But there is a line on ecumenism, and they crossed it here, I think. Pope Benedict is not going to give up ecumenical dialogue with sister churches (the Orthodox) or certain faith communities (the salvageable Protestant communions).
He *is* going to keep that conversation within certain bounds, as it is widely known he thought little of the Assisi gatherings, and was behind the push to release Dominus Iesus.
There is too much of a certain attitude on the part of some Trads to return to the Fortress model of the Tridentine period. "We are perfect; all that is needed for reunion is for the other lost sheep to return to us, groveling. Wipe your shoes before coming in the door."
Ours *is* the One True Church. But it is easy to forget - especially in regards to the Orthodox - that the blame is not all on their side for the break. However stiff-necked and frustrating they can be. The Remnant is wrong; there *has* been progress in that regard (and with the Lutherans) - just not quite as much as was hoped for. Such conversation can continue so long as they proceed with clarity and without compromising the deposit of faith.
Don't compromise the faith. But don't hang up the phone, either.
I'm curious, why do you think they crossed the line? What line do you think was crossed?
"We are perfect; all that is needed for reunion is for the other lost sheep to return to us, groveling. Wipe your shoes before coming in the door."
That of course is your characterization, a very negative one. This is Church teaching:
"The unity of Christians cannot otherwise be obtained than by securing the return of the separated to the one true Church of Christ from which they once unhappily withdrew. To the one true Church of Christ, we say, that stands forth before all and that by the will of its Founder will remain forever the same as when He Himself established it for the salvation of all mankind." (Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos)
there *has* been progress in that regard (and with the Lutherans) - just not quite as much as was hoped for.
What do you mean by progress? Where are we progressing to, what goal?