What is it about?
Christianity in Europe hasn't disappeared but is changing due to a number of circumstances. Despite the loss of influence In some areas there is also new growth including the emergence of Eastern Catholic church communities, often a result of either the collapse of communism ( Eastern Europe) or immigration particularly from the Middle East. These communities bring many insights and challenges for Western Christians and reveal the deeper history and the richness of a very pluralisitc but united faith.
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Why is it important?
This article opens up insights for an appreciation of Eastern Catholic communities, often neglected in any study or dialogue about Oriental Christianity. The future of Middle Eastern Christianity is under threat, especially in the place it was born. The future of these communities lies in good assimilation in society,appreciation by other Christian communities (particularly their Sister the Roman Catholic Church) and a wider understanding of their living role and place in Christian tradition.
Perspectives
The Eastern Catholic tradition has been neglected by many theologians and students of religion and there is quite a lot of ignorance about them amongst Latin Rite Catholics. This is slowly changing although there is residual prejudice about them from different sources including some Orthodox and Protestant communities. The fact that a growing number of these churches have established themselves in Europe presents reflections for Western Christians and also challenges for their survival. Some of them are ancient churches, they represent not only the origins of Christianity but also its variety of experience. In many ways they are models for us of bridge building and survival as a minority.
Rev Dr Robert (Robin) PP Gibbons
Oxford College of Marketing
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Eastern Catholic Diaspora in Contemporary Europe: Context and Challenges, The Downside Review, September 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0012580616656115.
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