Catholic-Oriental Orthodox dialogue discusses marriage, cooperation

Published: 2006-06-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Marriage, annulments and greater Eastern Catholic-Oriental Orthodox cooperation were among topics discussed at the annual meeting of the U.S. Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation. The meeting was held May 30-31 in Riverdale, N.Y. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington issued a news release about it June 21. In the opening session, the release said, Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Eastern U.S. Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch gave a presentation on the current state of Oriental Orthodox-Eastern Catholic relations. Citing the divisions and difficulties that arose historically within the Oriental Orthodox churches out of the formation of the Eastern Catholic churches, he urged more cooperation in the future to offer common witness. He suggested that Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic hierarchs meet regularly and invite one another to their major events and promote more public interaction among their faithful.

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