Reuniting all the Churches of Christ, East and West

[paglione]

Is Christian Unity still one of the goals of the Catholic Church? I see little if anything in the Catholic press or hear anything from the pulpit on the matter of ecumenism. The priests in my parish do “same old”, “same old” each Sunday and are content with that. What about including prayers for Christian Unity in the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass? What about our bishops and our priests telling the Catholic faithful that this is something that we have to pray for. And tell them that “Orthodox” is not a dirty word.
(signed) Peter D. Aglione, Hawthorne, NY
Petradom737@aol.com
30 April 2013

 

[McCall1981]

Is Christian Unity still one of the goals of the Catholic Church? I see little if anything in the Catholic press or hear anything from the pulpit on the matter of ecumenism. The priests in my parish do “same old”, “same old” each Sunday and are content with that. What about including prayers for Christian Unity in the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass? What about our bishops and our priests telling the Catholic faithful that this is something that we have to pray for. And tell them that “Orthodox” is not a dirty word.
(signed) Peter D. Aglione, Hawthorne, NY
Petradom737@aol.com
30 April 2013

Pope Francis seems to put a lot of emphasis on relations with the Orthodox Church, and there have been a number of positive developments recently (like at Francis’ inauguration mass). So I think things are going quite well at the macro level. On the parish level, I’d agree it’s not something that ever comes up, although I wish it would.

 

[PJM]

=paglione;10688352]Is Christian Unity still one of the goals of the Catholic Church? I see little if anything in the Catholic press or hear anything from the pulpit on the matter of ecumenism. The priests in my parish do “same old”, “same old” each Sunday and are content with that. What about including prayers for Christian Unity in the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass? What about our bishops and our priests telling the Catholic faithful that this is something that we have to pray for. And tell them that “Orthodox” is not a dirty word.
(signed) Peter D. Aglione, Hawthorne, NY
Petradom737@aol.com
30 April 2013

My friend;

Do you see the air you breath? No but its there.

One God; One Faith and One Church is WHAT Christ proclaimed; Taught’ Lived and died for.

If one is an Informed, Practicing Catholic One MUST; will and does desire to see Christ Devine and Perfect Will fulfilled.

Shorty before assending back to “the Father” christ told; directly and exclusively; cf. YOU!!! GO out and Teach the ENTIRE WORLD what I persoanlly taught to YOU!!!

Mk, 16;14-16 "
At length he appeared to the eleven [APOSTLES] as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. **And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, **and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned"

Mt. 28: 16-20 “And the eleven disciples [Apostles] went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.** And Jesus coming, spoke to them**, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. **Going therefore, teach ye all nations; **baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world”

This dear friends is the MESSAGE of Faith; Hope and Love that we MUST SHARE:thumbsup:

**Acts.20: 28 **“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God [SINGULAR] which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.”

Eph. 4: 1-7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body[CHURCH] and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift"

**John.10: 16 **“And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd”

**Eph. 2:19-20 **“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,[Singular] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Romans 13: 2 “Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

Dear Lord; please reunite your One Church. Amen:thumbsup:

 

[MaryT777]

I agree that things are being done on the macro level.

 

[otjm]

Is Christian Unity still one of the goals of the Catholic Church? I see little if anything in the Catholic press or hear anything from the pulpit on the matter of ecumenism. The priests in my parish do “same old”, “same old” each Sunday and are content with that. What about including prayers for Christian Unity in the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass? What about our bishops and our priests telling the Catholic faithful that this is something that we have to pray for. And tell them that “Orthodox” is not a dirty word.
(signed) Peter D. Aglione, Hawthorne, NY
Petradom737@aol.com
30 April 2013

Not sure what Catholic press you are reading. It certainly has ben carrying news for some time of the Anglicans reuniting with Rome.

Ecumenism has many forms. It may be the work with a food pantry, with support for unwed mothers, for uniting to protect marriage when issues come to a vote; most of this is going to go on at the local level between Catholics, Protestants, and others; and one does not necessarily see the conversions which occur.

Issues such as a whole Anglican parish coming into the Church are going to occur at a higher level, and the beginnings of that occurred at a very high level - Rome.

Talks with the Orthodox periodically appear in the news, but you have to read the whole paper (e.g. Our Sunday Visitor or National Catholic Register) as there may not be a whole lot reported about the work; often because it is very slow work and changes are often incremental.

On the other hand, it would be nice to see the whole Church engaged in prayer on the matter like we were at the start of, and during the Vatican 2 council. The Holy Spirit is still alive and at work in the world.

 

[Steveabrous]

Is Christian Unity still one of the goals of the Catholic Church? I see little if anything in the Catholic press or hear anything from the pulpit on the matter of ecumenism. The priests in my parish do “same old”, “same old” each Sunday and are content with that. What about including prayers for Christian Unity in the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass? What about our bishops and our priests telling the Catholic faithful that this is something that we have to pray for. And tell them that “Orthodox” is not a dirty word.
(signed) Peter D. Aglione, Hawthorne, NY
Petradom737@aol.com
30 April 2013

Ecumenism is a two way street. In the past I’ve seen our side reaching towards them, and them complaining about the past.

 

[St_Nephi]

I’m going to step out on a limb here and be a wee bit frank, and hopefully my post here won’t offend many.

As an outsider looking in, it’s been my experience that the strong desires for unity are more heavily felt by the clergy and the upper-ranking hierarchs of the various churches (particularly so between Catholics and Eastern Orthodox).

The rank-and-file lay folk, on the other hand, tend to be more inimical to reunion (particularly so on the Orthodox hand). I’ve heard various, self-proclaimed “dyed-in-the-wool” Catholics who have essentially said that they do not want to see reunion until Orthodox essentially become Catholics (including but not limited to using the filioque in the creed, having celibate priests, etc.).

I’ve heard much the same (if not even more polemical) from the Orthodox. It’s for this reason that I suspect any attempts at reunion by the hierarchs will be met with even more schism by vociferously anti-the-other-side lay people. The Orthodox would likely depose their bishops who agreed to such reunion, and the Catholics who are against such would just form more SSPX-like groups.

Just my $0.02.

 

[St_Nephi]

Ecumenism is a two way street. In the past I’ve seen our side reaching towards them, and them complaining about the past.

I’ve seen this too, but I’ve also seen quite a number of pro-union Catholics attempt to minimalize the, sometimes profound, differences between the two churches.

If union is ever to occur, both sides need to:

1. learn to let go of 1000 year + history and forgive each other.
2. Talk honestly about differences, rather than simply sweep them under the rug. This is most important, I think, since any reunion without this will be a superficial one at best, and will likely go no further than the short-lived reunion orchestrated by Florence.

 

[otjm]

I think it would not do to paint the Orthodox with one brush. There maybe elements which are more open to examining the past and to examining where true differences may lay and what may need to be done with them. We have a multitude of Eastern rites which are in union with Rome and which have been encouraged for decades to return to their roots and eliminate Latinization. Whether or not that can be a model, or a stumbling block may be a question as to how open people are to the work of the Holy Spirit.

No one seems to be insisting that the Eastern rites eliminate married priests, and it was my understanding that the restriction of them coming to the US was lifted some time ago.

As to dyed in the wool Catholics, those who are orthodox in their beliefs will follow Rome. Those who are not will have to decide if they accept the leadership of the Church or they don’t, at which point at least we can all be honest with one another. But if Rome and the Orthodox head towards reconciliation, those in the pew are not going to derail it.

 

[PJM]

=St Nephi;10689008]I’m going to step out on a limb here and be a wee bit frank, and hopefully my post here won’t offend many.

As an outsider looking in, it’s been my experience that the strong desires for unity are more heavily felt by the clergy and the upper-ranking hierarchs of the various churches (particularly so between Catholics and Eastern Orthodox).

The rank-and-file lay folk, on the other hand, tend to be more inimical to reunion (particularly so on the Orthodox hand). I’ve heard various, self-proclaimed “dyed-in-the-wool” Catholics who have essentially said that they do not want to see reunion until Orthodox essentially become Catholics (including but not limited to using the filioque in the creed, having celibate priests, etc.).

I’ve heard much the same (if not even more polemical) from the Orthodox. It’s for this reason that I suspect any attempts at reunion by the hierarchs will be met with even more schism by vociferously anti-the-other-side lay people. The Orthodox would likely depose their bishops who agreed to such reunion, and the Catholics who are against such would just form more SSPX-like groups.

Just my $0.02.

THANKS for sharing;

How ever the catholics you hang with certainly do not represent the very many catholics I know of:thumbsup:

I would LOVE to see the RCC reunited with the Eastern Faiths.

Their sense of piety and awe-inspirting IMO:thumbsup:

But it would also [IMO] have to include recogonizing the Primacy of Rome.

God Bless,
pat

 

[floresco]

Because we have Eastern Catholic Rites, Orthodox will be able to worship in a familiar way when they rejoin the Catholic Church. That is a big step right there.

 

[Steveabrous]

I’ve seen this too, but I’ve also seen quite a number of pro-union Catholics attempt to minimalize the, sometimes profound, differences between the two churches.

If union is ever to occur, both sides need to:

1. learn to let go of 1000 year + history and forgive each other.
2. Talk honestly about differences, rather than simply sweep them under the rug. This is most important, I think, since any reunion without this will be a superficial one at best, and will likely go no further than the short-lived reunion orchestrated by Florence.

The biggest problem I see are the Ecumenical councils since the split. Orthodoxy has had none, we have had at least three I can think of just off the top of my head. Trent- which made profound changes, Vatican 1- which formulated the Dogma of Papal infalability, and Vatican 2- which made several changes. Unless the orthodox churches are willing to accept these councils as binding (including Papal Infalability) there is no chance of reunification. The Roman Catholic church can not back track and say those councils are nule and void since they have already been declared as absolute truth.

 

[Lucky7]

I don’t see reunification without those out of communion with the Catholic Church reconciling and becoming fully in communion with Her. If the Catholic Church is the one, true Church then the only way to unity is to become part of the Catholic Church.

 

[PJM]

=Lucky7;10692799]I don’t see reunification without those out of communion with the Catholic Church reconciling and becoming fully in communion with Her. If the Catholic Church is the one, true Church then the only way to unity is to become part of the Catholic Church.

OK Thats the answer

BUT

What IS the solution:shrug:

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I think there will be a reuniting if Islam vanquishes Greece and Russia and is marching on Rome.

Maybe that will be the great chastisement and the “great monarch” will vanquish those forces and the Church will be triumphant for a time and it will be the age of Mary–after that maybe comes the anti-Christ and the end when Christ returns.

Maybe all that scenario is wrong–but for some reason I do believe that Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Catholic will all reunite before Jesus returns. Is a hope for that well founded?

 

[1toolbox]

OK Thats the answer

BUT

What IS the solution:shrug:

rapidnet.com/~jbeard/cath/ch-state.htm

why would any one not want to be a catholic??-

"catholic’s have the best ceremonies-- and can pray to a lot of different spirits.

and this was expanded in 315 ad

Roman Catholicism: The Paganization of Christianity Constantine

yes Virginia there is a Santa class–

In 315, Constantine issued an edict making it a crime for Jews to proselytize. His goal in all this was to ensure that the “proper cult of the Catholic Religion” would be observed throughout the Empire.

So much for every man being permitted to practice his religion as he chose. A century later, the penalty for Jewish proselytizing was made death.
Papal Rome

Fifteen centuries after the birth of Christ, little had changed in Western Europe but the names of the gods worshiped. The Western Europeans of the fifteenth century still lived in an enchanted world a world of magic and miracles.

Instead of the twelve gods of ancient Rome, there were the cults of the twelve apostles, whose relics could cure diseases, control the weather, and inflict harm on those who opposed them.

Instead of the departmental deities of ancient Rome, there were the departmental Saints of papal Rome.

Instead of the cult of Diana, Queen of Heaven, there was the cult of Mary, Queen of Heaven.

The holidays (in pre-Reformation Germany, there were 161 days of holy fasting and abstinence each year), processions, sacrifices, and rituals continued; the apparitions, pilgrimages, relics, and shrines remained; the gladiatorial contests were replaced by autos da fe at which the religious would chant the Psalms and pray the liturgy. Laing wrote, “though there is a notable difference in the character of the supernatural beings that in the fourth century succeeded to the multitudinous functions of the old departmental spirits, there is little or no change in the attitude of mind .”

The founders of the Catholic Church-State

"were keenly interested in winning the pagans to the faith, and they succeeded.

But undoubtedly one element in their success was the inclusion in their system of the doctrine of the veneration of Saints.

 

[UncleBill]

I don’t see reunification without those out of communion with the Catholic Church reconciling and becoming fully in communion with Her. If the Catholic Church is the one, true Church then the only way to unity is to become part of the Catholic Church.

I am VERY thankful that Rome sees things VERY differently than you!

 

[Tomdstone]

I am VERY thankful that Rome sees things VERY differently than you!

Would you be willing to elaborate on that? For example, I don’t see any move on the part of the RCC to yield on anything, such as for example, the teaching on papal infallibility, which is not accepted by the Orthodox.

 

[UncleBill]

Would you be willing to elaborate on that? For example, I don’t see any move on the part of the RCC to yield on anything, such as for example, the teaching on papal infallibility, which is not accepted by the Orthodox.

Pope John Paul II has opened that up for discussion in his letter Et Unum Sint.

Both Rome and the Orthodox have to come to a better understanding of each other and work out how communion will come about…I can assure you it will NOT come about by the Orthodox converting to Catholicism. (or vise versa)

 

[Tomdstone]

Pope John Paul II has opened that up for discussion in his letter Et Unum Sint.

Both Rome and the Orthodox have to come to a better understanding of each other and work out how communion will come about…I can assure you it will NOT come about by the Orthodox converting to Catholicism. (or vise versa)

A better understanding of one another is not enough. Will the Orthodox be required to submit to Catholic teaching on papal infallibility or not? I don;t see where Rome has made any move to throw out papal infallibility and the Orthodox do not accept papal infallibility.
Unless, you are talking about intercommunion, but with each Church clinging to its own teaching on papal infallibility. The Orthodox today do not want intercommunion without agreement on doctrine.