Posted on 07/04/2005 9:14:37 PM PDT by kosta50
According to Cardinal Kasper
VATICAN CITY, JULY 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The international theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches will resume in the fall, says Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
The resumption of the dialogue was one of the proposals Benedict XVI made to the delegation of the ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, during its visit to Rome last week.
In statements Saturday on Vatican Radio, Cardinal Kasper confirmed that the delegation communicated "officially that in the fall we will be able to take up again the international dialogue with all the Orthodox Churches."
The official theological dialogue, which is carried out by a Catholic-Orthodox International Mixed Commission and includes representatives of the Catholic Church and of the various Orthodox Churches, has been blocked since 2000, when disputes arose at a meeting in Maryland.
The disputes were over the "Theological and Canonical Implications of Uniatism." The latter is the term used by the Orthodox when speaking of Christians, in traditionally Orthodox countries, who are in union with the Pope.
Scheduled topic
During a visit to Moscow from June 20-23, Cardinal Kasper was assured of the Russian Orthodox Church's willingness to take part in the dialogue.
He said that the topic the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue will first address is "What Does Church Mean in Reality?"
"Therefore, we will talk about the ecclesial community and, in this context, we will address the crucial question with Orthodoxy, namely, the primacy of the Petrine ministry," the cardinal explained.
"In this ambit, later, it will also be possible to resume the question of the 'Uniate' Church," he said. "I think that at present these are the aspects that must be considered. It will not be an easy discussion, but we will finally address openly the problems that exist between us."
Of his trip to Moscow, Cardinal Kasper said, "The atmosphere was cordial and courteous; I would not describe it as warm, but certainly fraternal.
"We have reasoned in the areas where we can collaborate, especially in the social and cultural field, and how we can offer a common testimony against the present secularism. There are possibilities of meeting here."
"We have also said that it would be desirable if meetings were verified between monasteries, considering the great importance that monasticism has in the Orthodox Church," he added. "The prospects are absolutely positive."
Please no flaming...
sorry for nmissing you the first time...
The two of us disagree on many issues but could we not join together in prayer (or should that be e-prayer?) that the will of God be done?
I am with you on this, by all means! But I can't help wondering if we are unable to come to terms because our repentence and desire that God's will be done is on our lips but not in our hearts.
The new pontiff has from the outset emphasized the need for unity within Christendom, and has placed special emphasis on improving relations between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. He reiterated as much in his meeting last week with three metropolitans who represented the patriarch at celebrations marking the enthronement of Benedict XVI. Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamo, who headed the delegation, extended an invitation to the pope to visit Istanbul which, according to sources, was accepted.
Pope Benedict XVI accepts invitation to visit Phanar (Orthodox Church in Turkey)
As to the "celebrations marking the enthronement of Benedict XVI", did Pope Benedict XVI take the oath that all newly elected popes of Rome have taken since the 7th century, the one Pope John Paul II dispensed with? The one in which the Pope of Rome pledges to be Orthodox, in which he says "We subject to severest excommunication anyone -- be it Ourselves or be it another -- who would dare to undertake anything new in contradiction to this constituted evangelic Tradition and the purity of the orthodox Faith and the Christian religion, or would seek to change anything by his opposing efforts, or would agree with those who undertake such a blasphemous venture." http://www.trosch.org/lit/papal_coronation_oath.html
Just asking.
IIRC, the Russian Orthodox are the least 'friendly' to Rome. Is that your understanding, as well?
They are directly affected by the Eastern-Catholic phenomenon. I am sure if other Patriarchates experienced similar events, the relations would be strained.
Yes, that should be obvious by following the link provided. I bolded it because this is pretty much at the heart of the article and I wanted to draw attention.
A point of vocabulary when referring to Eastern Catholics. The Eastern Churches in full union with Rome are not referred to as Roman Catholic. They may be referred to by their proper name, such as, Melkite Catholic Church. Additionally, a "rite" is not the same as a "Church." There are about 10 (depending on how one counts) ritual families in the Catholic Church. However, there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. Many Eastern Catholic Churches share the same rite, such as the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Romanian Catholic Church. Some Churches, like the Chaldean Catholic Church share the same rite as another Church not in full union with Rome (in this case, the Assyrian Church of the East.)
Eastern Churches in full union with Rome have their own Canon Law, ritual traditions, their own autonomous hierarchy and they govern their own internal affairs. Roman Catholics, properly referred, are those Westerns that belong to the Roman (or Latin) Church. Together, Latins and Easterns in full union with Rome comprise the Catholic Church.
This union in no way impugnes the distinctive dignity of the Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church or the Assyrian Church of the East.
Very nice explanation, gracefully offered.
"the distinctive dignity of the Oriental Orthodox Church,... or the Assyrian Church of the East." Distinctive dignity?
The Oriental Orthodox Church refers to a Communion of six apostolic Eastern Churches. All are independent of one another and all rejected the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD). The Churches that comprise the Oriental Orthodox Church are:
Armenian Apostolic Church; Coptic Orthodox Church; Ethiopian Orthodox Church; Syrian Orthodox Church; Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; Eritrean Orthodox Church.
In recent years, however, each of these Churches has come to common Christological agreement with representatives of both the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church, ending centuries of Christological division.
The Assyrian Church of the East refers to the apostolic Church established in Persia, outside of the Roman Empire (in what is now Iraq and Iran). The Church of the East became associated with the Nestorians and the rejection of the Council of Ephesus (431 AD). The Assyrian Holy Synod has come to common Christological agreement with representatives of both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, recently, as well (notably in 1994 when Pope John Paul II and Mar Dinka IV signed a Common Christological Declaration at the Vatican).
Am I to take it that all of these "churches" now venerate Pope St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Maximus the Confessor, and Pope St. Leo the Great of Rome and affirm St. Leo's Tome as being infallible?
"I believe that an oath prescribed is still sworn by the bishops of Rome to uphold the Catholic and Orthodox faith"
Really?
The same oath as was employed by the Orthodox popes of Rome in the 7th century? If so, did Pope Gregory XIII take this very same oath? Pope Pius IX, Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II (Linked article claims he did not.)?
You may be interested in an Eastern Orthodox website: http://www.orthodoxunity.org/index.html
for more info on Eastern Orthodox relations with the Oriental Orthodox.
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