Sadly, there are many laypeople I know of (in my own church community) whom consider the Catholic church to be heretics. I, personally, find this view to be absolutely repugnant. I am a firm believer that we MUST find a way to come together. We must work out the differences that are very real and join together. Christianity must unite in this ever more dangerous world we are living in.
May God bless Pope Benedict VXI, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholemew (and ALL the Orthodox Patriarchs around the world).
Differences DO need to be worked out, but not at the expense of an Ecumenical "kumbaya" feel good solution.
There are more serious problems here than you seem to realize. I am all for reunion, PROVIDED that all of these issues are addressed FULLY. You also cannot expect the bad feelings and injustices of the last 1000 years to go away overnight, just because the Pope and the EP are making nice.