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.
That wouldn't surprise either of us, Vlad!:)
“It seems to me that Catholics can’t do ANYTHING without the Orthodox finding something to complain about.”
And?????? If I have said it once, I've said it at least twice...we are not nice people. We are the worst sort of sinners.
BTW, that Archbishop Ireland stuff is all true an correct but it happened a long time ago in a very different time. As some here know, nowadays there is concern in this country when a Latin Rite Catholic shows up at an Orthodox Church wanting instruction. One recent such approach ended up on the desk of the Orthodox Metropolitan and the local RC bishop. The decision there was to catechize the person as she requested but the question, even at the level of a single lay person was taken seriously lest offense be given and the bonds of affection which have developed be impacted adversely.
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I can't say that I have noticed that to be a problem. To whom are we closer than the Orthodox? Yes, we may disagree at times, but we Roman Catholics also disagree at times.