Orthodox Church with the best relations with Rome?

[NorthTexan88]

As I’ve said so many times on this forum, the whole business of Novus Ordo-inspired neo-latinization among the Maronites saddens me more than I can express. No offense, but I’d just as soon not rehash it now.

Yes.

You’ll get different answers on this, but as I’ve said repeatedly on this forum, my view is yes.

If the Orthodox allow it, there’s no problem. After all, it’s the same Eucharist. Even Rome accepts that.

Tough question. I’d like to answer in the affirmative, but … well, all I’ll say is I doubt that Rome would be inclined to do it that way.

I spoke with the priest at the Armenian parish near me, and he stated that I was allowed to receive communion, given that I was free of sin and believed in the Real presence (obviously same as us), and that there was no problem with it, he said something about the Catholic Church allows for this, and so does the Armenian Church, I was not aware of that. Pretty neat side note, he is being ordained to the priesthood this Sunday and he stated that it is practice to go into seclusion for 40 days. Is this common in other Churches, or just the Armenian?

 

[malphono]

I spoke with the priest at the Armenian parish near me, and he stated that I was allowed to receive communion, given that I was free of sin and believed in the Real presence (obviously same as us), and that there was no problem with it, he said something about the Catholic Church allows for this, and so does the Armenian Church, I was not aware of that.

It’s more commonly seen in the Middle East, but it does spill-over into the diaspora.

Pretty neat side note, he is being ordained to the priesthood this Sunday and he stated that it is practice to go into seclusion for 40 days. Is this common in other Churches, or just the Armenian?

It’s an old practice, rooted in monasticism. I believe the Copts still maintain it. IIRC, the SOC does as well, at least for monks, but I really don’'t know about their non-monastics. AFAIK, beyond the standard week-long “retreat” prior to ordination, none “in union with Rome” do it,.

 

[NorthTexan88]

It’s more commonly seen in the Middle East, but it does spill-over into the diaspora.

It’s an old practice, rooted in monasticism. I believe the Copts still maintain it. IIRC, the SOC does as well, at least for monks, but I really don’'t know about their non-monastics. AFAIK, beyond the standard week-long “retreat” prior to ordination, none “in union with Rome” do it,.

Quick advice malphono.
On my confession app, one of the mortal sins listed is “adherence to schismatic groups.” Since the Orthodox are “technically” in schism, does that mean its a mortal since to go to an Armenian Church?

 

[Peter_J]

Quick advice malphono.
On my confession app, one of the mortal sins listed is “adherence to schismatic groups.”

uch:

I guess we’re all in a lot of trouble.

(Kidding.)

 

[Peter_J]

Quick advice malphono.
On my confession app, one of the mortal sins listed is “adherence to schismatic groups.” Since the Orthodox are “technically” in schism, does that mean its a mortal since to go to an Armenian Church?

Joking aside, my interpretation of “adherence to schismatic groups” would be, leaving (fully or partially) the Church. Thus, it would not include visiting a different church – nor would it include an Orthodox or protestant Christian being faithful to his/her church. (Conversely, if I were Orthodox, I would not see it as sinful for Catholics to be faithful to the Catholic Church.)

 

[NorthTexan88]

Joking aside, my interpretation of “adherence to schismatic groups” would be, leaving (fully or partially) the Church. Thus, it would not include visiting a different church – nor would it include an Orthodox or protestant Christian being faithful to his/her church. (Conversely, if I were Orthodox, I would not see it as sinful for Catholics to be faithful to the Catholic Church.)

Ah ok, makes sense

However, wouldn’t schismatic sect mean Protestants then, rather than Orthodox? Since the Church does view Protestant groups as actual churches, just ecclesial communities, plus Protestant orders aren’t valid…is that what it means by schismatic group?

 

[MorEphrem]

Quick advice malphono.
On my confession app, one of the mortal sins listed is “adherence to schismatic groups.” Since the Orthodox are “technically” in schism, does that mean its a mortal since to go to an Armenian Church?

No, I think that would relate more to, for example, being an American nun .

 

[Peter_J]

Ah ok, makes sense

To be honest, I couldn’t say precisely what they mean by “adherence to schismatic groups”; but clearly, whoever wrote that was pretty polemical.

 

[neokarny]

Thanks.

Incidentally, in my last post I forgot that I speaking to someone Antiochian – you may have noticed that I said “they” instead of “you”.

Anyhow, this might interest you: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=11121984

No worries. And thanks for pointing out that thread.

 

[TK421]

I wouldn’t necessarily assume that because of the closer doctrinal similarities that the Eastern Orthodox Churches will be more easily brought into communion with Rome. The fact that they have a longstanding succession and a long history in general could make them more, not less resistant. If there is any group most ripe for the taking I might actually say it is Anglicanism, since they are suffering from cultural compromise and many of its more conservative members will be strongly drawn to reconsider their denomination towards Catholicism. I’m not British, but historically, miscellaneous protestant denominations like Methodism or Baptists don’t carry nearly as much weight in England as the actual Church of England. Also, because Anglicanism follows a “high church” tradition, you won’t suffer such a huge obstacle with explaining various practices as you would with an American protestant, which could almost feel like a lost cause at times.

These things don’t so easily happen instantly like they did in the past where peasants living in Eastern Europe/Asia or Western Europe/Africa just so happened to fall into either Eastern Orthodoxy or Roman Catholicism depending on where they lived. People are far more mobile and information is far more accessible. Conversion will be an arduous trickle.

 

[Peter_J]

I wouldn’t necessarily assume that because of the closer doctrinal similarities that the Eastern Orthodox Churches will be more easily brought into communion with Rome. The fact that they have a longstanding succession and a long history in general could make them more, not less resistant. If there is any group most ripe for the taking I might actually say it is Anglicanism, since they are suffering from cultural compromise and many of its more conservative members will be strongly drawn to reconsider their denomination towards Catholicism.

Good point, TK.

I would add that the Balamand Agreement between Catholics and Eastern Orthodox made a point of saying that “Pastoral activity in the Catholic Church, Latin as well as Eastern, no longer aims at having the faithful of one Church pass over to the other”.

With Anglicans it is, as you say, different. Not that the difference is completely black and white of course (even with Anglicans we try not to do anything that would be proselytizing, even in the setting up of the ordinariates) but the difference exists none the less.