those who had to choose between orthodox vs. catholic

[Ambrosius]

I'm curious for those of you who had to choose between being Catholic or Eastern Orthodox what ultimately made you choose to join the Catholic church?

I was sitting in a monastery today and realized, I kinda felt sad that although I can go to the liturgy of the hours I still have to, in a way, reject so much "western" stuff and then I realized I've never really given much consideration to the Catholic side of things.

 

[Rhamiel]

I was raised Catholic, so this might not be much help

God made the Church for the salvation of all mankind
then there was a schism (well there was the Coptic Church, they broke off first)
but lets just look at it as an Eastern Orthodox / Roman Catholic Thing
now I believe that God created the office of the Papacy a symbol for the entire world, lets say that you are an illiterate pesant, most christians through the ages, they can not read entire collections of the Early Church Fathers, they go to church and hear the Bible and hear their own priest, now for the simple people, God gave the office of the Bishop of Rome, if you are in communion with him you are in the Church
now i believe if you read the Bible and the Early Church Fathers, they will still support the Catholic Church, but the office of the Pope is a visable sign for simple people

 

[Athanasias]

I'm curious for those of you who had to choose between being Catholic or Eastern Orthodox what ultimately made you choose to join the Catholic church?

I was sitting in a monastery today and realized, I kinda felt sad that although I can go to the liturgy of the hours I still have to, in a way, reject so much "western" stuff and then I realized I've never really given much consideration to the Catholic side of things.

I fell away and had studied the protestant faiths for a few years and after studying history I was left with coming back to the Catholci Church or eastern orthodoxy.
3 things made me choose the catholic faith over the Eo.

1). The papacy and its historical evidence from the scriptures Matt 16,. Isaiah 22, LK 22, JN 21, Acts 15 and the Historical evidence from the 1st century on(Such as Ignatius of Antioch letter, and Clement of Romes Letter. and especially Irenaeus letter).

2). The fact that there is no real Catholicity or unity amongst eo's/ They are all divided by nationalities and patriotism and have no central unity or way to be fuly catholic or universal unlike the Catholic Church who is a monolith and has a central unity at Rome with the bishop of Rome as history shows and who has 22 eastern Catholic rites around the world as well as the Roman rite. The Catholci Church is truly Catholic and can back up the claim.

3). The blessed virgin Mary's apparition at Lourdes where people are still healed today. She told them that she "was the Immaculate Conception". this is a Catholic belief that EO's reject.

Well thats my 10 cents.

 

[Eucharisted]

I'm curious for those of you who had to choose between being Catholic or Eastern Orthodox what ultimately made you choose to join the Catholic church?

I was sitting in a monastery today and realized, I kinda felt sad that although I can go to the liturgy of the hours I still have to, in a way, reject so much "western" stuff and then I realized I've never really given much consideration to the Catholic side of things.

Jesus told me to join His Church and He led me to the Catholic Church, which I took to mean the Catholic Church is His Church. However, that is an apparition and apparitions can be false.

Over the years I've studied the roots of Catholicism and Orthodoxy, as well as the Rabbinic writings and Scriptures, and am convinced that the Catholic Church is the Church of Christ. While the Orthodox Church has certain traditions which some Catholics don't have (Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion for babes, for example), the Catholic Church has the Papacy which the Orthodox aren't in communion with. From my perspective, it is a difference of perspective: On one hand, the Orthodox believe to be Catholic because they hold the ancient Eastern traditions, while, on the other hand, the Catholics believe to be Catholic because they hold the ancient Eastern communion. The Orthodox claim their primates are orthodox while Catholic Popes are schsmatic, yet this is seen to be false once you understand who the Messiah is and what the Messiah had to do, which is why the Rabbinic writings are very handy to study.

 

[Eucharisted]

Here is a short and not exhaustive list of qualifications of the Messiah and Age to Come: http://www.christianforums.com/t7439998/

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I had to make this choice

I was actually baptized Eastern Catholic as a child, and now I'm Catholic.. I spent around a year trying to decide.

In the end, I chose Catholicism because I believe in the teachings. For example, the Papacy..

the point in this article about Isaiah 22 made me think:
Dr Scott Hahn on the Papacy | Catholic-Pages.com

God bless

 

[Bessie]

So, I probably can't contribute all that much here since I went the other direction, but I just want to say I feel for you. I became Catholic as a teenager, and ultimately decided it wasn't where I was supposed to be and became E.O. I feel really good about that, but I will admit I miss some things about the RCC and the west, too. Especially adoration. Every year during lent I do miss going adoration, foot washing, etc. The new traditions I have taken on are very rich and meaningful and I'd never want to give them up, but I can't pretend it isn't hard to walk away from things that are familiar, comforting and beautiful. So, I hear you.

 

[KatherineS]

I am confident the Eastern Orthodox Church has been a means of grace for millions and has helped lead millions to salvation through Jesus Christ. I have nothing but respect for the Eastern Orthodox Church and pray constantly for unity among Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

But I believe Christ gave us the gift of the Petrine Ministry. One of the reasons I am so sad there are divisions among Christians and why I yearn for unity is that I believe Christ who prayed "that all may be one" desired this unity and for such established the Petrine Ministry.

Popes have often not been perfect in how they exercize this ministry. But that is why I want to support the Holy Father that he may do so in the best way, overcoming any human weaknesses or errors in judgment. I pray for him and I express my union with him at Mass.

Nonetheless, the Catholic Church is impoverished by our lack of full union with the Eastern Orthodox churches. They hold many venerable practices. Perhaps if certain aspects of the laudable Eastern patrimony give you spiritual benefit, you might consider the Catholic Eastern churches?

 

[Rhamiel]

I am confident the Eastern Orthodox Church has been a means of grace for millions and has helped lead millions to salvation through Jesus Christ. I have nothing but respect for the Eastern Orthodox Church and pray constantly for unity among Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

But I believe Christ gave us the gift of the Petrine Ministry. One of the reasons I am so sad there are divisions among Christians and why I yearn for unity is that I believe Christ who prayed "that all may be one" desired this unity and for such established the Petrine Ministry.

Popes have often not been perfect in how they exercize this ministry. But that is why I want to support the Holy Father that he may do so in the best way, overcoming any human weaknesses or errors in judgment. I pray for him and I express my union with him at Mass.

Nonetheless, the Catholic Church is impoverished by our lack of full union with the Eastern Orthodox churches. They hold many venerable practices. Perhaps if certain aspects of the laudable Eastern patrimony give you spiritual benefit, you might consider the Catholic Eastern churches?

very well said sister
I do not want to sound like i am attacking the EO, but I would say that the cut has gone both ways, both sides have been impoverished by this schism

 

[Glorthac]

Yea, I was considering the Eastern Orthodox church prior to becoming Catholic. I liked Eastern Orthodoxy because of its liturgy. I chose Catholicism because St. Peter is the Rock, if the Eastern Orthodox church had the See of Rome, I'd be Orthodox.

 

[Ambrosius]

These two can be addressed pretty easy as being insufficient reason to me...

2). The fact that there is no real Catholicity or unity amongst eo's/ They are all divided by nationalities and patriotism and have no central unity or way to be fuly catholic or universal unlike the Catholic Church who is a monolith and has a central unity at Rome with the bishop of Rome as history shows and who has 22 eastern Catholic rites around the world as well as the Roman rite. The Catholci Church is truly Catholic and can back up the claim.

This is a common misunderstanding. It's not divided because of patriotism but because it makes sense to have Greek speaking primate for Greek speaking people, and so forth. Any EO Christian can go to another EO church and receive communion, if a church denies communion or fellowship because someone is not Greek or something like that, which I have heard has happened, then that church has fallen into apostasy. My own church is part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is called Ukrainian, and people raised in every one of the Patriarchates (and many not raised in any kind of Christianity) receive the Eucharist there.

3). The blessed virgin Mary's apparition at Lourdes where people are still healed today. She told them that she "was the Immaculate Conception". this is a Catholic belief that EO's reject.

[/quote]

No offense or debate intended, but this is a logical fallacy which is assuming that the Lourdes apparition is true and thus anyone that does not recognize it is wrong.

I'm not meaning to debate, just stating that these don't hold ground for me.

 

[Ambrosius]

I had to make this choice

I was actually baptized Eastern Catholic as a child, and now I'm Catholic.. I spent around a year trying to decide.

In the end, I chose Catholicism because I believe in the teachings. For example, the Papacy..

the point in this article about Isaiah 22 made me think:
Dr Scott Hahn on the Papacy | Catholic-Pages.com

God bless

I'm a bit confused... Eastern Catholics are in communion with the See of Rome. Did you mean to write Eastern Orthodox?

 

[Rhamiel]

These two can be addressed pretty easy as being insufficient reason to me...



This is a common misunderstanding. It's not divided because of patriotism but because it makes sense to have Greek speaking primate for Greek speaking people, and so forth. Any EO Christian can go to another EO church and receive communion, if a church denies communion or fellowship because someone is not Greek or something like that, which I have heard has happened, then that church has fallen into apostasy. My own church is part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is called Ukrainian, and people raised in every one of the Patriarchates (and many not raised in any kind of Christianity) receive the Eucharist there.

No offense or debate intended, but this is a logical fallacy which is assuming that the Lourdes apparition is true and thus anyone that does not recognize it is wrong.

I'm not meaning to debate, just stating that these don't hold ground for me.[/quote]
what about the recognizability of the Bishop of Rome?
most christians through the years would not have the time, money, or education to read the Early Church Fathers, with the EO, OO, RCC, Anglican, and all the little break away groups (like the old believers broke away from the EO and the old catholics from the RCC)
how could simple pesants know the true Church?
i see the office of the Pope as something built on strong theological arguments, but is also simple enough for the common man to believe, sure if you live in the in a modern country you have access to education and a bible and a local library with probably some writtings of the Early Church Fathers in some form, but for most people through the ages this would be next to immpossible