"Perhaps we do not understand what that means. It doesn't necessarily mean we have to be "married." ...... Christian thing to do would be for the brothers to support and help each other, and stand united against common adversaries, and mutually respect each other's households rather than trying to make each other a clone of the other. That would unite us in Christ without ecclesiological re-union and bureaucratic and legalistic niceties."
Yes I very much agree with you. If there is one thing that Catholics should have learnt from our relationships with Evangelicals it is that standing side by side on picket lines outside of abortion clinics has done far more to enable us to see each other as Christians than all the ecumenical dialogues put together.
It may have not done anything to promote doctrinal or ecclesial unity at the "official levels", but it has enabled people who once viewed each other as anathema to recognise each other as brothers again.
For this reason I see Patriarch Alexy's suggestion of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches working together to combat the forces of darkness that are sweeping over Europe, to be more realistic and potentially productive than some of the silly suggestions that Cardinal Kaspar has made recently.
This makes much more sense than continuing ecumenical dialogues with people like the archbishop of Canterbury who are actively working to promote the culture of death and the hegemony of homosexuals over Western society. What kind of signal does this send to the world if on one hand the Church condemns the culture of death, but on the other is actively engaged in "unity talks" with some of its primary liberal proponents?
"And one more thing: keep in mind that the frustration you feel with the Orthodox is because the Orthodox are not asking for reconciliation or re-union."
Please don't see my frustration with the ecumenical charade as something that is directed primarily or particularly at the Orthodox. It is as much directed at the idiot Catholic ecumenists who think they can walk into talks with bits of the Catholic Faith up for negotiation as if they were tradable assets in a merger or acquisition prospectus.
I certainly have some sympathy with the Orthodox response to the continual, embarrassing pleadings for reconciliation and re-union that come out of our hierarchy. When such pleadings become so insistent, they will eventually be perceived as harrassment or even hostility - it seems that there can be a lack of basic "people skills" by senior hierarchs that normal people who have to work for a living would be much more savvy about!
Say something once, and if necessary twice, and then , as you say, "leave it up to God." If He sees something that needs fixing, He will fix it - its His Church!
Now that's the T I knew and loved. :-) Thank you.
You are aware, I trust, of Patriarch Alexei's unrepented past KGB connection?
You know, that says it all. If we can see each other as Christians is the key. Not as Roman Catholics, not as Orthodox, not as Evangelicals, but simply as Christians.
If we can be united in Christ and do charity in His name perhaps the good and merciful Lord will forgive our inability to find a common formula.
That's why it is best that we don't discuss our differences, our historical issues, our perceptions of each other, even our theology in great depth, but rather concentrate on what we as Christians can do.
I know that some will find this smacking of Luther's "there is no salvation outside of Christ" (and not outside of the Church), but the fact is we are too imperfect to be united except through Him. As you know, divisions started almost immediately after the Penetecost, which defined +Paul's ministry, appealing to brothers for unity and rejection of sexual and other excesses. And, in view of that, nothing has changed, because human nature hasn't changed.
The more I read about the Unidivided Church the more I realize that they tended to minimize their differences in understanding and perception and maximize their need to be united in Christ, which is why -- despite many misunderstandings and all -- kept the Church undivided for so long. And it is that Patristic Church that we must learn to emulate.
I think this is what Pope Benedict meant when he called for "union." Only time will tell. In the meantime, it is best that we set aside out doctrinal and other differences and "picket together," as you say, as Christians.