I understand what the pope has said? But did he speak dogmatically or infallibility or even authoritatively? Please understand I’m not arguing. Blessing.
Richard,
Popes don’t issue those kinds of statements about this kind of question. Depending on how one sees things, the split between Catholics and Orthodox has existed for nearly 1,000 years (AD 1054 or AD 1208); and between Catholics and the Oriental Orthodox for 1500 years (AD 451).
My point in mentioning that is that there is no one, single document that declares Orthodox orders to be valid—instead, what we have is a 1,000 + year history of always accepting their ordinations as valid, and never finding them invalid, indeed never even questioning their validity (discussing and examining yes, but not questioning in the sense of doubting).
The history between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, or between East and West, is a very complicated one and that’s putting it mildly. Understanding it (if indeed anyone can ever understand it fully) requires years of formal education in theology, ecclesiology and church history.
Likewise, understanding the authority of Church documents requires quite a bit of formal education on the subject. The vocabulary that we use has changed over the centuries, and we cannot always apply a word as it is used today to a papal document which was written hundreds of years ago. For example the words “dogmatically taught” (which you used in your original question) took on a new meaning after the First Vatican Council in 1870.
I’ll re-post your original question (at the end)
I ask to understand if the Catholic Church has dogmatically taught Orthodox orders are valid
Frankly, the answer is “no.” But not because their orders are invalid, but because of the way you phrased the question. The Catholic Church does not “dogmatically teach” that their orders are valid–instead, we accept as a given that their orders are valid. The Church only makes dogmatic statements about issues when those issues are in dispute or somehow threatened: since the issue has never been disputed, no dogmatic statement has ever been necessary.
Despite what I just wrote, Vatican II did make dogmatic statements about issues that were not disputed, but that Council was exceptional and unique in that regard.
When we look at the totality of Catholic teaching and Catholic practice over the past 1,000 years, we know that whenever the subject has presented itself, we have always recognized the validity of Orthodox ordinations.
What I am trying to caution you against here is about self-directed research, most especially when it comes to internet documents. One needs to have a firm foundation in theology before searching the internet or before following links or websites that others might have recommended. The same applies to written books, of course, but in the internet age, the problem is multiplied. As a Catechumen, you should trust the official Catechism and whatever materials your parish supplies or recommends. Once you have a firm foundation, then you’ll be ready to research other topics or delve deeper into some. Even reading the documents of the Council of Trent requires some formal education on the subject or else one will inevitably misunderstand them. This is especially true when someone uses and manipulates the teachings of Trent in an attempt to make an absurd point. The documents of Trent have long been used as a tool to confuse people. Somehow you stumbled upon just such a site (which is admittedly quite easy to do).
The site you’re reading does not present serious theology or Church history. Believe me that no theologian would take it seriously after reading nothing more than the table of contents. It truly is that far from being serious theology.
A desire to go deeper in understanding Church history and ecclesiology, and specifically the issue of Orthodox ordinations, is a good thing. But one needs to take things slowly and proceed in order by first having a firm grasp of the basics. Please take things one step at a time.
For the moment, just to be clear: yes, the Catholic Church does accept that Orthodox Ordinations are valid, and accepts that as a given.
I encourage you to go deeper into theological matters; just please do so in-order. Right now, as a Catechumen, stick to the basics, above all the Catechism and trust what you read there. The time for self-directed theological research will come later, and even then you’ll still need a trusted guide.
