One of the reasons Islam was able to get off the ground in the first place was because of the divisions between the Eastern and Western Churches. Furthermore, the Eastern Church had a very weak authority structure (partially because of the plague of heresies it had suffered) and was unable to stop many of the disastrous events or to coordinate an “official” request to the West for help.
We can’t let this happen again.
Too true.
Sadly, however, it is the West now that is as sadly weakened by heresy as the East was centuries ago. Still, Benedict’s voice is strong in defense of Christians.