Questions of conversion from Catholic to Orthodox

[Rilian]

Transalpine Redemptorists

 

[countrymousenc]

To DJ Hurricane:

You said in an earlier post that you were not minimizing differences, but I beg to differ.

The Orthodox view is, as I understand it, that there can only be one Church, which is the body of Christ, and the body of Christ cannot be divided. Even so, while we know where the Church is, we do not know where it isn't. We are comfortable with paradox.

The EOC does not pass judgment on whether other churches' sacraments are valid, or where God may shed His grace. Therefore there may be any number of Catholics or Protestants who are truly our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. ***However*** that does not mean that intercommunion is to be established with any church that has added to or taken away from Holy Tradition as celebrated by the undivided Church (before the Schism) unless that church repents and corrects what it has done. Holy Tradition is not to be compromised.

I pray that all Christian churches will walk the path back to Orthodoxy eventually.

 

[prodromos]

It is wonderful to hear you are coming back to the Church .. I was raised EO, and have just converted to the Catholic Faith

Therese, is there a reason why you leave out the part where you were a Protestant for many of the years in between?

John.

 

[Rising_Suns]

The Orthodox view is, as I understand it, that there can only be one Church, which is the body of Christ, and the body of Christ cannot be divided. Even so, while we know where the Church is, we do not know where it isn't. We are comfortable with paradox.

Just for clarification, the Catholic Church believes the same.

 

[thereselittleflower]

I'm not Matrona, but I'll give it a shot. Russia comes to mind, as does the activity of any number of uniate churches.

I ordinarily enjoy your posts, but aren't you pushing the envelope in this case?

James

Actually, no, I really did want an answer . . my understanding that the SSPX is pushing things in Russia, but it is not the Catholic Church . . they are in schism .. we don't want their schism being perpetuated . .

I was wondering what else was happening . . I really am not all that up on the issue . . so I thought I would ask you all since it is something that really does impact you . . .


Peace in Him!

 

[thereselittleflower]

Therese, is there a reason why you leave out the part where you were a Protestant for many of the years in between?

John.

No particular reason, for it really didn't have to bear on anything . . But since you brought it up, if anything, after leaving protetantism behind, I was moving towards coming back to the EO Church. I most certainly didn't want to be Catholic . . . . . My heart was with the EO . . It was only after I was convinced that the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the Pope was right that I made my decision to be Catholic. Otherwise, I would be EO right now, no question about it! I couldn't remain a Protestant. If I had not been convinced that I needed to become Catholic, I would be posting here right along side you.


Peace in Him!

 

[prodromos]

Dear Therese,

thankyou for the clarification. I apologise for what my post was implying.

John.

 

[MariaRegina]

Returning to the OP - topic at hand

The reason I became Orthodox was that I could no longer accept Holy Communion in the Latin Catholic Church. Receiving Holy Communion means agreement with the teachings found in the CCC. I simply could no longer agree with the dogma of Papal infallibility and supremacy once I had read the entire documents of Vatican I as found in THE CHURCH TEACHES. Vatican II is another story altogether.

Do you see why Orthodox Christians cannot receive Holy Communion in a Latin Catholic Church? It is a sign of submission to Papal authority and it would be hypocritical to do so. So even though the Latin Catholics will allow me to receive communion in their church I will not do so in obedience to my Hierarch and Spiritual Father.

 

[geocajun]

As for the differences between Rome and Orthodoxy, there are a few very glaring differences,

d) That all men are guilty of the sin of Adam in the same way that Adam is guilty
of his sin

Icon, I do not know where this comes from, but respectfully, Catholics do distinguish between original sin, and [actual] personal sin and do not think all men are guilty of the sin of Adam in the same was as Adam was.
Adam was guilty of personal sin, which become the original sin that we believe all people are born with the effects of.

This is not the first time I have seen a statement like this from the EO about the differences between what EO believe about original sin and what Catholics believe, and I cannot find a difference.

 

[MariaRegina]

Icon, I do not know where this comes from, but respectfully, Catholics do distinguish between original sin, and [actual] personal sin and do not think all men are guilty of the sin of Adam in the same was as Adam was.
Adam was guilty of personal sin, which become the original sin that we believe all people are born with the effects of.

This is not the first time I have seen a statement like this from the EO about the differences between what EO believe about original sin and what Catholics believe, and I cannot find a difference.

Geo -

This has everything to do with the differences between pre-Vatican II Council of Trent Church (the Church I was raised in) and Vatican II - which has a different theology. This is something you should consider. The CCC shows a dramatic change in Latin Catholicism and one of the most profound differences is that teaching on Original sin. You do say correctly that the Catholic teaching has changed and is now more consistent with Orthodoxy today.

Furthermore, this is our forum and I think you guys have been engaging in debate that you won't allow over in OBOB. Can you give us a break?

 

[geocajun]

Geo -

This has everything to do with the differences between pre-Vatican II Council of Trent Church (the Church I was raised in) and Vatican II - which has a different theology. This is something you should consider. The CCC shows a dramatic change in Latin Catholicism and one of the most profound differences is that teaching on Original sin. You do say correctly that the Catholic teaching has changed and is now more consistent with Orthodoxy today.

Aria, I will investigate this and get back to you. I must ask out of curiously, if this is the case, and common knowledge, then why did you not correct your EO brother when he misstated that difference in our faiths?

 

[MariaRegina]

Aria, I will investigate this and get back to you. I must ask out of curiously, if this is the case, and common knowledge, then why did you not correct your EO brother when he misstated that difference in our faiths?

I'm not a moderator and you beat me to it.

 

[geocajun]

Furthermore, this is our forum and I think you guys have been engaging in debate that you won't allow over in OBOB. Can you give us a break?

Aria, I am not debating, I am only issuing a correction to a mistaken difference in our beliefs.
This is not a debate tactic, but a friendly correction.
If you feel I have broken the rules, I ask that you report my post and ask a moderator to review it.
thanks

 

[MariaRegina]

Aria, I am not debating, I am only issuing a correction to a mistaken difference in our beliefs.
This is not a debate tactic, but a friendly correction.
If you feel I have broken the rules, I ask that you report my post and ask a moderator to review it.
thanks

Geocajun, you and nyj have been most kind in your posts. I was not referring to you two specifically.

 

[Suzannah]

[mod hat on]


this thread is closed. There have been uncharitable comments on BOTH sides. As an Orthodox Christian, I apologize for any un-charitable comments to our Catholic brothers and sisters. I ask that you (the Catholics) forgive as our Lord forgives and make peace.

I also ask that our Orthodox brothers and sisters who have been guilty of uncharitable posts, refrain from the same in the future and make your apologies by pm.

/mod hat off