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

The Coptic Orthodox have been assured that the Catholic Church does not consider
them as objects of a “mission” and that it is important that all pastoral work among
Orthodox be undertaken with the knowledge, agreement and cooperation of the
Orthodox authorities, and without the intention of having people pass from one
Church to the other. For this reason it is necessary that there be frequent and regular
contacts between Catholic bishops and religious superiors and those of the Orthodox
Church. These contacts are deemed necessary in order to create that atmosphere of
mutual respect and trust which is lacking at present, to meet the pastoral needs of the
Christians, and to sort out particular items that could be a source of misunderstanding
or friction.
Once again the Holy See commends the work of the local joint committee.
Moreover, it is convinced that it is mainly by means of regular systematic
consultations between the authorities of the two Churches, that the fears, worries and
desires expressed in the Vienna Report can be dealt with.
In his letter to Bishop Samuel, Cardinal Willebrands spoke clearly and frankly about
the practice of some Orthodox of “rebaptising” Catholics who pass to the Orthodox
Church. By this custom the Orthodox Church puts in doubt the very existence of the
Catholic Church with its sacraments, its liturgy, and its hierarchy. Many Catholics
find in this behaviour an obstacle to their participation in the ecumenical movement.
Therefore, we ask that this practice be ended, though we are not demanding any
public statement on this matter.
In another letter, the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity also informed Bishop
Samuel of our thinking in the question of the passage of Christians from one Church
to another. We recognise the possibility of such cases occurring for reasons of faith
and out of a deep personal conviction, of which the local bishop is the judge.
Nevertheless, when it is a matter of groups of persons able to form a community, the
bishop will make a very close investigation of their motives. If these initiatives are
due to a desire to withdraw, for no matter what reason, from the authority of their
own bishop or parish priest, that is not sufficient motive. Such a request to pass to
the Catholic Church should be refused, and the Orthodox authorities must be
informed of such proposals. In collaboration with the Orthodox authorities, a
solution must be sought in such a way as to restore peace to the community.
Your Beatitude can see the importance which we give to developing relations
between Catholic and Orthodox bishops, whether on an individual basis or on the
level of the hierarchies as such. It is important in the search for full communion that
the Catholic and the Orthodox authorities really acknowledge one another as brothers
in the episcopate, with pastoral concerns that transcend the present divisions and
necessitate brotherly collaboration.
Recently, during the visit of the four Catholic members of the local joint committee,
of which Bishop Kabès is co-president, we had an opportunity for friendly
discussions, which helped us better appreciate both the difficulties being encountered
in this important stage of dialogue with the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the
common desire to overcome them.
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