, the ordinary clergy and people, have been thinking and proclaiming for the last thirty years and more!
Fr Andrew
1/14 February 2008
Forefeast of the Meeting of our Lord
Our Holy Father Tryphon
Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity and Companions
