[Pyro7480]

What most of these guys “long” for is for all Christians to say “uncle” to the pope so they can go to a church with some smells and bells and take communion.

Wow, how very "Christian" of you to say such a thing.

[bronx2]

The Eastern Orthodox Churches are fraught with problems which impede true spiritual growth. The Russian branch has been and probably still is controlled by KGB agents who fake belief in God. The remaining Orthodox groups are so nationalistic that one would think they are still living in 1914. Oh wait, they still use the Julian calendar.
Rome would do well not to seek immediate reunification with the Schematic but keep a polite distance and use them to battle the secular humanistic agnostic groups. The growth of Eastern Orthodox has been stunted since 1054 and the reasons must be explored before any meaningful steps of unity are taken. Perhaps they are not directed by the Holy Spirit.

[cizinec]

“Wow, how very “Christian” of you to say such a thing.”

That’s hilarious after reading most of the comments on this site about the Orthodox Church.

Having *lived* through what Rome actually *does* to Orthodox who choose to keep their liturgy and come into communion with Rome, I can tell you what it’s like. If it isn’t very Christian, it’s not because of me.

And yes, Orthodox Churches were almost destroyed by Communism. Good grief, is that our fault? Probably the strongest national Orthodox church out there is the Serbian Church. The Russians are still sucked into being controlled by the state. The Greeks are as much a part of the state as the politicians.

I think the real difference is the fact that we recognize our problems as being worldly problems in the church. The Latins believe all problems to be external to it, as they believe the pope (a person) has special knowledge given by the *office.* It’s a different ecclesiology that, while granting worldly success, ultimately fails to provide pastoral care.

That’s my opinion. If I were to agree with you, I’d be a Latin. I don’t despise anyone, but I’m not going to change my view because you see your view as more “Christian” than mine.