“Except that he seems to be doing this out of principle - he seems to really believe in unity with the pope. How can he be turned away?”
This man apparently has some history of disobedience to his Synod quite aside from his opinions on communion with Rome and his confused, though perhaps correct, conception of primacy. In any event, he wasn’t being disciplined simply because he believes communion with Rome is important. There’s more to it. What Rome has done is slap a relatively small Oriental Orthodox Church across the face. The fact is, that’s cause for concern and that’s just what it is causing even as we write back and forth.
You wrote:
“This man apparently has some history of disobedience to his Synod quite aside from his opinions on communion with Rome and his confused, though perhaps correct, conception of primacy.”
Possibly. Sometimes the Holy Spirit works in really unusual ways. I am sure many Orthodox would say (in fact I know they have) that Archbishop Ireland - who was simply outstanding in his opposition to racism and descrimination for his day - had some how fallen into a plan of the Holy Spirit’s by treating Fr. Toth like garbage and thus helping to create the Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox Church.
“In any event, he wasn’t being disciplined simply because he believes communion with Rome is important.”
Could be.
“There’s more to it. What Rome has done is slap a relatively small Oriental Orthodox Church across the face.”
Maybe, but then again you are making two mistakes: 1) You are assuming that Rome was really keen on this. Rome may have agreed, but Pope Benedict is very interested in good relations with the Orthodox so this is a surprise for everyone - including us. Maybe he sees more in this than you and I do? 2) If Benedict sees something in this we don’t see, and what you are de facto not making any room for naturally, is that Benedict XVI might see the Holy Spirit in this. Again, would this make much sense otherwise?
“The fact is, that’s cause for concern and that’s just what it is causing even as we write back and forth.”
Now I am going to write something that will cause all sorts of consternation to the Orthodox here and everywhere: It seems to me that Catholics can’t do ANYTHING without the Orthodox finding something to complain about.