an article from Christian Science Monitor

[Peter Djalaliev]

It's a relatively interesting article about the interactions between the Orthodox and Catholic churches going on currently.  I've heard a few times recently that there have been efforts to "unite" the two churches (probably "unify" their beliefs).  Apparently there have been work going on to produce theologibal dogmas that both churches might agree with.

Back to the article, it is about the possible effects of admitting Orthodox nations into the EU, which is predominantly Catholic and Protestant.

There are some points that don't make sense in the article.  It pictures Orthodox Christians as a mainstream community of believers.  However, I'm more inclined to believe that many orthodox either are not believers (thanks to communism) or are rather conservative so ( e.g. coptics).  Also, the article says that Orthodox Christians, when given a voice in EU policy making, will argue that churches should have more prominent roles in shaping social policy.  Again, I don't really see European Orthodox Christians doing that.  For almost half a century or more, churches for us have been places for special ceremonies (weddings, burials, memorials) rather than places that guide us throughout our daily life.  What the article is stating requires the existence of mainstream Orthodox christian communities, which, I think, are rare in Europe and will take decades more to revive.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1011/p09s01-coop.html?page=1

Peter