which side is right, the Catholic Church or the Orthodox Church?

Question

Before the year 1054AD there was only one church, which was referred to as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church consisting of the 5 patriarchs (Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria). The Great Schism happened between the West (Church of Rome) and the East (Churches of the East) in the year 1054. The main reason for this schism was a dispute with the filoque doctrine (the Holy Ghost proceding from the Father and the Son), which the churches of the east refuted and the Papal Supremacy doctrine (the Patriarch of Rome having full and supreme jurisdiction over the Church of Rome and the Churches of the East). The Church of Rome considers the churches of the east(Orthodox Church) to be schismatics. The Orthodox Church considers the Church of Rome to be schismatic. I'm trying to search for the truth. Both sides trace their lineage of bishops directly to the Twelve Apostles, then to Jesus Christ, the founder, the one true God made man.

Answer 1

Roman Catholicism is the true Church that Christ founded on the "Rock"-St. Peter, the first Pope. In order to understand the Papacy, we must know the Old Testament. The Davidic Kings would rule the kingdom through prime ministers. In fact, the prime minister would take full control in the King's absence, sickness, etc. For example, the Prime Minister is given the power to "bind and loose" in Isaiah 22:22 and is given the "key of the house of David", in the same way, Christ, The King, gives St. Peter, the same power to "bind and loose" and gives him the "keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" in Matthew 16. Therefore, St. Peter and the Popes after him are the prime ministers ruling the Kingdom of Jesus ChristThe King, until he returns. Hope this helped, God bless.

Answer 2

If we accept the argumentation made by GodisLove09, then the Patriarch of Jerusalem should be the highest in hierarchy! Just read the New Testament (Acts) and it's easy to see that St.Peter has never become a bishop of neither Jerusalem nor Rome. Actually, personally I am not convinced that Apostle Peter has ever visited Rome, but let's accept this as a fact for the sake of the argument.

Then, when Paul went to Rome, there were already Christians in the city; he was not the founder of the Church of Rome. However, if, again for the sake of argumentation, Rome has some privilege to claim over the other Patriarchates, because Rome's church was founded by Paul, then so should Philippi or Thessaloniki (Macedonia, Greece), or Korinthos (Peloponnese, Southern Greece). Of course, there is no Patriarchate there, so...?!
So, maybe we should think what the Patriarchate of Antioch, Syria could claim. Remember? This is where Paul became a Christian in the first place. So they "founded" the founder! Additionally, this is the city where "Christians" were called with this name for the first place.

So, if the answer is who got there first it's either Jerusalem or Antioch!

The real issue is that in the Catholic Church if the Pope claims anything that differs from Christ then the Pope's word counts more! It's a monarchic regime. On the contrary, the Eastern Orthodox Church has kept its synodic system that is democratic. If the Patriarch of Constantinople (today Istanbul, Turkey) would make any humane error, then this would mean nothing for Orthodoxy; it simply wouldn't count! We are all humans and we may err, Patriarchs, bishops, priests included, What matters is if everybody, clergy and laymen that constitute the Orthodox Church, accept as true. And truth is what the Holy Spirit is teaching us.
This may sound as close to Protestant way of thinking, but there is a big difference. Whenever we disagree in the Orthodox Church we discuss it (in Synods) until we reach a unanimous decision. While in the Protestant world if one disagrees they may as well create a different denomination and all is well; both see the Truth in a different way. This sounds fine at first, however, what kind of a Holy Spirit is that, that teaches different people different truths. Are there many Christs, not just one?.

Answer 3

Or neither... Both are descended from the compromise variation of Christianity headquartered on the Nicene Creed, where the 'trinity' used to be designed to unite specific cults of Christianity with one-of-a-kind beliefs. Especially Arians did not conform to the compromise, and were later exterminated for being heretics. After the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 CE, Nicene Christianity grew to be the reputable faith of the Roman Empire, and all others were eradicated by force. It is excellent that the oldest Bible on the earth, the Codex Sinaiticus, has no point out of a resurrection. For this reason an imprecise beginning was a sequence of cults, was later united as a religion and spread by way of the sword, after which fragmented for political motives (quality Schism, Reformation). It's hard to search out any real reality in any of this.

Answer 4

Before the split there was a pope who decreed that anyone who made changes to the Creed was a heretic. Interestingly, the filioque was added after that. As the patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople were the bishops of those respective cities which happened to be the capitals of the Western and Eastern Roman empire they were both considered to be "prima inter pares" (first among equals)..... This is still the policy of the Eastern church.....

Answer 5

I'm not sure i want to get involved. But actually since the catholic claim is based on kind of a who-was-first - notwithstanding the "official" theological justification you cite I think that's the reality - I'd have to point out that the Armenian Orthodox Church is older than the R.C.C. In fact it's the oldest existing christian church.

Answer 6

you see what the one true church is well that is what i believe. i can't say hey you believe this or that. you have to take time and be what you can believe and then act upon it. me I have been catholic since birth and that is what i hang on to. so therefore i feel this is the one. actually what ever you feel is the right church is the right one for you. but not believing is the worst part. I hope you find what you are looking for sometimes going to preiests and asking questions can give you insite. each one has its own idea.

Answer 7

Neither represents Biblical Christianity.

Answer 8

Neither is right - the Bible is a manufactured document compiled by men in Rome. It has no solid foundation except the fear and superstition of men.

Answer 9

If you're interested, this is a popular forum for Orthodox Christians, you may find more answers here...

http://christianforums.com/f145-the-ancient-way-eastern-orthodox.html

Answer 10

Why can only one side be 'right'? It is usually the case with schisms that both sides are wrong to varying degrees. The Great Schism is a case in point.