What is the Eastern Orthodox view of the Catholic Church?

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I see the Roman Church in free fall like the Anglican Church by only a little slower.
 
chrisb said:
I see the Roman Church in free fall like the Anglican Church by only a little slower.
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free-fall (frfôl)
n.
  1. The fall of a body within the atmosphere without a drag-producing device such as a parachute.
  2. The ideal falling motion of a body that is subject only to the earth’s gravitational field.
    3.** Rapid uncontrolled decline**:
I guess our defense of life (from womb to tomb), the upholding of marriage, our stance against female priests and contraceptives . . . all attest to this rapid decline or free fall. :rolleyes:
 
josie_L said:
free-fall (frfôl)
n.
  1. The fall of a body within the atmosphere without a drag-producing device such as a parachute.
  2. The ideal falling motion of a body that is subject only to the earth’s gravitational field.
    3.** Rapid uncontrolled decline**:
If the Catholic Church were free-falling it would hardly be slow. :rolleyes:
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He said slower, not slow. 😉
 
chrisb said:
I see the Roman Church in free fall like the Anglican Church by only a little slower.
Click to expand...
Well, if the Roman Catholic Church falls, expect to have a whole bunch of us making the sign of the cross backwards at your Divine Liturgies.
 
chrisb said:
I see the Roman Church in free fall like the Anglican Church by only a little slower.
Click to expand...
I think this is the sort if thing people are talking about. Now make no mistake, as a Protestant moving toward conversion to Catholicism I’m hardly qualified to talk about the historical traditions and developments with the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, but this statement just seems mean spirited, not to mention absurd. With regard to being mean spirited, has any Catholic on this thread attacked the Orthodox Church except to say she is prejudiced against her Latin brothers and sisters (if indeed she considers the Catholic Church to be her siblings) as you seem to support with this very comment. With regard to it being absurd, what basis do you have for seeing the Roman Catholic Church in free fall or akin to the Anglican Communion? The Catholic Church fiercely upholds the sanctity of life, the Sacramental nature of marriage between a man and woman and the sanctity of the family: the “domestic church”, the threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons; the all-male nature of the priesthood, apostolic succession, the primacy of the Bishop of Rome as a unique successor of Sts. Peter and Paul (though by no means the only successor of the apostles, see Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel”), the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion and the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the Creeds, the Bible (including the DC books the Protestants rejected), and dogmatically proclaims the truths of the faith and promulgates sound doctrine through her Magisterium. While her liturgy might not be exactly the same as St. John C. used and some authentic development in doctrine has occurred as the Church has had need to define “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3) in an ever changing world: the fundamental teachings and practice of the Catholic Church are the same as they have always been.
 
MattofTexas said:
I think this is the sort if thing people are talking about. Now make no mistake, as a Protestant moving toward conversion to Catholicism I’m hardly qualified to talk about the historical traditions and developments with the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, but this statement just seems mean spirited, not to mention absurd. With regard to being mean spirited, has any Catholic on this thread attacked the Orthodox Church except to say she is prejudiced against her Latin brothers and sisters (if indeed she considers the Catholic Church to be her siblings) as you seem to support with this very comment. With regard to it being absurd, what basis do you have for seeing the Roman Catholic Church in free fall or akin to the Anglican Communion? The Catholic Church fiercely upholds the sanctity of life, the Sacramental nature of marriage between a man and woman and the sanctity of the family: the “domestic church”, the threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons; the all-male nature of the priesthood, apostolic succession, the primacy of the Bishop of Rome as a unique successor of Sts. Peter and Paul (though by no means the only successor of the apostles, see Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel”), the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion and the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the Creeds, the Bible (including the DC books the Protestants rejected), and dogmatically proclaims the truths of the faith and promulgates sound doctrine through her Magisterium. While her liturgy might not be exactly the same as St. John C. used and some authentic development in doctrine has occurred as the Church has had need to define “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3) in an ever changing world: the fundamental teachings and practice of the Catholic Church are the same as they have always been.
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👍👍👍

Wow. Thanks you. Well said from someone on journey to the Catholic Church.

God bless you on your spiritual journey and welcome home.
 
Five years ago I had a choice between the RCC and the EOC. I chose the EOC. Choosing RCC would have been easier, but I don’t base my decisions on simplicity 🙂

Here has been my experience with RCC/EOC relations:
  1. the internet can bring out fringe nutbunnies. I’ve seen rabid nutbunnies from both parties at places such as christianforums (there is on RCC Spanaird there that used to practically spit anathemas left and right on the EOC board…it can clearly go both ways). Aside from the Spanaird, of the other two people I’ve run across with a rabid bent, one was Byzantine Catholic and the other was an Old Believer (offshoot sect of Orthodoxy, not in communion with anyone but themselves and even they are splintered amoungst each other).
  2. In “mom” type groups that I have belonged to for years, we acknowledge we have differences and are not out to convert one another. In fact, we have been great support to one another both when people are converting to either camp and especially when defending our Faith from Protestant and Atheist naysayers. These ladies are VERY, VERY dear to one another. We had only one person try to up issues between the RCC and the EOC ladies (and sadly, she was RCC…the other RCC ladies basically told her to back off. Like I said, nutbunnies can be anywhere).
  3. Our biggest supporter in our conversion was an RCC Spanaird, best friend of my husband since childhood. He even stated that he would have sponsered us if it would have been permitted. His priest has been an on and off influence in my husband’s life growing up and as an adult. Our friend, practically brother to my husband, still considers himself an unofficial godfather to our children. He is a blessing. I thanked him for putting up with us when we were all teenagers and my husband and myself were rabid Baptists trying to convert him. Another member of that parish was later a neighbour and an influence to me (positively).
  4. My oldest attended a Catholic highschool for a year as did other Orthodox teenagers. The were always respectful towards Catholics and the Catholics were always respectful towards them…even in religion class (comparative and mandatory). My son enjoyed that class very much.
  5. In one of our parishes we were using one of Pope Benedict’s books since we were discussing a particular subject he had written on. This shows anything but a contempt for Catholics or Catholicism. We recognise our differences and different views of history. We are honest about it. We believe we are correct and Catholics believe they are correct. Such is life and reality.
  6. Catholic homeschool groups have been very open in their membership towards Orthodox families (since there are fewer of us in the homeschooling community and we both get excluded from the majority of groups for the same reasons). I’ve been welcomed into other Catholic ladies’ groups where there is shared interest for the same reason and we’ve had Orthodox ladies’ groups also accept Catholic members.
 
MattofTexas said:
I think this is the sort if thing people are talking about. Now make no mistake, as a Protestant moving toward conversion to Catholicism I’m hardly qualified to talk about the historical traditions and developments with the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, but this statement just seems mean spirited, not to mention absurd. With regard to being mean spirited, has any Catholic on this thread attacked the Orthodox Church except to say she is prejudiced against her Latin brothers and sisters (if indeed she considers the Catholic Church to be her siblings) as you seem to support with this very comment. With regard to it being absurd, what basis do you have for seeing the Roman Catholic Church in free fall or akin to the Anglican Communion? The Catholic Church fiercely upholds the sanctity of life, the Sacramental nature of marriage between a man and woman and the sanctity of the family: the “domestic church”, the threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons; the all-male nature of the priesthood, apostolic succession, the primacy of the Bishop of Rome as a unique successor of Sts. Peter and Paul (though by no means the only successor of the apostles, see Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel”), the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion and the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the Creeds, the Bible (including the DC books the Protestants rejected), and dogmatically proclaims the truths of the faith and promulgates sound doctrine through her Magisterium. While her liturgy might not be exactly the same as St. John C. used and some authentic development in doctrine has occurred as the Church has had need to define “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3) in an ever changing world: the fundamental teachings and practice of the Catholic Church are the same as they have always been.
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I notice that your profile says “Religion: Disciples of Christ (considering conversion to Catholicism)”, but it sounds to me like you have already embraced, if not Roman Catholicism per se, at least conservative Anglicanism.
 
Peter_J said:
I notice that your profile says “Religion: Disciples of Christ (considering conversion to Catholicism)”, but it sounds to me like you have already embraced, if not Roman Catholicism per se, at least conservative Anglicanism.
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Well…I “know” these things, even if I’m still challenged by some of them in my own journey. I just think the statement that was made about the RCC being in free fall is objectively false.

I’ve attended a few RCIA classes this year (though for complicated reasons I may not be entering the Church this Easter. For one I’m graduating college in a couple weeks and moving away from the parish I’ve been attending, additionally I’m not quite as converted in my heart as I am in my mind…but my denomination values freedom of belief so I feel no guilt in accepting and using any Catholic beliefs and spirituality).

I do hope to eventually become Catholic. Pray for my conversion to the One,Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Pray that I might accept the fullness of God’s Truth and come into full communion with Christ’s Vicar: the Pope: the Holy Father: Francis, Bishop of Rome if that is the LORD’s will.

Meanwhile…what I’m seeing is that the EO view of the RCC is complicated and some Orthodox have a generous view that almost reflects Rome’s view of the EO, while other Orthodox view the RCC as having no more validity than the Anglican Communion does from the RC prospective. Additionally while Catholics formally recognize the Apostlic Succession of the EO, not all relations between Catholics and the EO are cordial, and sadly the animosity flows both ways (though antecodotal evidence suggests it flows heavier from the Orthodox side), even to the extent of ignorant Latin Rite Catholics slighting or denying their Eastern Rite brothers and sisters: fellow Catholics.
 
MattofTexas said:
Meanwhile…what I’m seeing is that the EO view of the RCC is complicated and some Orthodox have a generous view that almost reflects Rome’s view of the EO, while other Orthodox view the RCC as having **no more validity than the Anglican Communion does from the RC prospective. **
Click to expand...
Good point. Some of us Catholics need to be reminded about that every so often, when we’re tempted to get into the how-dare-they-not-recognize-our-sacraments mode.
 
MattofTexas said:
Well…I “know” these things, even if I’m still challenged by some of them in my own journey. I just think the statement that was made about the RCC being in free fall is objectively false.

I’ve attended a few RCIA classes this year (though for complicated reasons I may not be entering the Church this Easter. For one I’m graduating college in a couple weeks and moving away from the parish I’ve been attending, additionally I’m not quite as converted in my heart as I am in my mind…but my denomination values freedom of belief so I feel no guilt in accepting and using any Catholic beliefs and spirituality).

I do hope to eventually become Catholic. Pray for my conversion to the One,Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Pray that I might accept the fullness of God’s Truth and come into full communion with Christ’s Vicar: the Pope: the Holy Father: Francis, Bishop of Rome if that is the LORD’s will.

Meanwhile…what I’m seeing is that the EO view of the RCC is complicated and some Orthodox have a generous view that almost reflects Rome’s view of the EO, while other Orthodox view the RCC as having no more validity than the Anglican Communion does from the RC prospective. Additionally while Catholics formally recognize the Apostlic Succession of the EO, not all relations between Catholics and the EO are cordial, and sadly the animosity flows both ways (though antecodotal evidence suggests it flows heavier from the Orthodox side), even to the extent of ignorant Latin Rite Catholics slighting or denying their Eastern Rite brothers and sisters: fellow Catholics.
Click to expand...
You will be in my prayers for you coming home to the Catholic Church.
 
MommaduckofMany said:
Five years ago I had a choice between the RCC and the EOC. I chose the EOC. Choosing RCC would have been easier, but I don’t base my decisions on simplicity 🙂

Here has been my experience with RCC/EOC relations:
  1. the internet can bring out fringe nutbunnies. I’ve seen rabid nutbunnies from both parties at places such as christianforums (there is on RCC Spanaird there that used to practically spit anathemas left and right on the EOC board…it can clearly go both ways). Aside from the Spanaird, of the other two people I’ve run across with a rabid bent, one was Byzantine Catholic and the other was an Old Believer (offshoot sect of Orthodoxy, not in communion with anyone but themselves and even they are splintered amoungst each other).
  2. In “mom” type groups that I have belonged to for years, we acknowledge we have differences and are not out to convert one another. In fact, we have been great support to one another both when people are converting to either camp and especially when defending our Faith from Protestant and Atheist naysayers. These ladies are VERY, VERY dear to one another. We had only one person try to up issues between the RCC and the EOC ladies (and sadly, she was RCC…the other RCC ladies basically told her to back off. Like I said, nutbunnies can be anywhere).
  3. Our biggest supporter in our conversion was an RCC Spanaird, best friend of my husband since childhood. He even stated that he would have sponsered us if it would have been permitted. His priest has been an on and off influence in my husband’s life growing up and as an adult. Our friend, practically brother to my husband, still considers himself an unofficial godfather to our children. He is a blessing. I thanked him for putting up with us when we were all teenagers and my husband and myself were rabid Baptists trying to convert him. Another member of that parish was later a neighbour and an influence to me (positively).
  4. My oldest attended a Catholic highschool for a year as did other Orthodox teenagers. The were always respectful towards Catholics and the Catholics were always respectful towards them…even in religion class (comparative and mandatory). My son enjoyed that class very much.
  5. In one of our parishes we were using one of Pope Benedict’s books since we were discussing a particular subject he had written on. This shows anything but a contempt for Catholics or Catholicism. We recognise our differences and different views of history. We are honest about it. We believe we are correct and Catholics believe they are correct. Such is life and reality.
  6. Catholic homeschool groups have been very open in their membership towards Orthodox families (since there are fewer of us in the homeschooling community and we both get excluded from the majority of groups for the same reasons). I’ve been welcomed into other Catholic ladies’ groups where there is shared interest for the same reason and we’ve had Orthodox ladies’ groups also accept Catholic members.
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I’ve been quiet on the subject so far, but to be quite honest when I hear people on this forum complaining about “Anti-Catholicism” I cringe and have a hard time believing. I don’t deny it is out there, but take Randy here for example. The anti-Catholicism that he is complaining about is people, Orthodox, Latin Catholic, and Eastern Catholic (he conveniently forgets the involvement of the second and third group), responding harshly toward his own attitude about Orthodoxy. I’ve seen others claim it is being anti-Catholic to disagree with their church on any matter.

I’m sceptical (though I don’t deny the possibility) about those in this thread claiming they’ve found it everywhere they’ve gone within the Orthodox Church simply because active anti-Catholicism is pretty rare within the Canonical Church. I’m especially sceptical in light of the fact that these are people who bring it up as a mark against the Orthodox Church.
 
chrisb said:
I see the Roman Church in free fall like the Anglican Church by only a little slower.
Click to expand...
If you are referring to rouge bishops and lukewarm members…you may be close to being correct. If you are talking about the magisterium, you could be further from the truth.
 
concretecamper said:
If you are referring to rouge bishops and lukewarm members…you may be close to being correct. If you are talking about the magisterium, you could be further from the truth.
Click to expand...
Well that’s what we Anglicans would say. The Gospel hasn’t changed, orthodoxy hasn’t changed; it’s just that a lot of bishops don’t want to teach it anymore… 😉
 
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