"Most assuredly not true for the Maronites, who were never part of the Orthodox Churches and hold great allegiance to the Holy Father."
As I was typing my comments yesterday morning, the thought that was going through my mind was that the Maronites would be an exception. Their history and liturgical practices are different from the other eastern Catholic churches and, frankly, the church appears to more latinized.
The history of the eastern European churches is significantly different from that of the Maronites. There's no question as to whether the Ukranians and Ruthenians (to name 2 examples) were in schism: they were. The practices of the eastern European churches are also very similar to the Orthodox. It is much less of a liturgical leap from the practices of the eastern European churches to Orthodoxy than it would be to the practices of the western church.
Truth be known, about the only things that I see that identify my parish as a Catholic church is the actual name of our church, the huge picture of Pope Benedict just inside the entrance, and the remembrance of the church hierarchy during the liturgy.
" There's no question as to whether the Ukranians and Ruthenians (to name 2 examples) were in schism: they were."
Or, put another way, " There's no question as to whether the Ukranians and Ruthenians (to name 2 examples) are in schism: they are." :)
Off to Liturgy!