This Wednesday, 8/6/2008, I will be leaving communion with the Roman Catholic Church

[spauline]

Catholics recognize the validity of the Sacraments/Mysteries of the Orthodox Church: Eucharist, Marriage, etc.; however, we all know that Protestant Churches do not have valid Sacraments. So yes, since in John 6 Jesus tells us that we MUST eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood or we will not have Life in us, it would be a huge deal if someone left the Orthodox or Catholic Church for a Protestant Church.

No, Protestants have, usually, TWO Sacraments, Baptism and Marriage.

Interesting, isn’t it? In Catholicism, there are two forms of rift: schism (not standing with Peter) and heresy (not standing at all with Apostolic Succession.)

Schismatics have all seven sacraments but waver a little doctrinally because they lack Peter.

Heretics waver much and have only two sacraments.

In one form of the story, Jesus feeds the multitudes of 4,000 withe seven loaves and a few fish.

In the other form, he feeds 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish.

PEter is the fullness of apostolicity, all five sees reside in His Tradition. THe orthodox have four Sees.

so the seven loaves and a few fish are the orthodox, the five loaves and two fish the West, Peter, where heresy has reigned.

I find it an interesting coincidence.

Just as Catholicism has five sources of truth:

God as Trinity and Incarnation
Peter
General Bishops and Tradition
Scripture
Reason

The Orthodox lack Peter, and so have only 4 sources.

Schism in the 4,000
Heresy in the land of 5,000.

Orthodoxy and Protestantism in the Loaves and Fishes

 

[spauline]

Where do you stand on contraception, Christy? Did you know that some Orthodox accept it.

Have you ever read Theology of the Body?

 

[dessert]

I think she just didn’t want to be talked out of what she is doing so let ting us know at the last minute. I don’t think it is fair to say because of us that she is going Orthodox, like it is our fault or our arguing, who me I never argue:blush: or is she really just greatful. This doesn’t mean you have to leave us, we would still like to hear from you Chris. I will pray you are getting closer to Christ. Amen Pax!
Fique com Deus, (Stay with God)

 

[anon52328184]

christy, i noticed that you joined Catholic Answers Forum fairly recently, June 11, 2008 and today is August 5,2008. may i ask what it is that you read here that helped convince you to leave the RCC for the Orthodox church? how long were you Melkite Catholic?

 

[Nicholas82]

God bless you Christy!

 

[Church_Militant]

Here are a few people to try - you can google them:

Fr. Theodore Pulcini (a Roman Catholic Priest who converted to Orthodoxy)

Clark Carlton (a convert to Orthodoxy from Protestant)

Michael Whelton (a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, who remained Catholic for over 30 years before discovering that the Orthodox Church existed. One discovered he research and prayed and eventually became Orthodox)

Frank Schaeffer (a convert to Orthodoxy from Protestant - his father was a very famous Protestant Scholar: Francis Schaeffer - before he converted to Orthodoxy, some of his friends did convert to the Catholic Church…why didn’t he???).

Go ahead and read their works & listen to their testimonies/conversion stories, unless you are afraid you will be convinced… I dare you

So these handful are supposed to indicate the error of the Catholic Church?

Those Orthodox that I have encountered generally approach me with the same rhetorical attitude as regular n-Cs, even when I sought simple fellowship and discussion of things in common.

That is the primary barrier to my reception of their “witness”. You are welcome to it, I don’t think I would be interested.

 

[Pong]

What was the point of this thread, exactly? I would see it if the OP had seen fit to post something along the lines of a simple “thank you” to all who had helped her along the way, but it seems more like she’s interested in throwing verbal jabs at the Catholic Church at every turn. If I were the Orthodox priest recieving her into their communion and I had read what she posted here, I would have serious doubts about her conversion. Luckily for her, I’m not he. But I still doubt the motvies of anyone who would make posts like these.

 

[redrosetea]

I thought the Melkite are in communion with Rome? Actually I don’t care what you do ,or anyone else here, for that matter…

 

[Roy5]

DOES GOD REALLY CARE?

Does God really care what church we attend? When Jesus was asked how to gain eternal life, he didn't say become Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. He said love God and one another. When the lawyer pushed further, Christ gave us the beautiful parable of the Good Samaritan. And remember - the Samaritan were of a different religion, despised by the Jews. And didn't Jesus speak of other sheep not of this flock?

 I've pretty well decided over the years that theological arrogance is at the root of most of our problem. Let's face it: who really has the right answers about those basic mysteries of life? In medieval times, when people didn't have telescopes and microscopes, the faithful could believe all sorts of things., God the Father above the clouds on a throne, with Jesus at his right side. Demons running around leading us to sin. Witches. Ghosts. And since few were educated they followed the Church which was all-powerful in much of Europe. Today most people want to think for themselves. Most Catholics I know, for example, ignore the birth control ban and doubt or disbelieve in such central doctrines as transubstantiation. They value the Church and the Community of Faith for other reasons, but not for its theological fine points. 

 So Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, National Polish Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, Lutheran - does God care? I don't think so. In fact, I think we cause Him pain when we are so arrogant as to think that we and our Church alone have a monopoly on spiritual truth. My guess is that when we enter eternal life we will find that all of us missed the mark by a mile. Our finite minds could hardly comprehend the deeper mysteries of life. And the place will be crowded with good and not-so-good Catholics along with Orthodox, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc.  Hope to see you there!

 

[Milliardo]

Thank you Catholic Answers, especially the Eastern Catholic Forum, for leading me back out of communion with the Roman Church and into communion with the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church aka the Orthodox Churches!

I am so happy and relieved to be joining the true historical Church which has been protected by the Holy Spirit which has prevented it from teaching error for the last couple thousand years. The Roman Church has not had such a protection which can be seen clearly with the doctrines it has come up with in the last several hundred years since the Church of Rome removed herself from union with the Churches established by the Apostles.

Thank you!

It is always a joy when one finds the true light of Orthodoxy. As we sing after Communion, “We have seen the true light, and have received the heavenly Spirit. We have found the true Faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity; who has saved, saved us.” Are you now a catechumen then?

 

[PaulDupre]

Hi Lee,

**Pope Benedict XVI of Rome is one of two true successors to St. Peter. The other is His Beatitude Ignatius IV of Antioch. **antiochpat.org/english/sitefiles/viewcontent.php?content=%241%24Fqww80sV%24LJtl/mpIsne5lz0mZ5kCy0_%241%24cY2fEC.3%242X4rjsf3DqIjEbC53bz6R/%241%24Fqww80sV%24LJtl/mpIsne5lz0mZ5kCy0b56a92baa0ee987eb7f7e4a179b60efb&id=1&cat=%241%24DdKoSQCb%24FO96gT8jCFwnHPxW4LNZj1%241%24pCxQHS8F%24GHaBW0fpsqpxYoSn4BE0M/_%241%24DdKoSQCb%24FO96gT8jCFwnHPxW4LNZj150102e124822220aaa78a8e3b2ccba34&catid=3&contentname=Historical%20Overview&catname=Other%20Contents

Patriarch Bartholomew is true successor to St. Andrew, St. Peter’s older brother. ec-patr.org/list/index.php?lang=en

Hi Christy,
Just curious - how do you know that Andrew was the elder brother?
Thanks,
Paul

 

[anon52328184]

reply to post #70

and how does the true light of Orthodoxy differ from the roman catholic church.

you do not believe that the Pope should be the head of the church?

what are some of the other differences?

 

[Isa_Almisry]

General mediated fathers are not enough. It was predestined by God and willed by Him that there should be a special mediated Father, who alone preserves the full unity of the Church, to bear, even in a visible sense, the special presence of the One Savior, Jesus Christ.

Hence, from all eternity, the Petrine office would exist.

In the OT, 10 of 12 tribes broke away, but the remnant had the true kingship.

Is it any different in the NT? No. For four of the five sees broke with Peter, but Peter, as the singular special father, preserved the true kingship.
.

Trouble with your analyis: one of those sees is the first see of Peter, which still has his successor (who is in communion with him) and your Popes of Rome even call another, Alexandria, a Petrine see because his disciple Mark is succeeded there by the original Popes. And Jerusalen, well, what can be said? The center of the universe according to the Lord Himself. These sees have held to the True Temple,and Priesthood while the one has sought the strange gods of the pontifex maximus (you do know, the title is to the pagan office of the state religion?). The fact that the tribe of Dan took Moses’ grandson as their priest didn’t give them primacy.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Catholics recognize the validity of the Sacraments/Mysteries of the Orthodox Church: Eucharist, Marriage, etc.; however, we all know that Protestant Churches do not have valid Sacraments. So yes, since in John 6 Jesus tells us that we MUST eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood or we will not have Life in us, it would be a huge deal if someone left the Orthodox or Catholic Church for a Protestant Church.

Some Anglicans believe in the Real Presence, all Lutherans do (at least Luther taught it, and I believed it when Lutheran) and I’ve met Baptist who are wondering…
but yes, in general, Protestant means no concept of sacrament. “Ordinances.”

 

[Isa_Almisry]

No, the Greek.

Locally the Antiochean Church is in, let’s say, not such a great area.

For any non-Orthodox reading this…yes we may be in different Archdiocese; however, we are both Orthodox - the teaching/beliefs and liturgy are exactly the same! This type of true unity is only found in the Orthodox Church because it is being lead by the Holy Spirit.

No matter. Both Battholomew and Ignatius are in the diptychs.

 

[Milliardo]

reply to post #70

and how does the true light of Orthodoxy differ from the roman catholic church.

As Christy herself stated, Orthodoxy has preserved the Apostolic Faith much better than the Catholic Church did; we need not go far when we see even here in CAF over at the Liturgy and Sacraments section the loss of sanctity in Mass with such abuses, something that would horrify any Orthodox faithful.

you do not believe that the Pope should be the head of the church?

I’ve addressed this in another thread; suffice it to say that the Orthodox believes the bishop of Rome to be first among equals, but his authority does not constitute to a universal jurisdiction.

what are some of the other differences?

Actually not much–Orthodox and Catholics have much more to share than there are differences.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Here are a few people to try - you can google them:

Fr. Theodore Pulcini (a Roman Catholic Priest who converted to Orthodoxy)

Clark Carlton (a convert to Orthodoxy from Protestant)

Michael Whelton (a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, who remained Catholic for over 30 years before discovering that the Orthodox Church existed. One discovered he research and prayed and eventually became Orthodox)

Yes, as Met. Philip says, America’s best kept secret.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Your posting is immature and rude. Not to meantion innacurate. If your going to attack something than name what you are attacking. What doctrine?.

Here’s a partial answer, I believe:

Jesus built his Church on Peter. Jesus left Peter in charge of his Church on Earth.

What Roman Catholic Church did you visit that didn’t have a tabernacle. Are you sure the church didn’t have a tabernalce or was the tabernacle in a blessed chapel like the one at St. Peter’s Basilica. Be sure of your facts before publicly putting them on a forum as that is definately not the norm for a Roman Catholic Church not to have a tabernacle.

 

[anon52328184]

they sound like the first protestant church to me if the schism occurred in 1054. i have heard a lot of good things about the orthodox churches. too bad they can’t come to some understanding to be united again.

 

[Milliardo]

they sound like the first protestant church to me if the schism occurred in 1054.

Protestantism generally did away with the early Church Fathers and the deposit of the Apostolic Faith; Orthodoxy kept them intact. So it is very inaccurate and misleading to state it that way.

i have heard a lot of good things about the orthodox churches.

Then one has to build on that instead of trying to find something bad against Orthodoxy.