Eastern Catholicism and Distinction

[Thomas48]

I have noted many times that people will post on the Eastern Catholicism Forum threads like “Eastern Catholicism and Venerating Saints” or “Eastern Catholicism and the Rosary” which are all fair topics to ask of but I often see readers give replies that group all the** Eastern Churches in one, in a sense that they all have the same view.** This is highly not true, unlike the Latin Church, the Eastern Churches cannot be aligned as one united entity that all have the same beliefs and divine customs. It is not the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic Church, it is the Eastern Catholic Churches, one must always remember that this term is plural. I am not in any sense bringing disunity, I am only pointing out the fact that all Eastern Catholic Churches must be seen with distinction. One cannot simply give a broad reply as the “Eastern Catholic View” or the “Eastern Catholic Opinion” because it is for a fact the Five Rites comprised of Twenty-Two Eastern Catholic Churches, is it not?

 

[capablanca911]

I have noted many times that people will post on the Eastern Catholicism Forum threads like “Eastern Catholicism and Venerating Saints” or “Eastern Catholicism and the Rosary” which are all fair topics to ask of but I often see readers give replies that group all the** Eastern Churches in one, in a sense that they all have the same view.** This is highly not true, unlike the Latin Church, the Eastern Churches cannot be aligned as one united entity that all have the same beliefs and divine customs. It is not the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic Church, it is the Eastern Catholic Churches, one must always remember that this term is plural. I am not in any sense bringing disunity, I am only pointing out the fact that all Eastern Catholic Churches must be seen with distinction. One cannot simply give a broad reply as the “Eastern Catholic View” or the “Eastern Catholic Opinion” because it is for a fact the Five Rites comprised of Twenty-Two Eastern Catholic Churches, is it not?

There are different theologoumena, but they all have an Eastern flavor. Sometimes this intersects with the West in surprising ways: Fr. Seraphim of Sarov on the rosary, Western view of original sin at Carthage being adopted at Trullo, etc.

 

[ronyodish]

One cannot simply give a broad reply as the “Eastern Catholic View” or the “Eastern Catholic Opinion” because it is for a fact the Five Rites comprised of Twenty-Two Eastern Catholic Churches, is it not?

Thomas48,

Yes, we are distinct amongst ourselves as members of the various Eastern/Oriental Catholic Churches. We are distinct in our theologies, liturgies, spiritualities, and disciplines. In other words, we are distinct in the way we employ our rites, traditions, and patrimonies. So, there is no such thing as only one Eastern/Oriental view or perspective or expression.

However, despite our various expressions, we (along with the Latins) are united in the Holy and Apostolic Faith, the Holy and Divine Mysteries, and the Holy and Universal Hierarchy of the Pope of Rome and the Bishops in full communion with him.

God bless,

Rony

 

[MorEphrem]

There are different theologoumena, but they all have an Eastern flavor.

That’s an extremely orientalist comment. Anyone who is mindful of the “flavor” differences between Latin, Byzantine and Syriac theology would agree with that. While we are all equally “valid,” or what have you, as long as the Latin Church views all the different Eastern Churches as just the collective “Other” there will always be ecclesiological issues.

 

[magyar88]

this is something that bothers me too, and eastern (greek) catholics tend to be the worse offenders, always assuming and placing the the various oriental catholic churches in the same category as themselves - usually in some asinine debate over latin theology vs eastern/greek theology.

Thomas48,

However, despite our various expressions, we (along with the Latins) are united in the Holy and Apostolic Faith, the Holy and Divine Mysteries, and the Holy and Universal Hierarchy of the Pope of Rome and the Bishops in full communion with him.

God bless,

Rony

yes! amen