The Reunification of the Body of Christ

[frnate]

I don’t see how it can be done very easily. There would have to be a recognition of a common Nicene Creed. There would have to be a recognition of Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. There would have to be an acceptance of married priests. There would probably have to be some kind of limited acceptance of some types of birth control. And everyone would have to give some kind of allegiance to the Pope. Without comment on the merits of the various positions, I think that birth control and priestly celibacy are big stumbling blocks to unification.

Hi christianley,
I’ll be happy to comment on the various positions.
You point out the major items that come to my mind. IMO it is the RCC which has varied from the historic witness of the faithful on most of them.

The filioque was an added with grudging and temporary approval to the Creed in order to combat a specific heresy and is no longer necessary.
The RCC is the only juridiction which forbids married men entering Holy Orders. I really don’t think it would be such a leap to imagine them aligning themselves with the practice of dis-allowing marriage only to monastics, as in the East.
At the risk of sounding like an Apologist for the East I also am posting a statement from the OCA website re: divorce and birth control which again, IMHO, is VERY balanced.

Regarding divorce, the Orthodox follow Christ in recognizing it as a tragedy and a lack of fulfillment of marriage as the reflection of divine love in the world. The Church teaches the uniqueness of marriage, if it will be perfect, and is opposed to divorce absolutely.

If, however, a marriage breaks down and collapses, the Orthodox Church does in fact allow a second marriage, without excommunication, that is, exclusion from Holy Communion, if there is repentance and a good chance that the new alliance can be Christian.

More than one marriage in any case, however, is frowned upon. It is not allowed to the clergy, and the service of second marriage for laymen is a special rite different from the sacrament as originally celebrated.

The control of the conception of a child by any means is also condemned by the Church if it means the lack of fulfillment in the family, the hatred of children, the fear of responsibility, the desire for sexual pleasure as purely fleshly, lustful satisfaction, etc.

Again, however, married people practicing birth control are not necessarily deprived of Holy Communion, if in conscience before God and with the blessing of their spiritual father, they are convinced that their motives are not entirely unworthy. Here again, however, such a couple cannot pretend to justify themselves in the light of the absolute perfection of the Kingdom of God.

By saying allegiance to the Pope, do you mean recognition of his universal jurisdiction/primacy of authority? If so, I think that will be the hardest point to overcome. And of course, my studies have led me to conclude that all the Apostles have equal authority.
More on this later if you like.

Peace,
+Nathan