Perhaps I missed something, but along with some others I need to voice my support for the caucus system as it is. "Catholic Caucus" designates a thread that is for Catholics in full communion with today's Pope, to which non-antagonistic, non-disruptive Orthodox and other likeminded Christian are by default invited. "Catholic-Orthodox", or possibly "Catholic-Anglican", etc. threads invite whoever is specifically invited. If a controversy arises, the narrow caucus definition rules. Isn't it how Religion Moderator has treated caucus threads in the past? Why change?
The purpose of forum moderation is to cut disruptions short. The caucus designation is not to proclaim proper ecclesiology but to assist in moderation. Ecclesiologically, the effects of the Eastern Schism are vanishing and at least from the Catholic (the one in full communion with Rome) perspective the Eastern Orthodox are Catholic in 99% of the application of the word. The Protestants are Catholic at times, but usually they are not, again in the practical everyday application of the word.
However, it is possible to have a Catholic-In-Full-Formal-Communion-With-Rome caucus, or Catholic-Residing-In-Kansas-City forum, or Catholic-For-John-Birch forum. This is simply a method to invite one group of posters and disinvite others, in order to have a meaningful productive discussion.
It is also a dynamic thing. Given similarities in theology, Orthodox (in the narrow sense) participation in a Catholic (in a narrow sense) caucus thread is not usually disruptive. A Protestant (who claims himself catholic in the invisible universal church sense) participation in the same thread is usually very disruptive. But, we have been blessed with very thoughful Protestants who do not behave in a disruptive manner, and on the other hand, we had Orthodox input regarding USCCB politics that was quite disruptive.
Close as we are with the Orthodox, I think it is common sense that they should either recuse themselves when the matter is peculiar to the "Latin Church" and is discussed on a "Catholic Caucus" thread, -- or tone down the rhetoric. This is quite regardless of the true and highbrow meaning of "Catholic" or "catholic", or "recognizing the authority of the Pope" or what have you.
I think, our overriding purpose should be cutting troll threads like this one short, and not inflame them.
NOT
inflame them???
Oh, Dear!
The evidence suggets to a number of us that DELIBERATELY INFLAMING, OUTRAGEOUSLY !!!!DEMANDING!!!! and attempting to !!!!CONTROL!!!! TPC's constructions on reality
THAT'S what at least a sizeable percentage of rabid clique components of the Vatican Affiliates/ Latins/ Roman Catholics
LIVE, BREATHE, HAVE THEIR BEING AND DELIGHT TO DO.
Goodness! They might have to go to physical therapy for exercises to revitalize unused arthritic fingers should they begin to take your wise exhortation to heart.
Thank you.