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)
As an Evangelical Orthodox Lutheran, I hope that we can someday have a reunited, undivided Orthodox Catholic Church, for all orthodox Christians of the Great Tradition. In that Church, the Bishop of Rome would be first among equals (as he was in the original undivided Church), NOT a monarch or dictator. And America, as a mature Christian country, should have its own patriarch. (Even without such as degree of unity, Orthodox America should have its own patriarch.)
In that case, we would not be directly under the Pope, and being under the Pope as the first among equals would be a blessing!
The headline at the end of Reagan's term might also have been "Reagans Dream of Defeating Communism Goes Unfulfilled". These things take time.
And if you believe there were no communist agents in the Catholic church in Poland, I've got a lot of beach front land to sell you in Nevada.
ROFL.
I'm sure Cobra Commander agrees with you.
Of course, ever since he turned into a snake, he's been a bit kooky. :P
And who attacked Poland few days after Nazis? Muslims? Maybe Orthodox countries didn’t cooperated with nazis at all? Such auction hasn’t any sense and lead to nowhere.
The USSR was not Orthodox nor was Orthodox tolerated. Meanwhile the Pope once praised Hitler and Catholic priests helped Nazis escape to South America - and in South America another generation of Catholic clergy advocated "Liberation Theology". Even under Soviet captivity and undermining of the Orthodox faith no Russian celrgy advocated spreading Communist revolution.
"Luke 22: 24 A dispute also arose among them (the 12 Apostles), as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. "
Actually, the Lord did (Luke 22:24-32). In the verse in question, the Lord doesn't question the premise of the dispute. Rather, he first outlines the nature and duties of he who is "protos", i.e. "first" (see Matthew 10:3). In the sentence immediately following, Jesus then says he prayed for Peter that HIS faith would not fail, so that that he (Peter) would confirm the brethren, i.e. that he was to be the servant of all others (i.e. hence, Peter is "first"). That is why the popes use the title "servant of servants".
Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on all of us, sinners.
Amen.
I love the arguement that the Catholic Church is the authority on interpreting the Bible because the Catholic Church's interpretation says so. Circular logic.
It's curious that Mark 8 doesn't even talk about Peter being given the right to rule the earthly Church. The story is condensed into the important parts. Jesus is the Christ and don't tell anyone.
Mark 8
29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
Same with Luke 9:20-21, no mention of Peter's authority.
Then Acts 10
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."
And later in Acts 10:34-43, when Peter proclaims the Good News, there is nothing about Peter being the first Pope.
In 2 Peter 1:1, Peter uses the phrase, "To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ"
Regarding the authority of the Catholic Church and the Pope... I just don't see it. One of the greatest truths of the Bible should not be obscured using innuendo and inference
I am saved by grace, though faith, for works. That's what the Bible says. It is quite clear on these points.
So in summary, I will not unite under the Catholic Church.
But the Russian Orthodox Church was not abolished & outlawed as was the Ukrainian Orthodox & Ukrainian Catholic Churches.
In fact, is it not true that the Russian Orthodox Church was the only one to fuction legally in the USSR?
And was this attempt to obliterate rival Eastern Churches done so with the supportive role of the partriarch of Moscow(Aleksei)?
Is it also not true that the Russian Orthodox Church was the recipent of confiscated Catholic churches and to this day not all churches & properties have been returned to their rightful owners?
Interesting standard of toleration you have.
The Catholic Church was "legal" - Islam was "legal, etc. Stalin came down hard on those Orthodox churches you mentioned because the were centered around a Nationalist and sepratist movement. He did not do it in favor of Orthodoxy. Even those churches you mentioned were later re-instated though they were less tolerated. In terms of body bags/martyrs the Orthodox Ukranians/Russians of the Moscow patriarchy outnumbered all faiths, etc. So you gain no special place for your churches by mentioning that Societ hit them - they hit all and then let up and then hit again, etc.
Can you be any more ignorant? The Ukrainian Catholic Church was the largest illegal church in the world up until 1989.
I did not write about Stalin. And you still do not address the supportive role of the partriarch of Moscow(Aleksei) in the persecution of other Eastern Churches.
It is a fact that the Russian Orthodox Church was the recipient of confiscated churches & properties, so it begs the question.............
Why do the Ukrainian Orthodox & Catholic Churches, to this day, have to butt heads with the Russian Orthodox Church to have their properties respectfully return to them? It would have been the honorable thing to do but it seems denominational vanity gets precedence over morality.
"I love the arguement that the Catholic Church is the authority on interpreting the Bible because the Catholic Church's interpretation says so. Circular logic."
I suppose such an argument would be circular, if the Catholic Church in fact made that argument. However, it doesn't. The Church, as a living body, derives's its authority directly from Christ. The Church preceded the New Testament books, its members wrote the scripture under inspiration. I believe the scriptures are scripture on the Church's authority. No cirularity there.
However, if you believe in sola scriptura, do you have a noncircular proof of it, that doesn't first presume the scriptures authority?
A private reply would be fine, not looking for a theological debate on FR.
It was Soviets/Bosheviks who attacked Poland. Orthodox Christians were rotting in Gulag and Orthodox churches were closed if not destroyed. Only after Nazi attack on Soviet Union Stalin allowed some churches to be open. YOU DID NOT KNOW IT?
I just looked up on Goggle and I found the page showing the attitude of Russian Christians to the Bolshevism:
Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church
You wrote in a previous post:
"Church in Poland always supported independence and was hostile towards communists and nazis."
If you compare the resistence of the official leadership in Polish and Russian Church it was quite similar - it lasted about eight years and then started to crumble.
The difference is that in 1953 when Polish bishops started to submit to communists and their main leader cardinal Wyszynski was imprisoned (same way as patriarch Tichon) STALIN DIED AND LIBERALIZATION STARTED. This is what saved Polish Church.
It was abolished & outlawed. Only when Hitler attacked Soviet Union and Russians were not willing to fight for atheist regime, Stalin allowed Orthodox churches to reopen.
life is life "religion" is "religion" G-D is G-D G-D do know good persons evil persons I do "respect"persons "religion"good G-D do respect persons now this is for you all
http://www.oca.org
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7053.asp
http://www.saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html
http://www.cin.org/eastern.html
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7102.asp
http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/Ecumenical_Councils.htm
http://www.piar.hu/councils
http://www.answers.com/topic/east-west-schism
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