On the Relations Between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

SaintGeorge · #1 11th December 2006, 06:23 PM

On the Relations Between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches

By Geoffrey F. Miller

I have endeavored to write this brief treatise in reaction to various misunderstandings, sometimes grievous in nature, about the relations of the true Church of Christ, the Bride of our Lord and Savior, with the Eastern Orthodox Church. For clarification, the True Church is that Divine Institution and Invincible Pillar of Perfection, which professing the fullness of the Christian Faith, remains firm unto the end of time and beyond. Primarily, I wish to address those men, who mistaking it for righteousness, have succumbed to severe delusion of a most insidious kind, and thus have become separated from the heart of our True Church. The tragic schism present between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Communions must be clarified and elaborated upon, for there is no lack of error on the part of many an opinion regarding this matter.
While imperfect, the Eastern Orthodox Church has the honor of preserving, fairly intact, the essential elements of Apostolic Tradition. Indeed, it is very probable that a large portion of the laity, clergy, and religious of this Communion, while visibly separated from the Catholic Church, remain united to the heart of our True Church in closest intimacy. Thus, many of their Saints are our Saints, and many of them walk the narrow path of salvation alongside us as dearest brethren. Nevertheless, the essence of the Eastern Orthodox Church is schismatic, and as such this institution of man is not in union with the Institution of God. The aforementioned dearest brethren are in fact members of the singular Catholic Church to which we ourselves belong. Whether or not they are consciously aware of this fact is irrelevant and another matter altogether.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is schismatic due to her current stubborn rejection of the authority of the Holy See of St. Peter, to which she most fervently clung during the Great Seven Ecumenical Councils, and to which she fled for refuge from heresies, disputes, and upheavals that plagued the Christian race throughout the first millennia. Any man who accepts her erroneous denial of the primacy of Rome commits a grievous sin and enters into formal schism, for “…if someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?" (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4; 1st edition [A.D. 251]). Such a man is in a radically unhappy state, especially if he harbors anger and bitterness toward the Catholic Church, and he is in supreme danger of forfeiting that salvation won for him at Calvary. Even worse off is a Catholic who happens to fall into this snare of the evil one, and should he be puffed up in arrogance as a result, woe to him. For the Second Vatican Council, which is Ecumenical and therefore binding on all men of the Faith, states:

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it (LG 14; cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 3:5).

As for the reception of the Eucharist, the pure and well-intentioned holy men among the Eastern Orthodox Church are definitely invited to join us in our Lord’s Paschal meal and atoning oblation. However, if a man wants to commune, he should always obtain permission from his spiritual father, and from the parish at which he desires to receive this Sacrament. Obedience takes precedence over all. The same applies to us Catholics. Truly, we should only partake in the Body and Blood of Christ if we have made a recent confession and have obtained permission from the priest to approach the altar. Communing outside our home parish(es) should be avoided as much as possible, although there are exceptions to this rule, such as pilgrims or travelers. As for Eastern Orthodox and Catholic priests desiring to concelebrate a Divine Liturgy, surely they both belong to the True Church, otherwise, from where would such a devout intent arise? To carry out such a wondrous gesture of unity and reconciliation, they only need permission from their respective bishops. The Catechism states:

1399 The Eastern churches that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church celebrate the Eucharist with great love. "These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy." A certain communion in sacris, and so in the Eucharist, "given suitable circumstances and the approval of Church authority, is not merely possible but is encouraged."

However, the Eastern Orthodox Church, once again, is not herself the True Church. Although she possesses much of the fullness of Truth, she is still lacking until her hierarchies repent and seek to rejoin the bishop of Rome “…in which sacerdotal unity has its source" (ibid., 59:14). Also, in rejecting later Ecumenical Councils, the Eastern Orthodox Church has failed to comply with the most basic principles of handing on the Faith, established by the True Church in her infancy. For it is written of Rome, “…that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition" (Against Heresies 3:3:2 [A.D. 189]). Falling into the errors of many Orthodox, some Eastern Catholic Churches have also begun to claim they hold a separate theology and doctrine from that of the Western Church. Unfortunately, a few less than competent theologians in the Roman Church have supported them in this vain endeavor. Let it be known, although the East and West of the True Church may differ on the degree of emphasis placed on certain aspects of theology, they share one Faith, one Theology, one Doctrine, for there is only one Faith, one Theology, and one Doctrine, and these reside in the one True Church.

Virgil the Roman · #2 11th December 2006, 06:47 PM

You've pretty much affirmed the sentiment and belief of many here on Christianforums, that the Orthodox need to accept the Primacy of Peter and place themselves under the See of Saint Peter and thus the Christ's Holy Catholic Church.

WarriorAngel · #3 11th December 2006, 07:04 PM

Um, what did I miss?

Was something said very recently...?

Davidnic · #4 11th December 2006, 08:17 PM

The road to unity lies in building up a fellowship of trust and ongoing discussions. Let's follow the lead of the Pope and the Bishops and Patriarchs of the East and see what they come up with.

For our part lets grow in understanding of our differences and strengthen what we have in common on the level of the laity.

All the while lets us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit on all levels.

WarriorAngel · #5 11th December 2006, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Davidnic

The road to unity lies in building up a fellowship of trust and ongoing discussions. Let's follow the lead of the Pope and the Bishops and Patriarchs of the East and see what they come up with.

For our part lets grow in understanding of our differences and strengthen what we have in common on the level of the laity.

All the while lets us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit on all levels.

Who are we to desire the walls and barriers??

I dont know of course, but I believe ALL the Apostles were united for Christ.

And so shall we all be.

They are the ones who built up ONE Church.

Epiphanygirl · #6 11th December 2006, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Davidnic

The road to unity lies in building up a fellowship of trust and ongoing discussions. Let's follow the lead of the Pope and the Bishops and Patriarchs of the East and see what they come up with.

For our part lets grow in understanding of our differences and strengthen what we have in common on the level of the laity.

All the while lets us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit on all levels.

japhy · #7 11th December 2006, 09:25 PM

I'm a bit confused about this part:

Truly, we should only partake in the Body and Blood of Christ if we have made a recent confession and have obtained permission from the priest to approach the altar. Communing outside our home parish(es) should be avoided as much as possible, although there are exceptions to this rule, such as pilgrims or travelers.

What is the source for that? If the Mass is universal and the Eucharist at one Roman Catholic Church is the same exact Eucharist at another Roman Catholic Church, why should I avoid partaking of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ when I'm away from my home parish?

SaintGeorge · #8 11th December 2006, 10:08 PM

What is the source for that? If the Mass is universal and the Eucharist at one Roman Catholic Church is the same exact Eucharist at another Roman Catholic Church, why should I avoid partaking of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ when I'm away from my home parish?

That is an exception. When away from your home parish, you are considered a traveler.

Also, nothing was said to spark this. It is just an essay that I wrote for use by Monsignor Don, my priest. I just wished to share it.