I should clarify one thing at least: when we say that we don’t try to convert Orthodox to Catholicism, we don’t mean that we discourage Orthodox from becoming Catholic. We’re just saying that we don’t encourage them to do so.I only ask this out of respect and ignorance as to the reason but why wouldn’t you?
As an Evangelical I feel no need to convert Catholics or Orthodox but I can certainly understand why Catholics would try to convert Orthodox to the fullness of truth. Can you explain why you wouldn’t want that?
Thanks again for the response, and again with complete respect I understand the practice. But my question remains, “why not?” Shouldn’t a Catholic who believes they have the fullness of truth encourage any non-Catholic to join in that fullness?I should clarify one thing at least: when we say that we don’t try to convert Orthodox to Catholicism, we don’t mean that we discourage Orthodox from becoming Catholic. We’re just saying that we don’t encourage them to do so.
As the Balamand Statement put it, “Pastoral activity in the Catholic Church, Latin as well as Eastern, no longer aims at having the faithful of one Church pass over to the other”.
I admit it is something of a mystery, at least when you first learn of it. My suggestion would be to read the Balamand Statement.Thanks again for the response, and again with complete respect I understand the practice. But my question remains, “why not?” Shouldn’t a Catholic who believes they have the fullness of truth encourage any non-Catholic to join in that fullness?
I’m quoting from a different thread:Thanks again for the response, and again with complete respect I understand the practice. But my question remains, “why not?” Shouldn’t a Catholic who believes they have the fullness of truth encourage any non-Catholic to join in that fullness?
Schismatics aren’t heretics. Their Sacraments are valid.The Catholic discernment is that our Orthodox bretheren are not heretics at all (thus, not under the proscription handed down from the Fathers). They are merely our of communion with the See in Rome.
Hm… I’ve heard that they are lacking the fullness of truth here. From a RC point of view, is this true or is it not?I’m quoting from a different thread:
Schismatics aren’t heretics. Their Sacraments are valid.
And this link may help, too:
ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur192.htm
P.S. Or perhaps a better approach to understanding would be to ask yourself why “As an Evangelical [you] feel no need to convert Catholics or Orthodox”?I admit it is something of a mystery, at least when you first learn of it. My suggestion would be to read the Balamand Statement.
In any case, I think we’re agreed that (for whatever reasons) proselytism is no longer Catholic policy.
We don’t believe that one Church can say, “we’re the One True Church” apart from being the One True Church with all the other Church’s who profess Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and divinity.P.S. Or perhaps a better approach to understanding would be to ask yourself why “As an Evangelical [you] feel no need to convert Catholics or Orthodox”?
I was able to pull up the link to the tract easily accessible from the CAF front page:We don’t believe that one Church can say, “we’re the One True Church” apart from being the One True Church with all the other Church’s who profess Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and divinity.
From what I’ve learned (and I am open to being corrected) although Catholics accept Orthodox Sacraments as valid, they are not the “One True Church” rather, only Catholics are.
Actually the Catholic church accepts the Orthodox as the other lung of the church. It is not as if there were there were huge differences.We don’t believe that one Church can say, “we’re the One True Church” apart from being the One True Church with all the other Church’s who profess Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and divinity.
From what I’ve learned (and I am open to being corrected) although Catholics accept Orthodox Sacraments as valid, they are not the “One True Church” rather, only Catholics are.
Andrewstx—I have just a few minutes right now, but I was able to find a pretty detailed history of how the Baptist church started in Ukraine. It was around 1855 from a German Baptist living in Ukraine; originally the Baptists were all, or mostly, German inhabitants, till ethnic Ukrainians joined their churches.Actually the Catholic church accepts the Orthodox as the other lung of the church. It is not as if there were there were huge differences.
I went to an Orthodox mission (now closed) that had Liturgy only once a month. On the other Sundays a Syrian family went to and communed at a Catholic parish with full knowledge and approval from both priests.
Thanks. Perhaps I am misunderstanding something, because I’m not sure what the official teaching is:I was able to pull up the link to the tract easily accessible from the CAF front page:
catholic.com/tracts/eastern-orthodoxy
Regarding the “one true church,” I am not sure that you are understanding the difference between schism and heresy.
You will get a more inspired response if you open a thread with that title here or in the Eastern Catholic Forum.Thanks. Perhaps I am misunderstanding something, because I’m not sure what the official teaching is:
Do the Orthodox have the fullness of truth? Do the Catholics have the fullness of truth?
Yes. And Yes.Thanks. Perhaps I am misunderstanding something, because I’m not sure what the official teaching is:
Do the Orthodox have the fullness of truth? Do the Catholics have the fullness of truth?
Thanks. I didn’t actually know that Catholics believe this.Yes. And Yes.
In the Catholic sense (please correct me if I’m wrong, Catholic posters!) the Orthodox and the RC are both inside the big circle of “One true Church” - we may be separated inside that circle, but not gravely enough to have broken off from it. The Protestants, however, are outside the circle of the “One True Church” but not outside the larger circle of Christians. This is why the Catechism says Protestants have the right to be called Christian brethren.We don’t believe that one Church can say, “we’re the One True Church” apart from being the One True Church with all the other Church’s who profess Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and divinity.
From what I’ve learned (and I am open to being corrected) although Catholics accept Orthodox Sacraments as valid, they are not the “One True Church” rather, only Catholics are.
So basically, I see you like you see Orthodox?In the Catholic sense (please correct me if I’m wrong, Catholic posters!) the Orthodox and the RC are both inside the big circle of “One true Church” - we may be separated inside that circle, but not gravely enough to have broken off from it. The Protestants, however, are outside the circle of the “One True Church” but not outside the larger circle of Christians. This is why the Catechism says Protestants have the right to be called Christian brethren.
’So basically, I see you like you see Orthodox?
How do the Orthodox see you? Is it mutual?
I apologize.’
I don’t think I understand, I’m sorry - what is your question, dronald?