Catholic-Orthodox Unity

Although there are some major differences between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches there has been a great deal of movement between the two groups in recent decades towards reunification. This progress is slow for a number of reasons, but chiefly because the Orthodox, being more staunch with tradition, and having had to live under oppression for centuries (under Muslim and Ottoman rule in the case of the Greeks, under communist oppression in the case of Eastern Europeans and Russians, and under both Muslim and Jewish oppression in the case of Palestinians, Lebanese, and Syrians) that they are understandably wary of dialog with the Vatican.

Nevertheless, great overtures have been made by both John Paul II and Benedict XVI towards reconciliation, and talks are ongoing.

The existence of Eastern Catholics is also interesting. There are 23 churches united within the Catholic Church, of which 22 of them are Eastern Churches. These churches share theology, doctrine, traditions, liturgy, and culture with Orthodox churches. They are, in fact, virtually identical except for one thing -- their alliance with Rome. Clearly there is room in Catholicism for Eastern Christian theology. It would seem, therefore, that if a Roman Catholic wished to embrace Eastern Christian (that is, Orthodox) theology and traditions, there would be no problem in doing so.

Perhaps the compromise that will work will be for the Pope to relinquish his monarchy, while the Orthodox turn a blind eye towards the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed. Or perhaps the procession clause should be omitted from the Nicene Creed altogether, since the method by which the Holy Spirit operates is an apparent mystery anyhow.

..I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life. Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified...

The last two Popes have indicated that they would be willing to back off on the doctrine of papal infallibility.

Furthermore, a number of Catholic clergy are rediscovering the therapeutic theology of the Eastern Church and are teaching it. And the growth of Western Rite Orthodox churches, who follow Orthodox theology, but celebrate a Latin Liturgy, make the existence of Latin traditions more acceptable among the Orthodox faithful.

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