Posted on 09/15/2009 7:51:18 AM PDT by Publius804
Archbishop: Orthodox-Catholic Unity Could Happen in Months
The Catholic Archbishop of Moscow has given a remarkably upbeat assessment of relations with the Orthodox church, saying unity between Catholics and Orthodox could be achieved “within a few months.”
According to an interview in today’s Corriere della Sera newspaper, Mons. Paolo Pezzi said the "miracle" of reunification “is possible, indeed it has never been so close.” He added that Catholic-Orthodox reunification and spiritual communion “could happen soon, also within a few months.”
The Orthodox church, which with 225 million to 300 million members is the world's second largest Christian communion after the Catholic Church, broke from the Catholic Church in the Great Schism of 1054.
“Basically we were united for a thousand years,” Pezzi said. “Then for another thousand we were divided. Now the path of rapprochement is at its peak, and the third millennium of the Church could begin as a sign of unity.” He said there were “no formal obstacles” but that “everything depends on a real desire for communion.” On the part of the Catholic Church, he added, “the desire is very much alive.”
Pezzi, 49, whose official title is Metropolitan Archbishop of the Mother of God Archdiocese in Moscow, said that on issues of modernity, Catholics and Orthodox Christians feel the same way. "Nothing separates us on bioethics, the family, and the protection of life." Also on matters of doctrine, the two are essentially agreed. He said there remains the question of how much authority the Pope has, otherwise known as 'papal primacy', but he stressed this will be a concern at the next meeting of the Catholic-Orthodox Commission. "To me, it doesn’t seem impossible to reach an agreement," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
</sarcasm>
Ping!
Sounds rather over-optimistic, but here’s hoping!
Would that mean that the next time some psychopath US president like SlicKKK KKKlintler goes to bomb some innocent orthodox nation for 80 days and nights including Easter Sunday, somebody outside of Russia might actually get upset over it?
Hogwash. Will not happen. Rome will never consent to conciliarity, which would be among the several preconditions.
ping
filioque...
What if the Orthodox agree to drop conciliarity? Our Lady of Fatima spoke of the conversion of Russia being the beginning of the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
Won’t happen, baby.
The Orthodox would agree to the Church returning to its canonical structure prior to the Schism.
Canonically, a Bishop is a Bishop is a Bishop.
Rome was recognized as “First among equals” due to the political importance of Rome in the Empire, and because the Apostolic Succession of the Bishop of Rome is traced back to St. Peter, or Cephas - “The Head.”
Nonsense, nice nonsense but still nonsense.
Well, a bishop or a group of bishops has no ability to teach on matters of Faith or morals infallibly, even in the Western Church. The bishop of Rome, who is a bishop like any other bishop, when he accepts the assignment to the See of Peter he takes upon himself the responsibility of leading the Church, and with that responsibility comes the authority to teach, which is gifted by the Holy Spirit with limited infallibility. The gift is commensurate with the task at hand.
I think that would be attractive to the Orthodox, to have the Bishop of Rome in total union with their charism again?
The bold part above. This is one of the major reasons why the two will not merge. Please answer this, what is in it for the Orthodox?
Unity. Peace. Access to Thomas Aquinas. Valid commission to spread the Gospel. The ability to practice the vow of obedience without any reservation.
What is the downside for the Orthodox? I don’t see any.
Well, man, I can tell you that it is not attractive at all to the Orthodox to be expected to teach and accept theological and doctrinal innovations that were developed outside the rubric of an Ecumenical Council.
What innovations? Name one.
“...Valid commission to spread the Gospel. The ability to practice obedience without any reservation.”
Ummm, WHAT? Obedience to whom? THE POPE??? Dude. DUDE.
Only when viewed through a Roman/Latin lens will that pull focus and/or make the least bit of sense.
And it is PRECISELY that manner of thinking that will prevent healing of the Schism. So you’ve answered your own question:
“What is the downside for the Orthodox?”
Well, if I’m reading your comments correctly as to intent of meaning and viewpoint (and it’s possible I’m not), could it be the expectation on the part of the Orthodox that when Rome translates “Primus Inter Pares” they think it means “Bow down to the Big Dog?” or “Kiss My Ring?”
1. Filioque
2. Immaculate conception of the Theotokos.
3. Papal Supremacy as “Bishop of Bishops” by decree in 1274.
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