Posted on 04/10/2005 8:08:48 PM PDT by Leo Carpathian
By Jeffrey Donovan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Prague, Czech Republic
A key ambition of Pope John Paul II, especially in the years just before his death, was to reunite Christianity’s divided churches. As the first Slavic pope, John Paul was concerned above all with the Orthodox -- the Eastern churches that split with Roman Catholicism in 1054. But while progress was made in Catholic-Orthodox relations, the Russian Orthodox Church never allowed Pope John Paul to fulfill his cherished dream of visiting Russia.
Today, relations between Catholicism and Russian Orthodoxy remain strained, with Moscow accusing Rome of aggressively proselytizing in Russia and other traditionally Orthodox countries. As the pope is laid to rest, some are questioning whether his hopes for uniting Christianity will be buried with him.
PRAGUE - “The problem, Holy Father, is you.” Those words were reportedly uttered to Pope John Paul II by a Greek Orthodox leader in Rome in 1982. They refer to the Orthodox rejection of the Roman Catholic claim of papal authority and infallibility. Unlike any pope before him, John Paul, the first Slavic pope, worked tirelessly to reunite Catholicism with the Orthodox churches bordering his native Poland.
But papal authority, or “Rome’s primacy” -- as well as politics and identity, particularly in Russia and Ukraine -- continues to divide the main branches of Christianity nearly 1,000 years after their “Great Schism.” “The primacy of Rome is undoubtedly [a key problem],” says Monsignor Romano Scalfi, an Italian priest who for half a century has worked to bridge the Catholic-Orthodox divide.
“However, the pope said he was willing to negotiate on the modalities in which the primate is exercised. Not much is said against the primacy [of Rome], and that’s because the Orthodox Church already acknowledges a certain ‘inter paris’ [among equals] primacy. After all, before the Schism in 1054, the primacy of the pope was more or less recognized, even in the East.”
The pope made getting back to that pre-Schism state a goal in his 1995 encyclical “Ut unum sint” ("On Christian Unity”). But even amid cooperation with some Orthodox leaders, such as Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the pope met continuously with suspicion and distrust among the Eastern churches.
The leader of Russia's Orthodox Church -- Patriarch Aleksii -- repeatedly refused to meet the pope or allow him to visit Russia. Aleksii did not attend today's funeral, instead sending three representatives led by Metropolitan Kirill, head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarchate.
Bartholomew, after visiting with pope at the Vatican in June 2004, said in a statement that despite ecumenical progress, “papal primacy remains a particular concern” for Orthodoxy.
The situations in Ukraine and Russia -- where the Catholic-Orthodox divide also carries great political significance -- drive that point home. In Ukraine, some 5 million so-called Greek Catholics or “Uniates” follow Orthodox rites yet pledge their allegiance to the pope. Orthodox leaders fear that through the Uniates, Rome has a model for making the Orthodox churches obedient to the Vatican.
In a historic visit to western Ukraine or Galicia in 2001, the pope made an emotional appeal to Uniates, long associated with the drive for a Ukraine independent of Moscow. And he mentioned Cardinal Slipyj, a historic leader of the Uniates who spent 17 years in a Soviet gulag. "This Galician soil, which in the course of history saw the development of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in the words of the unforgettable Cardinal Josyf Slipyj, was covered by a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood," Pope John Paul said.
But rather than improve relations with the Orthodox, the pope’s Ukrainian trip seemed only to deepen their fears of a Catholic invasion. Those fears would seem to encompass the political sphere, as well.
Last year, the Russian Orthodox Church strongly favored pro-Moscow candidate Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine’s disputed presidential elections won by Western-leaning Viktor Yushchenko, who had strong backing from Ukrainian Catholics and Uniates.
In Belarus -- which, like Russia, this pope never visited -- President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has strongly backed the Russian Orthodox Church’s stake as the country’s main religion. There have also been attacks on Catholic and Uniate churches there. Lukashenka even campaigned alongside Orthodox leaders before his reelection in 2001.
In Russia, Aleksii has accused the Vatican of seeking to exploit the Orthodox Church’s devastation under communism to win converts to Catholicism.
Yet statistics suggest the number of Catholics in Russia -- about 600,000 out of a population of 150 million -- has fallen in recent years. Meanwhile, converts to Protestant religions are soaring, while a recent poll said that only 1 percent of Russians attend Orthodox services.
Italian priest Scalfi, the founder of a Milan-based magazine on Orthodoxy called “La Nuova Europa,” says he doesn’t understand why Catholics are treated so harshly in Russia while Orthodox leaders seem to turn a blind eye to the spread of Protestantism. “For us, what’s hard to explain is the nonchalance, as it were, of the Russian Orthodox Church toward Protestantism, which is expanding like no one could have predicted," Scalfi said. "That is, more than 9,000 communities. Since the Orthodox Church has just 11,000 parishes, you can imagine [what will happen] if this [trend] continues.”
In a recent book called “You Are Peter,” Orthodox theologian Olivier Clement of France argues that Catholicism and Orthodoxy can reunite e ven by accepting a form of primacy for the Roman pontiff. Clement says this would result in a “creative tension” between the two Christian branches that would not give Rome absolute authority.
But concerns over politics and identity seem as much a part of the question as do issues of religious authority. Orthodoxy has long been closely aligned with political authority -- in Moscow and elsewhere. Early last year in Moscow, Patriarch Aleksii himself called for greater unity of Orthodox countries to fend off challenges to their traditions.
“The challenges of time naturally push nations and states -- [through] culture, world outlook, and spiritual position -- to unite," Aleksii said. "Integration trends are on the way in Europe. Muslim states seek to consolidate their [position] on the world stage. Is it possible, under such conditions, for countries with age-old Orthodox traditions and culture to remain disconnected [and] on the sidelines.”
John Paul II’s opening to the East was unlike that of any other pope. He visited many Orthodox countries, including Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, and Ukraine. The pope dreamed of unity. But what he achieved was a dialogue that has only just begun.
[The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
FOOTNOTE: The churches structures mentioned in the article above should first strongly support and practice the democratic concepts of complete "freedom of religion" and the "separation of church and state." Then they should just get on with their religious work. Mergers that create huge monopolistic structures are not good for religion or business. History has shown that power corrupts, especially in the church, and of course also in the state and in business. (EDITOR)
You took the words out of my mouth. The Russian Orthodox Church and other Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe benefitted enormously when Stalin confiscated all the Catholic Churches and seminaries and handed many of them over to the Orthodox Churches. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, some of these properties were handed back to the original owners, but most were not.
I think Putin is still using the Russian Orthodox Church for corrupt political purposes, and they are still happy to be used since it gives them a monopoly position and a lot of perks.
Why don't you Catholics go and fight over returning the Church of England to your fold. The Orthodox church is growing while the Anglicans are shrinking. By the way last I looked the Catholic Church was a hot bed of both Communists and Nazi sympathizers.
BTTT
The Schism resulted from what by my lights are rather insignificant quibbles over leavened vs. unleavened bread for the Host, dating of religous holidays on the calendar, and minor differences in the wording of the Nicene Creed. The Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople didn't get along and excommunicated each other over this kind of trivia.
Both of them acted in violation of Christ's instruction that the Church should be of one body, and both branches of the Church are obligated to try their best to heal the Schism.
In my opinion, the Catholic Church under John Paul the Great has made a worthy effort towards this goal. The Eastern churches basically spit in his eye.
-ccm
Here is irony for you -- Catholics wonder about the lack of progress in relations with the Orthodox, and in the same breath demonize these same Orthodox they are supposedly trying to merge with, heaping hatred upon them. How can the Orthodox resist such overwhelming Christian love and understanding? Maybe the real problem is staring these Catholics in the face? It certainly would be, if they looked hard in the mirror.
Interesting that some vocal catholics basically dismiss the entire Russian Orthodox church as communist. One can only appreciate what a vile insult this is, if one knows that the Russian Orthodox endured perhaps the greatest slaughter and martydom of Christians in the past century at the hands of the communists. Communist agents in the priesthood were readily identified and purged when communism fell, and Communism is not taught in Russian seminaries (I really wonder about "liberation theology" embraced in a minority of Catholic seminaries, though).
Of course, the Orthodox/Roman Catholic split long predates the existence of communism, so perhaps it is folly to focus on it as a reason for the split. Perhaps it is easy and emotionally satisfying to caricature sincere Orthodox christians as a bunch of communists rather than facing the problems honestly. Unfortunately such ugly gossiping about the Orthodox sets back true understanding and poisons the well.
Cicero actually suggests that the Russian Orthodox benefited from Stalin. This is about as intellectually honest as saying Hitler benefitted the Jews. Educate yourself about the catastrophe of slaughter and repression the Russian Orthodox endured under Stalin. A couple of seminaries weighed against this means nothing.
CCmay first dismisses any substantive reason for the split, then questions how papal infallibility could be a reason for it when it came 800 years later. You have to understand there were substantive reasons for the split, and then later there were additional obstacles placed in the way of reunification. The recent innovation of papal infallibility would fall in the second category of additional obstacles. The introduction of papal supremacy, versus papal primacy, would be an example of one of the substantive reasons for original split.
Another additional obstacle is the fact that one of the crusades targetted the Orthodox equivalent of Rome, desecreting, slaughtering and looting fellow Christians. A huge number of religious artifacts in Vatican museums today are dated 1204, the date they were stolen from Constantinople.
A further obstacle would be the extremely tragic history of the Uniates, which goes a very long way to explaining mistrust of Catholic moves in Orthodox countries today. The pope unfortunately exacerbated this wound by sainting one of the key historical uniate figures associated with these attrocities against the orthodox. Sadly this article mentioned nothing about the uniate history, or much of anything else from the perspective of the orthodox.
Nor does the article explain the Orthodox perspective on how several recent Catholic misteps in Russia soured relations. For example, the naming of 12 new catholic Dioceses in Russia on Feb 2002 basically made the Orthodox think that the Catholic "two lungs of the same church" encyclical was a big lie. To use CCmay's words, the Orthodox felt like this was spitting in their eye -- it brought ecumenical efforts in Russia to an abrupt halt, and doomed any possibility of a papal visit.
CCmay dismisses the change to the Nicene creed as mere wording. A very serious theological point is involved, regarding the nature of who is worshipped, one which earlier Catholics in an ecumenical council declared could never, ever be changed -- because it was so essential to the faith. A person who does not care what and how they are worshipping might dismiss a foundational prayer as mere words that are as good as one another. That attitude is alien to the Orthodox. This particular problem could easily be solved, just go back to the prayer that was good enough for the Christians of the first 12 centuries. The pope had no problem reading the original version.
Basically Orthodox believe as Catholics did of the first millenium, and several roman catholic innovations in the second millenium pose additional alienating obstacles to reunification (western catholics of the first centuries might well be equally alienated if they were alive today). Certain aspects of Vatican II probably didn't help. Any future move to admit women or openly gay priests would pose additional obstacles -- thankfully it doesn't look like that will happen.
Hopefully I'm not writing this in vain. Reunification is not going to happen when folks caricature the history, problems, and people involved. I do sincerely pray for unification on the basis of truth. It's not going to happen through trickery, pretending essential aspects of the faith don't matter, or pretending things are the same when they aren't.
Maybe it feels good for some to listen to the roman Catholic echo chamber that completely ignores the Orthodox perspective -- where the roman Catholics are portrayed as being the *only ones* reaching out and doing nothing wrong, and the Russian orthodox are caricatured as all communists being difficult for no substantive reason. Perpetuating this false illusion just sets relations further back. When you demonize the orthodox, you do the demons work. Why not put the same energy into sincere understanding, and have a little humility about it. Then we can all unify on the basis of the original truth faith and be one.
ping!
Pre Vatican II, I would not be saved. Post Vatican II, I'm saved, but not fully and only because of and through the Catholic Church. All of it, hogwash.
I don't follow the Catholic Church. I follow an Apostolic Church. A Church founded by the Apostles.
I will never achnowledge the Pope as the head of the Christian Church. The head of the Church is Jesus. I am saved because of belief in Christ, not because of belief in the Pope. The Pope is just a man, elected by men.
The dream of uniting Christianity will never happen. It's a fool's errand.
Luke 22: 24 A dispute also arose among them (the 12 Apostles), as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
It would be so easy if Jesus would have just said, "Peter, of course." He did not. It would be easy if the Apostles discussed this again after Jesus's ascension. They did not.
The whole arguement over Peter is based on two verses: Matthew 16:18-19. These are the only verse that the Catholic Church can point to so they can claim all of Christianity. If this was such a pivotal moment, why at the end of the discussion does Jesus focus on himself, rather than Peter.
Matthew 16:20 - Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
But what about Peter?...
3 verses later, Matthew 16:23 - But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
If Peter was so important he would have been mentioned in verse 20. If Peter was so important he would not be rebuked less than 5 verses after the cornerstone verse of the Catholic Church. (My personal opinion, of course)
The Church is built on the knowledge that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God". (Matt 16:16) The Church was built on the rock by the Apostles after the Ascension.
I follow an Apostolic Church, and I will never accept the authority of the Catholic Church. So what is there to discuss?
You can follow anyone you like, who si right or wrong will be judged by the final judgement. Just sad to see how many people are confused and misguided by the evil, worship it, but that is nothing new. Devil is still trying hard.
The Catholics have been doing this, primarly by the sword, for the past 1000 years. The catholic invasions of Kieven Russ during the Mongol invasions, when the princes asked their western Christian brothers for help, is a prime example.
A big job for the next Pope. Problem is that Ukrainian/Russian Orthodox Church got infested with KGB operatives parading as priests being tool of Soviet Oppressors
Something you guys will never understand: we Orthodox do not wish to be under the Papal Yoke. No more so then the protestants.
Yeah, especially when they butchered 300,000 priests, monks and nuns OF THE ORTHODOX FAITH. When the oldest surviving cathedril in Russia, in Moscow on the Moscow River was detonated and turned into a swimming pool. When Orthodox Churches were made into muesums at best and warehouses at worst.
Lets try some truth for a change.
Well that and the Patriarch of Rome declared himself master of the whole church and lord over the other Patriarchs. I think that about did it.
Lets not forget that the Shroud of Turin is one of those stolen items.
Yes, it must be sad to see people confused and misguided: serving and praising God without the Catholic Church. Oh, how the Devil must be dancing for joy. (sarcasm off)
You are generalizing and making up statements. If anything Greek Catholics forgave the Orthodox and Communists for the persecution and are opening their arms for possible reunification. If Orthodox still feel (which it looks like) they do not wish to be reunited, then that's your (their) prerogative. Is there room for Orthodox in the Catholic church? Greco Catholics are proof that it is, priests can marry and maintain their beautiful rite.
Under communism, Greek Catholic religion was banned, clergy and faithful were forced to switch to Orthodox or die in gulags and prisons. Church hierarchy was almost destroyed, churches taken away, either converted to Orthodox or desecrated to storage facilities etc. This is not demonizing, but sorry facts.
Entire Russian Orthodox was under Communist and KGB control. To what extend they manage the cleanup still remains to be seen. We hope and pray that this happens soon and if they wish to join the true followers of Christ, they would be welcome with open arms. JP II showed world the true face of Christ, his church and the world showed its love for him and his work during the memorial.
As the mankind is getting more "modern" we keep seeing more and more "jesuses" popping up, starting their own, "better" versions of church (cults) and pressuring the good old one into accepting "their improvements" like gays, women priests, selective worshiping of this or that. I am happy and proud to be a part of Christ's church and have no problem with His apostles and their followers in succession of Popes.
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