How can the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church achieve ecumenism ?

Question

I am Catholic convert with great zeal and love for my church. I would say that upon conversion I became a conservative Catholic. Recently though, I've started to appreciate the beauty and tradition of my previous church the Greek Orthodox. Now instead of comparing the faiths and trying to get non-Catholics to convert, I feel that what I, and all of us should be truly doing is seeking unity. My question is with Ecumenism seeming so slightly closer, after the recent efforts of the Holy Father, how can the reuniting of the two sister churches, be done?

How will we agree on issues like the Immaculate Conception, priest celibacy, the 'Filioque'? My fear is that in any case one of the two churches will have to admit inaccuracy of its teachings! In addition, what would the basis for the election of a pope be? Would there have to be almost equal numbers of candidates from eats and west? After all the papacy is one thing that the Orthodox Church will have to admit to if we seek joining, am I right?

Answer 1

Priestly celebacy is a non-issue since many of the Eastern Catholic Churches allow married men to be priests, the Immaculate Conception and the Greek idea of panagia are trivially different except in perspective -- if both sides will allow the other to keep their perspectives the dogmatic issued disappears, the filoque is more a problem of good Church order than a dogmatic issue because the Latin Church means the filioque in a way different that it would than if it were said in Greek. The Greek Church is correct that the Latin understanding muddles the picture unnecessarily, but the Latin Church is correct that the idea is supported by the apostolic tradition as shown in the Fathers. The real issue is asymmetric unilateralism. The Church of Rome adopted it and the East did not. The East often insists that it should be allowed to adopt things and that Rome should not have a say in it, but when Rome does the same thing then the East needs to ask if it is allowed to speak on the issues internal to the West. The election of the papacy should not impact the Eastern Church at all.

There have been Eastern bishops who became Pope of Rome, but really it is an internal matter to the Latin Patriarchate, just as the election of the Patriarch of Antioch is internal to the Syrian Church. If there were Eastern prelates up for consideration, it would not be because of any attempt at parity but because the Spirit deemed them well suited for the job. The papacy became a "strong," papacy only after the Reformation. Most authority that is naturally reserved to the bishops of the western Church were transferred voluntarily to help fight the Reformation. The Roman Church is actively seeking ways to return power to its proper place.

The Roman Church has little impact upon Eastern Catholic Churches which are in union with Rome but not governed by Rome. Still, the particular language of certain Church documents is an issue for the Orthodox. The Orthodox of course do admit the papacy, it is the particular form that is important. I think this Pope would surrender a lot of ordinary authority for union as much of that authority isn't natural to the Roman bishop anyway but is rather a result of historical accretions that were important at the time, but not so important now.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church wil have to renounce some things just as the Orthodox will give things up. For both of them to achieve unity, there will have to be compromises made on both sides. Now it will be interesting to see which church does the most compromises and if the Catholic Church remains true to their practices. The issue will be papal infallibility, clergy celibacy, and the papacy. I think the Orthodox wants the Catholic Church to give up papal infallibility and the clergy celibacy. In return, the Orthodox Church will admit Immaculate Conception and will conceded to have a pope. If those both unite, there will be a lot talk about it.

Answer 3

Some of the Orthodox are in communion with Rome. I don't think they will need to accept the Pope but only agree on the 'Filioque' ( no offence but Jeff C is one of those 'Born Again' christians who does not know what they are talking about. Try reading about the early church from an unbiased source!

Answer 4

The "orthodox" in front of Coptic Catholic church signifies direct separation from the Roman Catholic church.

Answer 5

I personally have no idea. but I know that Jesus Christ wants us to try to become truly one church.

"The Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty of the Christian conscience enlightened by faith and guided by love…Jesus himself, at the hour of his Passion, prayed 'that they may all be one' (John 17:21). -- Pope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, May 25, 1995.

The Catholic Church has the following open dialogs with her sister Churches:

- The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation
- The Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops
- The Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic Consultation
- The Polish National Catholic-Roman Catholic Dialogue
- The Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation USA
- The Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue
- Roman Catholic-Reformed Consultation
- The United Methodist-Catholic Dialogue
- Southern Baptist Convention-Catholic Dialogue
- The Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue
- Faith and Order Commission, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
- Consultation with the National Council of Synagogues
- Consultation with the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

I say leave things as the are. I think the only reason the Pope is working for it is to get control of the Orthodox Church. And, I have great respect for the Orthodox Church-leave them along.

Answer 7

Orthodox church will never accept Pope the way catholics accept them. Thats for sure.

Answer 8

They will achieve unity under the pope. The problem is...they will try to force everyone to obey God's law the way they interpret it. And if people do not follow their teachings, they will be killed. Rev. 17:11-14

Answer 9

They should have clothing convergence. I suggest all cult members should wear pink Chicken outfits, and carry a copy of the Beano, as befits all fiction.

Answer 10

They can cooperate but not likely become one.