Ankara (Fides Service) - Hope and steps forward for the juridical recognition of the Catholic Church in Turkey: on 21 June for the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey the Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a meeting with the country’s Catholic Bishops who had an opportunity to illustrate the identity and mission of the Catholic Church, speak about their communities, explain their difficulties. Present for the meeting, the Catholic Bishops of the Latin, Armenian, Chaldean and Syrian Catholics.
The Bishops asked the Prime Minister and the government to adopt measures to harmonise the laws of Turkey with the demands of the European Union, which that nation hopes to join. In an atmosphere of cordiality they were able to explain the difficulties and concerns of Christian Turks, and they also made an explicit request for juridical recognition of the Catholic Church in Turkey.
The Bishops presented the Premier with a memorandum asking for the institution of a bilateral commission bilateral to discuss the questions of the juridical status of the local Catholic Church Cattolica and all the relative implications.
There is great optimism among Turkey’s Catholics, after what was seen as a “milestone” for the life of the Church in this country. Rev. George Marovich, spokesman of the Bishops’ Conference, who was present, told Fides that the meeting had been requested some months ago and that to be received by the Premier is highly significant. “The Prime Minister asked us to help the process of Turkey’s integration into the European Union. We replied that for some years we have been working in that direction: this is seen by the fact that our Bishops’ Conference is part of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences CCEE. A fact for which Erdogan voiced satisfaction. Now we are waiting for the formation of the bilateral Commission which will facilitate our work. In the meantime the Premier announced a decree granting the Assumptionist Fathers, as a religious congregation, the use of property confiscated in the past. A very positive signal which fills us with hope for the future”.
Turkey has a population of 66 million 98% Muslim, while Christianity accounts for 0.6%. There are Orthodox Christians led by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and there are Catholics of various rites Latin, Armenian, Chaldean, Syrian-Catholic, Byzantine and Maronite. It should be said that many Christians hide their faith because Christians are not allowed to sit in Parliament or undertake a military career.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/06/2004 Lines: 37 Words: 370)