“If the Evangelical converts in the Antiochian Archdiocese have been too “on fire” then I’m sure +Philip has/will handle it.”
So we all hope, Yudan. The activities of some of those evangelicals has been a source of problems here in the States and abroad because of some basic misunderstandings about Orthodox theology and praxis.
“El Patriota is a cradle Roman whose disaffection with the abuse scandals in that Communion have led him to seek a home elsewhere, and he is looking to the East.”
Latins are free to explore Orthodoxy as the Orthodox are free to explore Roman Catholicism. That said, Y, there is a very, very long and sad history of Roman Catholic proselytizing of Orthodox Christians which for many centuries and even to the present in some areas has been a source of great discord between the East and the West. On the other hand, in the last century there were forced conversions of Eastern Rite Catholics back to their ancestral Orthodoxy in places like Ukraine and after the fall of the USSR of very active proseltyzing by Latins in Russia.
As for ““harumph”ing”, the Synod in Antioch very recently did some rather substantial “harumph”ing” on this very subject, in which +Philip joined.
As a general proposition and over the past few years, Orthodoxy and the Latin Church have arrived at a point where it has been determined that it is destructive of potential harmony for either side to seek to convert the other. As a catchumen, you may not have been aware of that. That’s what Campion was alluding to.
“As a general proposition and over the past few years, Orthodoxy and the Latin Church have arrived at a point where it has been determined that it is destructive of potential harmony for either side to seek to convert the other.”
Yes, very true. The Late Patriarch of Moscow, Alexei II was on record as saying there would never be communion between East and West so long as the Church of Rome sought to proselytize in Russia.
“...the Synod in Antioch very recently did some rather substantial “harumph”ing” on this very subject, in which +Philip joined.”
Well aware on my end of the Byzantine intrigue to which H.E. +Philip has treated both his Archdiocese AND the Holy Synod in Antioch. My family and I began the process of conversion about 6 weeks before the Feb 24 bomb went off. In my own opinion, it comes down to Philetism on the part of a small group of old-country priests in the Midwest. And the Laity have fought back pretty hard about the whole deal, as they have throughout Church history when the Hierarchy got something wrong. The Latins have one thing right for sure in all this: mandatory clerical retirement at 75 (and Cardinals lose their vote for Pope at 80).
“As a catachumen...”
{cue the commercial bumper of “Dark Shadows” here as the trump card is played} Dumm-duhhhmmm-DAAAAAAAAAUUUUUMMMMM!!!!
Please tell me you didn’t mean that as snottily or elitist as it sounded. Because if it was, you just lost my personal deference to your “wisdom.”
Geee... I feel like the kid who while playing with matches close to very flammable containers... set a big fire! So let me try to put it out.
I made a mistake. I got a little carried away for several reasons:
- Yes, I am looking into the Orthodox Church as an alternative to the RCC.
- My "beef" is only with this church and NO OTHER (too long to explain but you can read it -- see link below)
- I am not trying to offend anyone's religion! I am simply looking for the one that will "fit my needs," that's all. In our last conversation I asked which church came closest to the RCC in rituals, etc. Several nice people (i.e. Salvation) trying to be helpful, suggested I might look into the Orthodox Church. And so I have been looking into it and to my surprise!... I like what I've seen so far (like a kid in an ice-cream shop: It's just a question of which flavor now :)... so I see a bit of hope, like a "match in the darkness" (pun intended :). So yes, I am a bit excited at the prospect of finding something I thought I could never replace. I don't know if I will ever convert, there is a long way to go, at least a year or two, but I know I will visit several of the Orthodox Churches in its different flavors... and the rest is in God's hands.
If you are interested you can read post # 61 of http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2264321/posts
- Lastly, I was happy to see this thread on something exclusive to the Orthodox Church, which I don't see that often here in FR or maybe I never noticed? Hmmmm...
- In short, I forgot this "a thread" (public) and not an "Orthodox Group" (private). So I see how the faithful of other religions might take offense to what I said today unless they understand the background.
So, I will remove the picture in my first post and please accept my apologies.