http://www.serbianna.com/news/2005/02299.html Serbia protests to Vatican over Kosovo Bishop
December 30, 2005 Serbian authorities have issued an official protest to the Vatican representatives in Belgrade, objecting the remarks made by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kosovo Mark Sopi during his Christmas Mass that urged Catholic believers of Kosovo to pray for an independent Kosovo. "The Birth of Christ can be compared to the birth of new reality in Kosovo," said Bishop Sopi then proceeded to urge his believers to pray for Kosovo's independence. Belgrade authorities deem this religious action by the Catholic Bishop of Kosovo as political that uses religion to violate the spirit of the law that defines Kosovo as a province in sovereignty of Serbia. United Nation Resolution 1244 defines Kosovo as a sovereign territory of Serbia. Serbian Orthodox Church, which also joined the objection, expressed its regret that a religious service is being used for spreading political messages, particularly in the circumstances where human and religious rights of Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanians are being blatantly violated by Kosovo Albanians. Apostolic Nuntio, Eugenio Sbarbaro confirmed that Vatican did receive the objection and said that the Holy See is fully supportive of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 which fully recognizes the sovereignty of Serbia in Kosovo. Kosovo is currently administered by the UN. One of the first initiatives by the newly elected Vatican Pope Benedict XVI has been to improve the relationship between the two Apostolic Churches, Catholic and Orthodox, along with a desire to visit Serbia. The unconstructive behavior of Roman Catholic clergy in Kosovo is seen by Belgrade as detrimental in building interchurch relations said a source close to the objecting parties in Belgrade. December 30, 2005 01:09 PM (18:09 GMT) ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Clean water saves lives. Help make water safe for our children. http://us.click.yahoo.com/YNG3nB/VREMAA/E2hLAA/1dTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> =============== Group Moderator: [EMAIL PROTECTED] page at http://magazine.sorabia.net for more informations about current situation in Serbia http://www.sorabia.net Slusajte GLAS SORABIJE nas talk internet-radio (Serbian Only) http://radio.sorabia.net Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sorabia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
