Apparently, some are not at all concerned about ruining sincere efforts at re-uniting the Church, but are pressing forward with more innovations.
What most people don't realize is that had it not been for two 19th century dogmas, the Immaculate Conception and Papal Infallibility, the Church would probably have been re-united by now!
So, the real, almost unbridgeable rift did not exist until the 19th century. If this century produces Mary the Co-redemptrix dogma, that will put the last nail in the coffin of fulfilling Christ's commandment of a united Church.
“...but are pressing forward with more innovations.”
And an innovation, a particularly strange one at that, it is. One wonders what compels some Latins to press for not simply the toleration of this rather unpatristic notion, but indeed to dogmatize it. The position of the Most Holy Theotokos within The Church and hearts of the faithful is secure and has been for at least 1700 years, likely rather longer. The expression of that veneration and love in the Akathist Hymn seems to me quite sufficient, as it has been since +Romanos the Melodist penned it in the late 5th, early 6th century and in the kontakia, apolytikia, troparia and Divine Liturgies of The Church since the 4th century. The Mariology of The Church is clear. For the life of me I can see little purpose behind this activity unless it is to derail reunion with Orthodoxy.
“...I know from the writings of the holy Apostle Paul: the Holy Spirit declares that even the angels would be anathema if they should begin to preach another Gospel, introducing some new teaching.” +Maximos the Confessor
Good to here from the Eastern Orthodox. In regard to the unbridgeable gap not existing until the 18th century, why did the gap not get bridged in the 800 years prior to the definition of the Immaculate Conception? I think Our Lady is the common ground between the East and the West. Perhaps honoring her with this dogma is something we can get together on.
Ave Maria!