Posted on 05/15/2012 2:29:04 PM PDT by NYer
Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, Conn., concelebrates Mass with U.S. bishops from Eastern Catholic churches at the Altar of the Tomb in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome May 15. Bishops from Chaldean, Ruthenian, Maronite, Ukrainian, Armenian, Melkite, Syriac and Romanian Catholic churches were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses. (CNS/Paul Haring)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While their numbers are small and their material resources are few, members of the Eastern Catholic churches in the United States have much to offer the country in terms of their fidelity to Christ despite persecution and their deeply religious cultures, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. Eastern Catholics "are a bridge" supporting Catholics in their homelands with prayers, advocacy and financial support while at the same time enriching the United States with their cultural and religious identity, Cardinal Sandri told U.S. bishops from the Chaldean, Ruthenian, Maronite, Ukrainian, Armenian, Melkite, Syriac and Romanian Catholic churches. The cardinal met with the 14 bishops May 15 to discuss a wide variety of common concerns at the beginning of the bishops' "ad limina" visits to the Vatican. Earlier in the morning, the cardinal was the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass with the bishops in St. Peter's Basilica. The heads of every diocese or eparchy -- as the Eastern Catholic jurisdictions are known -- send detailed reports on their dioceses to the Vatican before the "ad limina" visits. Summarizing what was common in the reports of the Eastern Catholic dioceses, Cardinal Sandri said, "Your territories are enormous, and your communities often find themselves far from each other. Some of the eparchies are young and still in need of adequate structures." Many of the dioceses -- some of which cover the entire United States or even the United States and Canada -- have few financial resources and the situation has been "exacerbated by the economic crisis," the cardinal said.
That's my awesome bishop, Gregory John Mansour, who is in Rome for his ad liminia visit. God speed, Sayedna!
The Popes in the first millennium anchored the Church and enforced orthodoxy. The second millennium saw the decline of the Latins and the orthodoxy of the Orthodox was the beacon.
We need both branches of the Church. Our Eatern brothers give an aspect of the Faith that is highly illuminating.
What’s the difference between Western and Eastern Catholics?
In the early Church the liturgy was in Greek, the western Church soon began to use Latin. Eventually, the Roman Empire split into East and West. The Eastern and Western Churches developed differences. The Great Schism between the Roman Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople happened in 1054.
Those Eastern Churches who remained in or returned to communion with the Bishop of Rome are called Eastern Catholics, those not in communion with Rome are generally called Eastern Orthodox.
See:
EWTN: CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES
Lester Haddad: The Eastern Catholic Churches
The Rites of the Catholic Church [Catholic Caucus]
One and Many Churches (origins of the Church)
THE RITES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH -- There are many!
(Cardinal) Newman on Rites and Ceremonies
But also not forget, the Eastern Christians suffered greatly under the Muslims as well, as in seen in the Middle East today. We all need to pray for the unity of ALL Christians.
The good news is that we have a Pope who is trying to bring back tradition as well, he picks up where the Pope before him left off.
What is their differences in belief?
No difference in theology.
Thanx
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