New Catholic-Orthodox group to investigate claims of proselytism

Published: 2004-02-26

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A new Catholic-Russian Orthodox commission will be charged with investigating claims of Catholic proselytism in Russia and with developing a code of conduct in Catholic-Orthodox relations. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and his Russian Orthodox counterpart, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, established the commission in late February. In an interview with the Italian Catholic magazine Il Regno, Cardinal Kasper said it was not helpful to have the same vague accusations repeated over and over again without anyone verifying the extent of the problem. "We cannot keep talking in general terms," he said. "Concrete cases must be examined. Individual situations should be verified."

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