Confused about the true church with Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox

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DictatorCzar

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I’m very confused about the true church. Are both of the churches the true church. If only one, which one. Why does this have to be very confusing? They both have different doctrines and do they have to be reunified to become a true church?
 
My opinion is that they are both the true, original church. They are apostolic churches that were united at one time, but 1000 years ago they “divorced.” It’s like having parents who are divorced. They are both your real, true parent but are no longer united to each other.
 
DictatorCzar said:
So can I join either church?
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In the sense that both can trace their roots back to Jesus and have the sacraments, yes. In fact, if it is impossible to make it to a Catholic church and there is an Orthodox one available, Catholics can fulfill their Sunday obligation at the Orthodox church, and we can take of the sacraments if allowed.

However, I would encourage putting more thought into it than that. At the very least I find being under the Bishop of Rome to be an issue to take seriously. Granted, I’m Catholic, so I’m biased in that regard.
 
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Each one claims to be the true Church and that salvation is not found in another church. I am Roman Catholic, so outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation. If you want Eastern aesthetics, become an eastern Catholic. Likewise, an Orthodox would say that there is no salvation outside of the Orthodox Church. If you want to be Orthodox and have western aesthetics become Western Rite Orthodox.

Become Catholic, for the pope’s authority is found in the Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers. Matthew 18:18.
 
I like to think that the two Churches are going through temporary separation
 
Both true? Yes. One? In the sense that they both are descendants of the Apostles along with the numerous other Churches that separated prior to the Great Schism.
If you’re looking for the Church that checks all the boxes though (One, Holy, Catholic [Universal] and Apostolic), I would contend the Catholic Church is the only one which can claim the Fullness of Faith.
As difficult as that may be to swallow these days.
 
DictatorCzar said:
I’m very confused about the true church. Are both of the churches the true church. If only one, which one. Why does this have to be very confusing? They both have different doctrines and do they have to be reunified to become a true church?
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From the Catholic Church – there is the Catholic Church and separated churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church.
Christ “established here on earth” only one Church … This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him”.

… ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church, in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.

It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.[9] Nevertheless, the word “subsists” can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe… in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the Catholic Church.
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“It is through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches that the Church of God is built up and grows in stature”.[16] However, since communion with the Catholic Church, the visible head of which is the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter, is not some external complement to a particular Church but rather one of its internal constitutive principles, these venerable Christian communities lack something in their condition as particular churches.[17]
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According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery[19]cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense. [20]
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http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...ith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html
 
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Vatican II has acknowledged the Orthodox Churches as “True Churches.” Although they are not in “full” communion with Rome, Rome does recognize the Orthodox Churches as having apostolic succession which means they have a valid Eucharist.

ZP
 
DictatorCzar said:
They both have different doctrines and do they have to be reunified to become a true church?
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Not “reunified” but communion with one another. We Byzantine Catholics share the same liturgy, theology, etc. as the Eastern Orthodox but we are in communion with Rome. It is possible.

Read this document from Vatican II, Orientalium Ecclesiarium.

ZP
 
But I have another question. If you’re supposed to be in communion with Rome, what about the early churches with Antioch, Jerusalem and etc. Do churches have to be in communion with Rome. The Orthodox Church claims that all churches used to be equal but then the Romans claim to have authority over all churches then east and west where divided.
 
The Eastern Orthodox are considered to be “True Churches” according to the documents of Vatican II. They have apostolic succession, therefore a valid Eucharist.

Here is a quote from Unitatis Redintegratio:

“These Churches, although separated from us, possess true sacraments, above all by apostolic succession, the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are linked with us in closest intimacy. Therefore some worship in common ( communicatio in sacris ), given suitable circumstances and the approval of Church authority, is not only possible but to be encouraged.”

ZP
 
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