How many Catholics would favor reunification with the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Question

Including all the various national affiliates - Russian Orthodox,Greek,etc.

Answer 1

I would favor restoration along the original lines,with a bipartite structure and neither church claiming primacy over the other. Return to tradition. In this I wish also to note that the American Orthodox Chruch is experiencing rapid growth,as members of the various national churches intermarry. As things stand,we recognize their sacraments,they do not recognize ours - or that's how I understand it. They may receive the sacraments at a R.C.C. but we can't at theirs. I think they need to move forward more,frankly. But yes,it would be a grand thing.

Answer 2

All Christians, not just Catholics should favor reunification (to desire otherwise is un-christian) of the whole Church, however the "free will" of mankind continues to interfere.

As imacatholic2 stated above, there are on going dialogs between the Catholic Church and most other denominations.

The Joint Declaration on Justification issued between the Catholic and Lutherans did indeed happen 1999, however both sides have since backed down and have admitted that the wording is too ambiguous, and therefore open to various interpretations.

It is interesting to note that exactly the same issue was addressed at the Colloquy of Regensburg. Philip Melanchthon
represented the Lutherans, and a "joint statement"on justification was produced. Just like today both Luther and the Pope rejected because the wording was too ambiguous. History seems to repeat itself.

If you are interested in seeing what Confessional Lutherans and Catholics have in Common you should read the Augsburg Confession.

Luther desired and was promised by the Pope that a general council would be convened. The Pope repeatedly postponed the general council that Luther had been requesting for a long time. That was almost 500 years ago. There still has not been a general council looking to reconciliation. I believe that the reason is because the Pope and Cardinals fear what may happen to their autocratic power hold they have over the Church if they open the door to the "age of enlightenment".

Answer 3

I am confidant that many would support reunification with the Eastern Orthodox.

The Catholics have been humbled by spending hundreds of millions - if not billions - on resolving child sex abuse cases all over the world. If the Vatican gave up as a secular power and abandoned the heretical views of primacy - maybe as a compromise, upon unification, there would be a Patriarch of America for all reunified Catholics and Orthodox.

The Ecumenical Patriarch and Pope Benedict are the major hurdles. They are talking - that is good and pray for the unity of the faith.

Answer 4

I would love to see the day of "One fold and One Shepherd." I know there are many doctrinal differences and customs separating us from the Orthodox, Coptic, and other branches of the Faith. But those things could be overcome with time and cooperation from each other, and the Church reunited as one.

I've been to Greek Orthodox services, and they are very beautiful, as are Russian Orthodox. I think we would all benefit from sharing the good things about the various branches of Catholicism with each other.

Answer 5

Almost all.

"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 already 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

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

i might desire to work out this take place. The Catholic church has the two the western and jap rites; the jap rites being like those of the orthodox. The East has many valuable truths and experience of sacredness and prayer that the West might earnings from like clever there are issues the West can instruct the East besides. i think of it would be spectacular to work out this take place.

Answer 7

I am all for that, absolutely! There's some hard doctrinal stuff to cover - such as the filioque and the role of the papacy, as well as all the councils since the seventh council and their role in the church... but we have so much in common with them in terms of liturgy, sacrament, and the way we look at the world.

I think that is more pressing than any other form of ecumenism (no offense to my Protestant brethren.)

Answer 8

Oh I would!!! In fact, I pray for that quite often,and already consider them my brothers.

Answer 9

I would favor unification.

I would not favor married priests though.

Answer 10

That would be great. I am all for it.

Peace and blessings!