The Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue: Where does it truly stand at present?

[brb3]

Yet surely we will be held accountable to the extent we perpetuated division.

Matthew 5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

BYZCATHCANTOR … u are the Star of the East, and Hope of the West !!!
Never give in to the naysayers !

 

[josethomas2005]

Consider a dialogue took place last month between Syriac orthodox and catholic church at India. Pope had sent his representative, Archbishop Brian Farell to this dialogue. Bishops from syro Malabar, Syro Malankara and Syriac orthodox churches were present.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

The topic of the dialigue was Peter’s primacy. since the catholic church and syriac orthodox patriarchate of Antioch holds the view of apostle Peter’s primacy, the dialogue was done in this matter. There will be cooperation between the churches in the future.
Archbishop Powathil and Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai diocese of syro malabar catholic church were present.
Archbishop Kuriakose Mor Theophilose of the Syriac orthodox presided over the function. He was a doctoral student of Pope Benedict 16.
Archbishop Brian Farell and Monsgr Gbriel Quike were the papal representatives.

 

[brb3]

Perhaps we too, here at CAF, can resolve some or all issues of dispute via INTERNET CONCLAVE …and have OP forward our ideas on to Pope Benedict & Eastern Church Patriarchs …

 

[jwinch2]

Orthodox-Catholic Cooperation a New Sign of Hope

crisismagazine.com/2013/orthodox-catholic-cooperation-a-new-sign-of-hope

A nice article on some of the stands that the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are taking together to combat modernism and secularism.

The East and West have begun to recognize the impenetrable force they can become working together, especially in combating the rising tide of secularism that seeks to overwhelm culture. This trend is being felt most notably in Europe…

…The Orthodox and Catholic Churches have recently taken a stance that the best defense against secularism is a good offense. They have met various religious groups in Europe that have rejected traditional Christian teachings with more than just suspicion; they met them with warning and rebuke in virtual unison…

…The exact issues that have pushed the Church of England away from the Orthodox and Catholics are uniting the latter. This month, the Patriarch of Moscow, when speaking to the Council of Russian Orthodox Bishops, noted the positive trend of increased relations with the Catholics and criticized other groups for their drifting away from the teachings of the Early Church.

Other than calling out the religious groups that have fallen by the wayside, the Orthodox and Catholics are also fighting side-by-side in court. A case that recently arose in Italy, Lautsi v. Italy, went before the European Court of Human Rights on the issue of whether Italy could put crucifixes in their public school classrooms as a testament to their Catholic history. The Court, in 2006, ruled that simply hanging a crucifix denotes a process of indoctrination.

One of the most vocal critics of the Court’s decision of Lautsi v. Italy was the Orthodox Church. Italy appealed the case, and in 2010, the Court reversed its decision…

…The secular elitists, who believe Europe has no room for religion, are feeling the pressure. The same press release went on to say, “Unprecedentedly, ten states intervened voluntarily to support Italy, forming a ‘Holy Alliance’ between Catholic and Orthodox states (Armenia, Malta, Lithuania, San Marino, Monaco, Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus).”

Last month, the Orthodox and Catholics joined together in a campaign to protect a Catholic Cathedral in Romania. After a joint campaign by the two, a judge ordered the demolition of a 19-story skyscraper overshadowing the cathedral, and built with improper permits or authorizations. The media outlets are realizing the importance of this. Romania is a predominantly Orthodox country. One of the greatest roadblocks in the reunification efforts, the Orthodox claim, is that Catholics are “poaching converts” in traditionally Orthodox land. The fact that the Orthodox would fight for the Catholics in their country is a sign of thawing relations—and a cultural battle for keeping religion in the public sphere.

Pope Benedict XVI witnessed the atrocities of the Nazis in Germany; Patriarch Kirill witnessed the atrocities of the Soviets in Russia. These two leaders cooperated in recent years because they understood that a moral collapse often leads to a societal collapse. They understood exactly what is at stake. As the European Union grows, likely to soon include Catholic Croatia and Orthodox Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, the united front of the Churches will become a powerful force against secularization.

 

[jwinch2]

Benedict XVI Notes Hopes for Orthodox-Catholic Commission
Promises Mideast Christians His ‘Spiritual Closeness’

zenit.org/en/articles/benedict-xvi-notes-hopes-for-orthodox-catholic-commission

Vatican City, January 25, 2013 (Zenit.org). | 1535 hits

Benedict XVI today received in audience members of the joint Eastern Orthodox-Catholic commission, expressing his hopes for the continued development of their work.

The Pope’s brief message to the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches also included his condolences at the deaths of Orthodox leaders in the past year.

The Holy Father noted the work the 10-year-old commission has undertaken as they examine “from an historical perspective the various ways in which the Churches expressed their communion in the early centuries.”

“During this week devoted to prayer for the unity of all Christ’s followers, you have met to explore more fully the communion and communication which existed between the Churches in the first five centuries of Christian history,” he added.

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concluded today.

“In acknowledging the progress which has been made,” the Pontiff continued, “I express my hope that relations between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches will continue to develop in a fraternal spirit of cooperation, particularly through the growth of a theological dialogue capable of helping all the Lord’s followers to grow in communion and to bear witness before the world to the saving truth of the Gospel.”

Persecution

Finally, Benedict XVI noted that many of the members of the delegation come from areas where Christians “face painful trials and difficulties.”

“Through you,” he said, “I would like to assure all the faithful of the Middle East of my spiritual closeness and my prayer that this land, so important in God’s plan of salvation, may be led, through constructive dialogue and cooperation, to a future of justice and lasting peace.”

The Pope affirmed that all Christians must work together “in mutual acceptance and trust in serving the cause of peace and justice in fidelity to the Lord’s will. May the example and intercession of the countless martyrs and saints who down the ages have borne courageous witness to Christ in all our Churches, sustain and strengthen all of us in meeting the challenges of the present with confidence and hope in the future which the Lord is opening before us.”

 

[Anastasia13]

As Catholics, we believe primacy is not only a canonical prerogative (which EO easily recognize), but a divine prerogative as well with its basis - theologically speaking - in the establishment of Christ Himself. This is, btw, a perspective shared by the Churches of the Syriac Tradition as well, not just the Catholic Church.

Ummm, Can someone explain this a little more? I don’t understand what this is saying and am particularly interested in what was said as relates to the Syriac Tradition that you mentioned-this is the Syriac Orthodox of which he/she spoke?

 

[Peter_J]

Ummm, Can someone explain this a little more? I don’t understand what this is saying and am particularly interested in what was said as relates to the Syriac Tradition that you mentioned-this is the Syriac Orthodox of which he/she spoke?

This is perhaps one of the biggest debates on this forum: some posters say that the Oriental Orthodox agree with us on that particular matter (although not on everything else of course) and some posters say not.

 

[dzheremi]

This board is one thing (quite at odds with life as it is in ANY church…I hope and pray!), but it is important to point out that this is not a point of debate of ANY size/magnitude within the Oriental Orthodox communion, and those who say it is are trying to manipulate authentic tradition for their own ends. The Syriac Orthodox Church, in common with the other churches of the communion, teach in line with the Patristic understanding of St. Peter’s role in the Church. What they don’t do is teach is the RC view that somehow Peter = The Pope of Rome, by some divine mandate that it he be somehow existentially considered so. After all, Antioch was founded by St. Peter himself, so that would be an odd idea…

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

What they don’t do is teach is the RC view that somehow Peter = The Pope of Rome, by some divine mandate that it he be somehow existentially considered so. After all, Antioch was founded by St. Peter himself, so that would be an odd idea…

Agreed

 

[Tomdstone]

Consider a dialogue took place last month between Syriac orthodox and catholic church at India. Pope had sent his representative, Archbishop Brian Farell to this dialogue. Bishops from syro Malabar, Syro Malankara and Syriac orthodox churches were present.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UsDMjXuw7ls/UOA4DmktfyI/AAAAAAAAAvI/V6x1WQ9Ih3w/s1600/brian+frell.png
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9MY_-gIuXU/UOA4GUe1wUI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/itTTqxVPDCk/s1600/brian+farell.png
The topic of the dialigue was Peter’s primacy. since the catholic church and syriac orthodox patriarchate of Antioch holds the view of apostle Peter’s primacy, the dialogue was done in this matter. There will be cooperation between the churches in the future.
Archbishop Powathil and Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai diocese of syro malabar catholic church were present.
Archbishop Kuriakose Mor Theophilose of the Syriac orthodox presided over the function. He was a doctoral student of Pope Benedict 16.
Archbishop Brian Farell and Monsgr Gbriel Quike were the papal representatives.

Many Orthodox accept the idea of Rome being first among equals or primacy of honor, but don’t agree to infallibility or supreme universal jurisdiction.

 

[Tomdstone]

I just cannot envision the CC ever compromising in the slightest, regarding the Papacy; nor do I see the EOC compromising, therefore I tend to agree with you.

That is how it looks to me.