Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

You will understand, therefore, that if we are sympathetic to proposals that may be
made for developing our mutual relations, if we encourage them and assist them by
moral and material means, we cannot simply impose them upon the local Church. It
is our task - a task for which we also need your understanding and cooperation to
help local Catholic authorities, organisations and individuals to understand and
accept these proposals, and even enrich them with the fruits of their own experience.
We fully agree with the statement of the Vienna report that no ecumenical activities
between our Churches should be used to create confusion in the minds of the faithful
or open the way to the expansion of the Catholic Church at the expense of the Coptic
Orthodox. In fact no activities of our Churches should be used for this purpose. At
the same time, our search for union must take place in an atmosphere of mutual
confidence, of frequent consultations between Catholics and Orthodox on the local
scene to prevent misunderstandings and friction. There must be an atmosphere of
mutual respect for each other despite the admittedly regrettable attitudes and actions
of the past, and of recognition that we are all trying to fulfil God’s will for His
Church even if at times there may be shortcomings and failures. Catholics and
Orthodox alike must work to create this atmosphere so that there is not the
impression that one group is out to suppress the other or gain control of the other.
We find many of the recommendations of the Vienna report reasonable and possible
of implementation. We believe it possible for Catholic congregations of men and
women to work directly in the service of the religious and pastoral needs of the
Orthodox Church. We shall encourage them to do this under the pastoral guidance of
the Orthodox bishops and other authorities of Your Church in the same way as they
do this today under the guidance of Catholic authorities.
We find the second and third recommendations concerning institutions involved in
educational and social activities acceptable. Though these institutions have their own
statutes and financial autonomy, we shall encourage them to put these
recommendations into practice in every way possible.
We have already contacted some Catholic international agencies encouraging aid to
Orthodox projects under the same conditions as this aid is now given to Catholic
projects. We shall continue to do so. Furthermore, we would suggest that local
Catholic and Orthodox representatives meet together to draw up plans for the training
institute mentioned for submission to these international agencies (cf. n. 5 of the
Vienna Report).
The transfer of property is often determined by the statutes of the individual
organisations that own them and by the conditions established by the original
founders or later benefactors. Keeping this fact in mind we shall encourage the sale
or transfer of properties not being used to Orthodox.
The recommendation that the Catholic Church must not establish new parishes or
dioceses or nominate new bishops or establish new monasteries or convents cannot
be accepted in the form in which it is stated. No authorities of our Church can
impose on local bishops and pastors an absolute prohibition against using those
means that they judge necessary for carrying out their pastoral responsibilities
towards their own faithful. There are certain needs of the faithful of the Coptic
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