In Ukraine, Unity Must Begin with the Orthodox, Says Catholic Archbishop

Catholic World Report ^ | 12/24/14 | Michael J. Miller

[marshmallow]

(December 22, 2014, Information Resource of the UGCC) The first step toward unity of the Churches in Ukraine “must be the unification of the Orthodox Churches, because they have no dogmatic difference,” the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav maintains.

“We pray for that,” he said in an interview with the Internet publication Tsenzor.net. “When one Orthodox Church [in Ukraine] is created, the next step must be the unification of the Orthodox and Catholic sides.”

According to remarks by Pope Francis, who recently visited Istanbul and met with Patriarch Bartholomew, the path to unification consists not in the subordination or absorption of one Church by another, His Beatitude noted. Church unity consists of intercommunion [soprychastia]—Eucharistic fellowship and the possibility of celebrating the Divine Liturgy together.

“Our position differs from the position of the Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate),” the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church emphasized. “They maintain that one local Orthodox Church already exists in Ukraine, and that they are it. To their way of thinking, the path to unification consists of subjecting everyone who is outside of their structure.

[vladimir998]

Well, yes, because they are more disunited than the Orthodox are with the Catholics these days! There are three men calling themselves the Patriarch of Kiev or some such right now.

And, of course, the Russian backed Church loves to portray itself as a victim in all of this: http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/the-schism-in-orthodoxy-in-the-ukraine-distresses-the-entire-orthodox-church-an-official-appeal-of-the-holy-synod-of-the-uocmp/

[x_plus_one]

So many Orthodox churches in Ukraine - they will never unite let alone resolve with Moscow.

[piusv]

According to remarks by Pope Francis, who recently visited Istanbul and met with Patriarch Bartholomew, the path to unification consists not in the subordination or absorption of one Church by another, His Beatitude noted. Church unity consists of intercommunion [soprychastia]—Eucharistic fellowship and the possibility of celebrating the Divine Liturgy together.

And this would be contrary to Traditional Catholic teaching....once again.

[cloudmountain]

This is a huge, monumental event and will take place, finally, a long time from now. The Church doesn't rush anything. That is probably a good thing.

I am still amazed that it's even up for discussion.

[firebasecody]

Europe is still very tribal. Ethnic identity seems to trump all else. The history of Orthodoxy in the US is atypical. However, as the US ethnic enclaves dissipate, at least Orthodox unity is more likely here. More and more parishes are becoming pan-orthodox.

[NKP_Vet]

If it were up to Francis all protestants would be going up for Communion in any Catholic Church. My prediction is this will his major issue after he allows divorced to receive communion.He passed out communion to shacked up couples all over Argentina. Doctrine means nothing to him.

[piusv]

I agree. Unity for Francis is holding hands during the Our Father.