By Terry Vanderheyden
VATICAN CITY, March 30, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Leaders from the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church gathered to discuss ways to address a growing trend towards secularism and the marginalisation of religion in society.
The two-day workshop that began Wednesday has as its goal to come up with a declaration to combat the trend. Monsignor Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Vatican’s Justice and Peace department, said that Christian values have been sidelined by secular society, which views religion as irrelevant when creating new laws. “There is a conviction that ethical questions cannot be the subject of political debate because they are considered matters of choice for the individual, and even something private,” said Crepaldi, as reported by the ANSA news service.
Russian Orthodox bishop Mark d’Egorievsk added that secular society is in fact typically “aggressive” towards religion. “Secularism is getting stronger and obliges our churches to move together,” the bishop said.
Both sides agreed on the necessity for the Churches to remain active in political affairs.
Cardinal Walter Casper meanwhile said Monday that relations between the two Churches have advanced so far that a visit from Pope Benedict XVI, a dream of Pope John Paul II, in the coming years is plausible. Russian Orthodox sources, however, later denied that any plans were in the works.