Do Orthodox want Communion with Rome?

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I’ve Just curious; do any of the Orthodox actually want communion with Rome? I know some individuals might; but what about Patriarchs and Bishops?
 
Well its about time for it since the original issue the filloque is no longer an issue. Its only a matter of time.Its a good thing too they can become just like us Eastern Catholics and basically run their own churches the same as before. It really would not make any difference to a small parish and its parishoners many are okay with attending Catholic litergys now a days.Lets not forget many second generation immigrants grew up with Catholics in various immigrant sects in different communitys. The people that would really have a hard time with it have mostly passed on.
 
Also, with the shape most Orthodoux communites are in that live in North America. What with churches closing, shrinking congregation etc… I think many would welcolm the added revenue and besides if all Orthodoux churches in a particular town close where would these people go the answer is they would attend a Catholic Church.
 
You know what? I love your answer. But what do you think is holding them back?
 
In all honesty its because their churches are still around.I dont think many Orthodoux higher ups realize just how much their churches would benefit from us. The is the reason once its gone they will attend our churches ive seen it happen many many times
 
Still, I wish there were something that could be done. I mean, the Orthodox could do one of two things; they could become Latins (which I, even though a Latin, do not support) or they can disintegrate. There is a problem, one such being that Orthodox churches are generally ethnic churches, and many times see no need to evangelise. While most Eastern Catholic churches have Ethnic roots, I’ve noticed that most of them ARE willing to evangelise, as their survival depends on it. I think the biggest problem is that the movement is much larger in the Catholic church than in the Orthodox church.
 
I desire it, but there are unresolved issues that need to be dealt with before that becomes possible. Some of these are theological, like the issue of primacy, and some practical, like modern Roman Catholic liturgical practice. So I would say that some of us do, but we’re quite cautious about it.
 
Ukrforever said:
Also, with the shape most Orthodoux communites are in that live in North America. What with churches closing, shrinking congregation etc… I think many would welcolm the added revenue and besides if all Orthodoux churches in a particular town close where would these people go the answer is they would attend a Catholic Church.
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I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that Orthodoxy is shrinking in North America. That’s certainly not the case with my jurisdiction, the Antiochians, or most of the others that I’ve heard about. Take this article for example:

huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/06/report-finds-strong-growt_n_753447.html
 
Trinityisgod said:
I’ve Just curious; do any of the Orthodox actually want communion with Rome? I know some individuals might; but what about Patriarchs and Bishops?
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Orthodox want unity, but there are two ways to go about it.

Many Orthodox want unity by working to understand each other (OO and many EO are like this).

Other Orthodox want unity through an uniatist model that seeks to destroy all things that are not Byzantine/Eastern (there are a few EO posters here with that very attitude). These are the ones who you often lament that unity is not possible. Granted, I’ve met polemical Catholics who have a similar attitude toward EO and OO, and I’ve met a few polemical OO who have a similar attitude towards Catholics and EO.

Blessings,
Marduk
 
Trinityisgod said:
Still, I wish there were something that could be done. I mean, the Orthodox could do one of two things; they could become Latins (which I, even though a Latin, do not support) or they can disintegrate. There is a problem, one such being that Orthodox churches are generally ethnic churches, and many times see no need to evangelise. While most Eastern Catholic churches have Ethnic roots, I’ve noticed that most of them ARE willing to evangelise, as their survival depends on it. I think the biggest problem is that the movement is much larger in the Catholic church than in the Orthodox church.
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The Orthodox are in no danger of disintegrating (there are a few hundred million of them), at least not anytime soon. I don’t think they are even in danger of disintegrating here in the United States, where they do make up a very small percentage of the population, but are growing in numbers.
 
I would think that all Orthodox want unity with Rome, just as all Orthodox seem to want unity among the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Orthodox. The difference, as alluded to by Mardukm (though I do not agree with his characterization of it at all), is in what various groups of Orthodox are willing to accept as substantiating true unity. Since it seems that all Orthodox identify unity as being shared faith (rather than mere corporeal unity, or some other kind of unity), the fact that there are a range of opinions on just how close Rome currently is to sharing the Orthodox faith complicates matters quite a bit. From where I’m sitting as a not-yet-Orthodox inquirer, it seems that some of the issues that stand in the way of unity are likely to be resolved – or at least ought to be considered resolvable – with what amount to relatively minor everyday adjustments on the part of a given communion (e.g., the Filioque), while others will take a lot more to resolve (e.g., the role of the Roman Pope). What will take a lot more time and effort, however, will be the seachange in attitude that must accompany welcoming one another back to communion. It will not be accomplished by anything less than the direct intervention and movement of the Holy Spirit, as true communion always demands it.
 
Trinityisgod said:
I’ve Just curious; do any of the Orthodox actually want communion with Rome? I know some individuals might; but what about Patriarchs and Bishops?
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Apparently the Romanian Orthodox hierarchy are seriously considering it as a group. But it’s not a unified desire. Synod is kind of split, apparently.

The Assyrian Church of the East also has several bishops agitating for union with Rome… but it’s said to be a small chunk of the Synod (10-25% are the numbers I recall seeing).
 
Take this for another example:

“But now about one-third of all U.S. Orthodox priests are converts — and that number is likely to grow, according to Alexei D. Krindatch, research director at the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley, Calif. A 2006 survey of the four Orthodox seminaries in the country found that about 43% of seminarians are converts, Krindatch said.”

“Krindatch’s research found that one-third of the more than 200 U.S. parishes in the Antiochian Orthodox Church were founded after 1990.”

usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-01-11-orthodox_x.htm
 
The way some posters are talking, Orthodoxy is struggling to survive, barely eeking along. Honestly that may be the case in some areas, but I would caution against extrapolating those areas across the globe. My parish is flourishing, as is every parish of my friends in Illinois, New York, Virginia, and Texas.

Now, with all due respect, I must ask you what benefit would the Orthodox receive from unity with the Roman Catholics? Personally I am in no rush whatsoever for such a union. The orthopraxis of Catholicism, from bishop to laity, leaves much to be desired, as does, IMO and most opinion of every Orthodox I’ve spoken with, the Novus Ordo liturgy. Much as many would wish otherwise, the Filioque is not a dead issue, and the Orthodox do not see the Roman Catholic positions on such doctrines as the Immaculate Conception, Original Sin, motal vs. venial sin, etc. as “two perspectives of the same truth”, but as two different doctrines.

The only thing we would have to gain is union with the Roman patriarchate (though your patriarch has abandoned the title. I’m not sure what to make of that) and we don’t feel union with Rome is necessary. We feel the full Catholicity of the Church is present with the fullness of faith of the laity, priest, and bishop united together in faith and Holy Communion.

We haven’t had the need for the Romany type of authority, we’ve been doing fine without it, so why should we desire unity? We would LOVE for Rome to come back to Orthodoxy, but that’s what we want - Rome to come back to Orthodoxy, not a compromise of the faith.
 
Rome does have Orthodouxy its called the Eastern rite church. If your brothers in communion with you dont see a problem with it and go to Eastern rite litergys and take communion. Union is bound to happen.If there was no Orthodoux church where would you go???
 
Rawb said:
The way some posters are talking, Orthodoxy is struggling to survive, barely eeking along. Honestly that may be the case in some areas, but I would caution against extrapolating those areas across the globe. My parish is flourishing, as is every parish of my friends in Illinois, New York, Virginia, and Texas.

Now, with all due respect, I must ask you what benefit would the Orthodox receive from unity with the Roman Catholics? Personally I am in no rush whatsoever for such a union. The orthopraxis of Catholicism, from bishop to laity, leaves much to be desired, as does, IMO and most opinion of every Orthodox I’ve spoken with, the Novus Ordo liturgy. Much as many would wish otherwise, the Filioque is not a dead issue, and the Orthodox do not see the Roman Catholic positions on such doctrines as the Immaculate Conception, Original Sin, motal vs. venial sin, etc. as “two perspectives of the same truth”, but as two different doctrines.

The only thing we would have to gain is union with the Roman patriarchate (though your patriarch has abandoned the title. I’m not sure what to make of that) and we don’t feel union with Rome is necessary. We feel the full Catholicity of the Church is present with the fullness of faith of the laity, priest, and bishop united together in faith and Holy Communion.

We haven’t had the need for the Romany type of authority, we’ve been doing fine without it, so why should we desire unity? We would LOVE for Rome to come back to Orthodoxy, but that’s what we want - Rome to come back to Orthodoxy, not a compromise of the faith.
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What about Traditional Catholicism? Meaning the Extraordinary form of the Roman liturgy?
 
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