Vienna, Austria, Sep 27, 2010 / 11:54 am (CNA).- Though qualifying that full unity is still in the distant future, leaders from Catholic and Orthodox churches recently indicated that progress is underway in the reunification efforts of the two faith communities.Read it all here.
Reuters reported on Sept. 24 that church heads meeting this week in Vienna concurred that the two traditions – which have been separated since the Great Schism of 1054 – could eventually become “sister churches” that recognize the Holy Father as head but maintain their individual liturgies, customs and church structures.
Leaders from the International Commission for Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue, a group comprised of around 30 theologians who meet annually, gave comments to reporters in Vienna last Friday, noting the positive advances both churches have made towards full communion.
Commentary. "Though qualifying that full unity is still in the distant future." And a great qualifier it is. A year ago the headline was Catholic-Orthodox Reunion Reported "Within a Few Months". Not bloody likely. Now they got it straight.
And this is why, if you are an Orthdox Christian lay person, this survey should interest you. I am trying to ascertain more-or-less "scientifically" the interest on reunion with the Roman Catholic Church held by the Orthodox rank-and-file. Please, access it here. I continue to follow and evaluate all these developments with a lot of interest, for all of you.
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2 comments:
The mainstream media and the Catholic press/media in particular have a long history of sending up wildly optimistic reports of pending reunion or warming relations between Rome and the Orthodox Church. I have learned to disregard these reports. For a somewhat more sober (and IMO accurate) view of things I would suggest reading this.
http://byztex.blogspot.com/2010/09/met-hilarion-no-breakthrough-in.html
In ICXC
John
I agree with everything John has said, while also adding that, even in America, especially within the Greek community, there is a passive, yet strong, current of dislike when the idea of the restoration of communion with Rome is broached. The reaction in Greece is even stronger, even among the uneducated lay people. Despite the opinions of theologians, we should remember that the last time the hierarchy imposed unity with Rome upon the Orthodox, they essentially revolted against them. The journey to unity must not be a task of convincing a few Western-educated theologians, but rather a task of proclaiming Rome's unity with the Holy Orthodox Church to the people. Only then will there be true unity.
In Christ,
The Greek
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