Russian Orthodox leadership...they say we poach?

Dare Catholics build a church a ten minute walk from the Kremlin (even if they'd let us)?

On friday in Rome was the dedication of the new Russian Orthodox Church building which is still under construction just near the Vatican. It's the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The church is a one-two minute walk from the Stazione San Pietro, Rome's train station closest to the Vatican. From the Vatican, this new church is about a ten minute walk.

I was eager to attend the dedication. But, with their utter "Jansenism" and "Caesaro-Papism," we laity were not invited. Only some clerics and Diplomatic Corps players and architects were invited. Not even the construction workers imported from Russia were invited.

Meanwhile, though, the Holy See continues to extend a hand in friendship. This new church overlooks the Saint Peter train station. It's big and tall with its gold domes. And, it's on the wooded hill which is the campus of the mansion of the ambassador of the Russian Federation (Villa Abamelek). The Holy See wanted to give them an already existing church bldg., but they scoffed at the idea.

Why are we still hearing from them (and only them) that Catholics still have no business in Russia?