www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Give Roman Catholics the Eastern Option?

This is not for the purpose of argument, but is a form of thinking out loud and touching on some of my own thoughts. Of course I understand this is not intended to be a Latin Forum. As to how Byzantine it is, that seems open to interpretation. It does say at the bottom of the screen, "Note: www.byzcath.org is an UNOFFICIAL site of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America." Now my understanding is that this Forum is privately owned, and it might be more accurate to say it has NO connection to the Byzantine Catholic Church in America. I haven't seen anyone here who has the actual authority to speak for any church - unless, of course, Incognitus really is a Cardinal. Getting involved in those Latin issues would be a never-ending source of disputation and conflict and would ruin the Forum for East/West discussion. It seems to me the Forum wants to discuss Eastern Christian issues, but is not necessarily even Catholic. That being the case, and with the issue of East/West union a continual topic, let me tell you what gives me pause. If I were Orthodox (I am not, I am Byzantine Catholic, BTW) and I looked at one man - Paul VI - overturning liturgical reforms of a Council, and mandating his own liturgy, it would scare me to death. My first thought would be that no one person should have that kind of authority. My next thought would be, what if some Pope tried to do the same to our Eastern Liturgy. I could see myself beating a hasty retreat to the nearest Orthodox Church if that were to occur. Of course, Rome has such a sterling track record for respecting the Traditions of Eastern Catholics. I don't see East/West union happening without addressing that basic issue of Eastern autonomy, and Roman non-interference in the affairs of Eastern Churches. When that occurs, union could be a real possibility. Until then, I just don't see it happening.

Getting back to the original subject of the thread. Whenever I meet dissatified RC's, (which is fairly often) I immediately tell them where the nearest Tridentine Mass is located, (you'd be shocked by how many are unaware the Latin Mass is still being said) followed by informing them if there is an Eastern Rite Catholic Church within reasonable distance. I quickly let them know that the Divine Liturgy is celebrated very reverently, and that they will be in for a most blessed surprise if they choose to attend.

This evening at DL for the Feast of the Ascension, it occured to me that exactly half the people who attended (it was a small turnout)were originally or still are Latins ! And despite that, and the fact that quite a few other Latins attend the church, none of them to my knowledge are attempting to Latinize things. Ironically the Latinizations come from cradle EC's.

Lawrence, I can relate. However, I would respectfully add that there *are* some holy Latin Rite priests who actually talk about the Gospel in their sermons.

For example, I am blessed to say that my pastor is a righteous priest: Fr. Robert Weithman at St. Casimir's parish in Fremont, Ohio, USA.

For another example, there are the priests of the Society of the Precious Blood who staff the Sorrowful Mother Shrine that is just south of Bellevue, Ohio, USA. ( www.sorrowfulmothershrine.com [sorrowfulmothershrine.com] ). The priests there all are good and preach the fullness of the Gospel. There is especially a bi-ritual priest there, Fr. Yuri Kuzara, who is UGCC and Latin Rite and who is the director of the Shrine; he gives awesome sermons.

Finally, I make myself remember that not every holy priest has the gift of good preaching . . . or even good people-skills. Yet, they can be men who are alive in the Holy Spirit and who are very good priests.

--John