Who are the Catholics: The Orthodox or The Romanists, or both?

Me

[the_conscience]

I just witnessed a couple of Orthodox posters get kicked off a "Catholic Caucus" thread. I thought, despite their differences, they had a mutual understanding that each sect was considered "Catholic". Are not the Orthodox considered Catholic? Why do the Romanists get to monopolize the term "Catholic"?

I consider myself to be Catholic being a part of the universal church of Christ. Why should one sect be able to use a universal concept to identify themselves in a caucus thread while other Christian denominations need to use specific qualifiers to identify themselves in a caucus thread?

[Cronos]

It should be called Eastern Orthodox caucus

But that fails as there are other Orthodox in the East who aren't Eastern Orthodox, right? Like Ethiopians, Armenians, even the Chaldean, Syro-Malabar etc. We can argue inanely that any Christian who following orthodoxy (small "o") in the East (East of where?? say East of Italy) is an Eastern Orthodox and should be on the forum.

That's a crazy thought and makes the life of a forum administror even more difficult.

The labelling of a caucus has no impact on the beliefs outside Freerepublic.

[Cronos]

Orthodox caucuses should be labeled as Eastern Orthodox and those of the Western Church as Roman Catholic.

And where does NYer go? And what about the other Maronites or Syro-Malabar or Chaldean or Byzantine Catholics? They bring the grace of the east to the western Church.

For administration, the simplest-effective one is what we have right now. We don't argue the Evangelicals right to call themselves that, do we?

[Religion Moderator]

People leave Free Republic of their own free will for various reasons. I cannot (to paraphrase Lincoln) please all the people, all the time.

If you or he or anyone else thinks I am incompetent, unfair or "evil" then by all means make your complaints known whether by article or reply or Freepmail to the owner.

[Cronos]

Next you would ask for the caucus to be called “Orthodox catholic” and “Catholic orthodox” and “Orthodox catholic/Catholic orthodox” and then of course “orthodox catholic orientals”, “orthodox catholic others - pentecostals”,”orthodox catholic others - presbyterians”, “orthodox catholic others - presbyterians - Orthodox Presbyterian”,”orthodox catholic others - presbyterians - Orthodox Presbyterian - Bible Presbyterian”,”orthodox catholic others - presbyterians - Orthodox Presbyterian - Bible Presbyterian - American Presybterian”,”orthodox catholic others - presbyterians - Orthodox Presbyterian - Bible Presbyterian - American Presybterian - Evangelical Presbyterian Reformed Bible”, etc. etc.

[sitetest]

Dear kosta50,

It is a common courtesy to end a conversation when one party to it asks to end it. This is what I asked you, and tried to extend my own courtesy by offering you the "last word" of the conversation. I know of no rule on Free Republic that would require that courteous behavior of you.

“...besides, you don’t have to answer.”

That's true. And I didn't answer in any way the first four of these “last word” posts over the course of an hour and a half. And even your fifth “last word” post, I've only asked whether or not I may anticipate more, and how many.

sitetest

[NYer]

Thank you, Cronos, for being so considerate. Your points, as always, are well taken and appreciated.

[Cronos]

The eastern Orthodox Churches are commonly called Eastern Orthodox.

And the western orthodox Churches are commonly called Catholic.

If we want to bicker about terms on a forum, we can argue that Christian groups in the East that are orthodox and not part of what we commonly call Eastern Orthodox should be allowed to jump on the "Eastern Orthodox caucus", then that would be silly of us.

And, once again, this naming of a caucus has no impact on anything outside the administration -- it has no impact on the debates we have and it definitely has no impact on real life. The Catholicity of the Orthodox Church is not even a point of debate, no more than the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church.

Allowing someone from outside the Apostolic tradition, working on the Adversary's orders no doubt to break up a dialogue between west and east purely on the naming of a caucus is horrible -- we have better things to fight about.

[Cronos]

There is no monopoly on orthodox or catholic. It needs a qualifier.

There is no monopoly on usage of either terms IN THE REAL WORLD -- no Catholic in his right mind would deny the Catholicity of the Orthodox and no Orthodox would deny the Orthodoxy of the Catholics. But this is a forum and that is for administration.

Next, someone could say there is no monopoly on the term "Eastern Orthodox", so Presbyterians in Indian can join the "Eastern Orthodox" caucus going by that logic.

[eleni121]

OK - take it easy...then make it easy.

Allow each denomination to select its own name.

BUT clarify that “Catholic” refers to the ROMAN Catholic Church caucus, not “Catholic Church” which essentially exists only in comman parlance, not in fact.

[Cronos]

Repeating it in bold (I've learnt from Quix' posts :-P)

And, once again, this naming of a caucus has no impact on anything outside the administration of this forum -- it has no impact on the debates we have and it definitely has no impact on real life. The Catholicity of the Orthodox Church is not even a point of debate, no more than the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church.

[Pyro7480]

Kolokotronis has left the FR over this.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, when did that happen!!??

[1000 silverlings]

The nation of Israel was a way for God to implement the plan of salvation. The Israel of the OT was an earthly nation, called out from all nations for God’s purpose. He elects whom to save, potter, clay. His will, not ours. Only spiritual Israel is ever saved, as true then as it’s true now.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The good Doctor's "side" is quite different from the "side" of other posters

There really are only two sides - Trinitarian Christians who believe Jesus Christ to be their Lord, Savior, Redeemer and King, and everyone else.

When the Gospel is preached in truth and love, we rejoice.

When the Gospel is subverted by false doctrines and self accolade, as occurs in the RCC, we preach the truth again, and we still rejoice.

"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" -- 1 Corinthians 11:19

---

"Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -- 1 Thess. 5:16-18

[Natural Law]

"If you believe my administrative decision actually makes them superior to you..."

Would that be redundant or superfluous?

[Religion Moderator]

It would be incomplete. My full sentence was:

If you believe my administrative decision actually makes them superior to you in any respect, I suggest the problem is yours, not mine.

[1000 silverlings]

At this point I believe it is incumbent upon you, the Religion Moderator, to declare which denomination you belong to so we all know where you sit.

I didn't like the ending of the Packers/Arizona game either but no one demands to know the background of the referees. It's predestination maybe. Or Las Vegas bookies (which then is still pre-destination, of a rigged kind)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

So, doesn't the Orthodox Presbyterian group consider Machen a demi-god or a saint or some kind of redeemer?

Various "infallible in matters of faith" Roman Catholic popes have referred to Mary as a "co-redeemer."

When and if you ever find anyone other than foolish Roman Catholics, fond of nasty hyperbole and void of a sound defense of their own faith, calling Machen (or any human being) a "demi-god" and "some kind of redeemer," please let us all know.

Machen was a saint, however; one of hundreds of thousands of God's saints on earth who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and our only redeemer.

[Religion Moderator]

Thank you.

[Petronski]

Machen was a saint, however...

Yeah, 'cause God makes saints of all the segregationist racist pigs that He can find, right?

[the_conscience]

OTOH, If I were betting on NBA games I would have liked to have known about that Ref who had ties to Mob bookies.