Why do Orthodox hate Catholics so much?

[Mickey]

Its because we have great hair.

 

[Hesychios]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Hello Manny,

Then why not follow your Patriarchs and promote unity instead of disunity.

The first order of business (and I am sure your Pontiff would agree) is to promote Truth.

There is no point in ignoring the fact that the Latin church teaches things the Orthodox Christian church does not, and never has. I cannot stand in your place and you cannot stand in mine on the Day of Judgmant. As long as we have to make decisions with eternal ramifications, they might just as well be informed decisions.

Peace and all good things,
Michael

 

[Hesychios]

Then why do you call yourselves the Orthodox? I go to St. Pius X Catholic Church.

I don’t think we need to get into this kind of discussion. Calling ourselves Orthodox does not mean we reject the attribute of Catholic, just as calling yourself Catholic does not mean you reject the attribute of orthodox.

There are an enormous number of people attending churches that are labeled Catholic, but those churches do not meet your criteria. There are also a lot of people visiting or attending Latin Catholic churches who don’t meet the criteria of your church either. What would you state if we put the word “Catholic” in big bold letters in front of our churches? You would probably discount it anyway.

Anyone might call themselves Catholic, and might not really be. Anyone might call themselves Orthodox and might not really be. We cannot prove anything by the name over the door, we have to look to other criteria.

As it is, the formal legal name of my church was **Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America **until it was shortened to the Orthodox Church in America when it was granted autocephaly.

 

[Hesychios]

I really don’t think Mickey or Hesychios hate Catholics.

Thank you.

I for one know you do not disdain Orthodoxy either. You have powerful convictions and a keen mind, I respect that.

Michael

 

[Mickey]

As it is, the formal legal name of my church was **Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America **until it was shortened to the Orthodox Church in America when it was granted autocephaly.

Same here!
Oh wait a minute–we are both OCA.

 

[East_and_West]

Wow! Thank you East and West! I think that is perhaps the nicest thing you have ever said to me! Perhaps we can start anew!

If I have ever offended you, I ask for your forgiveness.

Peace and blessings,
Mickey
smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_29.gif

Sounds good Mickey. I ask your forgiveness too as I can be quite bombastic.

 

[East_and_West]

Then why do you call yourselves the Orthodox? I go to St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Why do we call oursevles Catholic when we are also Orthodox?

 

[Alexios]

Diak said: It is certainly your right to reject Canon Law and other Magisterial proclamations which do not line up with your personal opinions, but please do not judge the Church for making these.

I don’t deny Magisterial infallible teachings or the Magisterium’s authority. Calling intercommunion against Catholic tradition doesn’t mean I’m denying a Church dogma or questioning the Magisterium’s authority. I am, based on tradition, questioning the wisdom behind this novel official allowance to commune non-Catholics, even when members of their own clergy are available to provide the Mysteries to them.

Imagine if I were Orthodox, and tomorrow the EO Churches came out with new canon law (well, that would be the more shocking part) that says non-Orthodox can be communed if they’re Catholic, and I questioned the Orthodox nature of such a pronouncement as against tradition. I don’t see how it’s any different.

In any case, I hope I’ve made it clear that I do think it is an unCatholic practice and not wise, but I do not question the Magisterium’s authority, even if I strongly disagree with the “rules.”

 

[Alexios]

Oh, and by the way, although I think there are many anti-Catholic EOs on the 'net, I haven’t gotten that impression from anyone here. We honestly disagree about matters, but that doesn’t make one anti-this or anti-that just because he doesn’t agree.

 

[Mickey]

Oh, and by the way, although I think there are many anti-Catholic EOs on the 'net, I haven’t gotten that impression from anyone here. We honestly disagree about matters, but that doesn’t make one anti-this or anti-that just because he doesn’t agree.

God bless you Alexios.

 

[VWcrazy]

Maybe its because I’m in the middle of the Midwest, but I have never met a Catholic who didn’t have the highest respect for the Orthodox.

 

[Sword_Brethren]

Why do we call oursevles Catholic when we are also Orthodox?

When have Catholics called themselves Orthodox?

 

[Monica4316]

I was baptized in the Orthodox church but am now becoming a Catholic… I really respect the Orthodox faith, my family is EO, and I like the Divine Liturgy, but my beliefs are Catholic.
In my journey, I’ve had to deal sometimes with the ‘tension’ between the two churches…I know I’ll have to deal with this more in the future when I’ll tell my Orthodox friends about my decision.
Based on my experience, not all Orthodox “hate” the Catholic church, I mean that’s a really strong word… but I have met some (not all) who have spoken of Catholicism pretty negatively. A few have even said some very hurtful things about it, which went beyond doctrinal differences category and into the “insult” category. However, those are few, and they don’t reflect Orthodoxy as a whole. I’ve also met some EO and Oriental Orthodox Christians who respect the Catholic church
There is a lot of tension between the churches and hopefully we can all work towards unity…

God bless

monica

 

[Frank_J]

Hi,

I a former RC and I converted to Eastern Orthodox Church back in Jan. 7, 2001. The Church I joined is a O.C.A Church.

I don’t hate Catholic at all and I have two Latin Nun religionists who are my best of friends. We talk about many things that go on between our two Churches. We also talk about what is going on in there Church. I play fair with them I don’t attack their faith but I hit on tuff issues.

We have wrtten to one another for 18 year on many topics. Never once have they ever call me Anti- Catholic and I have talk about many hard topics. The Nuns also hit on hard issues that cover the Orthodox Church. I very fair with my friends.

of the topic in my next letter is to cover Jasenovac concentration camp and what happen there. Jasenovac was the largest extermination camp in Croatia during World War II.

I told them that I’m planing to be come a Orthodox Sub-deacon and it is something that I been thinking about for a long time. One of the Catholic Nun wrote to me to say that she was delighted I was considering to going on to the Sub-deaconate. To also qute her I had the mind for study and the heart for servies. She also went on to say that good and upright clergy are needed.

I try to be the best Christian I can be I try to a good example of what it means to Orthodox Christian.

I very happy to be an Orthodox Christian glad I joined.

I would like to greet my Orthodox brothers and sisters, plus the ones from the O.C.A…

 

[abucs]

Hi Frank and Monica,

what would you see as being the major differences between “Catholic” and “Orthodox” beliefs ?

Would it be mainly down to the “Catholic” claims of Pontiff Supremacy and the developments that have flowed from that ?

sorry if i’ve asked a question covered earlier, as i am just late to the thread.

Thanks.

 

[Mickey]

what would you see as being the major differences between “Catholic” and “Orthodox” beliefs ?

Slava Isusu Christu!

I am OCA.

I will answer this briefly if I may.

Papal infallibility/supremacy
Filioque
Immaculate conception /original sin
purgatory

Those are the major differences.

 

[Hesychios]

Would it be mainly down to the “Catholic” claims of Pontiff Supremacy and the developments that have flowed from that ?
.

Uh…no. Reverse that.

The changes in the theology of the western church began to manifest much earlier than the development of the Papal Supremacy mandates. A lot of people want to project the idea that it’s all about the Pope, hardly.

The western church was teaching significant errors (according to Orthodox understanding) long before it claimed to have a monopoly over the infallible teaching authority of the church. So the announcements coming out in 1871 were a considerable surprise, and tinged with irony.

It looks for all the world like the Latin Catholic church made a series of theological blunders over the course of time, then declared itself to have infallible teaching authority and universal power over the entire church to cover it’s tracks.

So the Latin Catholic claims for the Supreme Pontiff since 1870AD most certainly follow most of the other issues, not precede them. But they do exacerbate the entire situation between us to such an extent that it may be nearly impossible to repair the damage. That’s why so much discussion revolves around them, even though they are a rather late problem.

Michael

 

[Peter_J]

I noticed in my research into Orthodoxy that they seem to dislike Catholics in a big way. Most Catholics seem to believe the differences are minimal (in my opinion they are not minimal) and want reconciliation, but Orthodox do not. I can understand this much from the Orthodox, after all, reconciliation from the Catholic point of view pretty much means Orthodox have to become Catholic.

I think you’re trying to create a distinction where none exists. You’re right in saying that “reconciliation from the Catholic point of view pretty much means Orthodox have to become Catholic”; but from the Orthodox point of view reconciliation pretty much means Catholics have to become Orthodox.

 

[Chris_McAvoy]

Your point about making Orthodox become Catholic is true, from the Roman Catholic perspective. We would have to abandon Holy Orthodoxy in order to achieve unity according to the Roman Catholic definition.

From the Orthodox point of view, we Orthodox are already Catholic, have been continually, and your church has no right to judge us or claim we are not. Your church cannot expel us or drive us out. The CAF has decided that Orthodox are not to call themselves Catholic on this forum because of the confusion it brings to the participants here, and I abide. But the reality is the Orthodox communion has always been Catholic, and any Orthodox bishop will tell you so.

Your point about making the SSPX become Catholic is true, from the modernist perspective. We would have to abandon Holy tradition in order to achieve unity according to the modernist Roman Catholic definition.

From the traditional point of view, we SSPX are already Catholic, have been continually, and your priest has no right to judge us or claim we are not. Your church cannot expel us or drive us out. The CAF has decided that SSPX are not to call themselves Catholic on this forum because of the confusion it brings to the participants here, and I abide. But the reality is the Society of St. Pius X has always been Catholic, and any SSPX bishop will tell you so.

See any resemblence?

As a Melkite Greek Catholic who supports the traditional Latin Catholicism this is why I love the Orthodox Churches. Though I choose not to be in communion with the Orthodox at this time, I sympathize profoundly with them and if I ever have a justifiable reason will certainly join them. For the time being I still have great hope for pre-tridentine pre-gregorian reform latin ecceslialogical and liturgical traditions to rise from the dead and breath holy orthodoxy into the Latin Church of today.

The anti-West sentiment got increased by a man called Photius in I think the 9th century, who managed to get the Byzantine Emperor to depose the rightful Patriarch of Constantinople and put him in his place, noly to be deposed by the Pope with the rightful Patriarch put back. He thus tried to stir up anti-Pope feelings to ry to be allowed to keep his position. He is the sourse of the filioque controversy.

I must inform you what you have stated about Photius is a myth with no basis in historical fact. Francis Dvornik’s book “The Photian Schism” confirms with proof that there was in fact no Photian Schism and that most of what has been taught about him in the Latin Church (and to a lesser degree the anti latin sentiment attributed to him by the Orthodox Church) for the past 800 years is completely false.

Photius loved the Pope, accepted the primacy, loved the Catholic Church. He may have complained about leavened bread one time as it was a new innovation among the german missionaries who were the enemies of both Rome and Constantinople. He is a great saint who is now finally recognized by the Catholic Church. Somewhere he is listed among the saints on this very site.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

I am a convert to Catholicism so I am not culturally familar with this stuff. Excuse me.

I noticed in my research into Orthodoxy that they seem to dislike Catholics in a big way. Most Catholics seem to believe the differences are minimal (in my opinion they are not minimal) and want reconciliation, but Orthodox do not. I can understand this much from the Orthodox, after all, reconciliation from the Catholic point of view pretty much means Orthodox have to become Catholic.

However, there is often kind of anti-Catholic animosity coming from Orthodox which rivals even that of evangelical Protestantism. What is the cause of this? Did Catholics and Orthodox fight religious wars with each other… what is it? It’s so emotional and thick that I would like to know where it comes from.

There seems to be a lot of animosity between different Christian bodies on the Web. Maybe there’s a lot of it because the Web does not encourage self-restraint - maybe because people can’t see the body language of those they are addressing. The result ? People say things that wound when they are not meant to.​

If it’s any comfort, I don’t think they are worse than any other group - what you’re sensing is probably more or less what Protestants feel when we are impolite about them.