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I wasn't sure whether to put this on the thread about universal jurisdiction or put it separately, but I decided to put it here.

Recently I was at a meeting where a Catholic priest of the Latin Church was giving a teaching to a bunch of people, probably all below the age of 45, and most probably below the age of 30. The young priest was energetic and devout. This was a meeting of devout, orthodox Catholics of the Novus Ordo persuasion.

Some of the theology being discussed made me feel uncomfortable. The priest seemed to indicate something about Original Guilt, and there were quotes from St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and terms thrown out like justice (the justice of God), and their definition of a sacrament in general, and the sacrament of Baptism was something that seemed foreign to me, I think they were quoting a Catechism. It all seemed to be traditional theology of the second millenium Latin Church. But as I am used to thinking in an Orthodox theological framework, some of what was posited seemed difficult for me to deal with. I felt out of place, like someone who was out of the loop, surrounded a bunch of people who seemed to have some of this stuff memorized, and had no problem with it. I could see what Khomiakov meant when he said that Catholicism and Protestantism are two sides of the same coin. (Ofcourse I would suppose he was referring to the Latin Church.) In alot of ways they really do think the same. This doesn't mean that I'm not recognizing all the glorious things about the Latin Church that I really love, I'm just struggling with some of the juridical late medieval feudal lord type theology.

I know from the fathers it is quite clear that the Pope of Rome is the head of the Church, but my question is this. Is it OK to be in communion with people who believe in theology that came out of Scholasticism?

It seems that the Catholics are right about the Papacy, but that the Orthodox are right about other theological matters. How does one reconcile these two things?

I'm not asking these questions rhetorically, but I really am struggling with this. Prayers would be appreciated.

I'm writing this not to be inflammatory, but as someone feeling sad and discouraged.


Thanks

Well, as far as I know, Scholasticism hasn't been formally condemned as a heresy, so I think it's okay.

Dunstan, your heroic and honest struggles provoke the sympathy of all.

Of course there is nothing wrong with "being in communion with people who believe in theology that came out of Scholasticism."

Remember that "Scholasticism" is not a unified body of teaching, nor even a unified approach to Theology--a wide range of thinkers, from the neo-Platonists to the nominalists (BOOO!), are included under "Scholasticism".

St. Thomas Aquinas holds a priveleged place among the Scholastics; as Alex Roman said on another thread (much to my surprise) St. Thomas Aquinas is widely venerated (privately) in the Orthodox East.

The relationship between reason and faith, and between the Schoolmen and the Fathers, is too complicated to discuss in one post (and also beyond my wit!) but suffice it to say that western Thomists generally see their approach as complementary to the Eastern approach, despite the fact that Easterners often see it as contradictory to their beliefs.

Gotta go--at work.

God bless.

LatinTrad

Dear Latin Trad:

Thanks very much for the encouragement.

Dear LatinTrad:

Our Eastern brethren deserve all the compliments we can muster, but Scholasticism, as "the" Western Christianity's own expression of theological thoughts and honed in and by the incisive tomes of St. Thomas Aquinas, is said to be complementary to Eastern theology.

And vice versa, if I may add!

AmdG

Amado, don't you just HATE those imbarrising speling erorz?

No problem, pal!

It must be Latin privelege[sic].

Dear Dunstan,

I sympathize with you being sad and discouraged over these teachings.

The body of works in Western Catholic theology are enormous. It is easy to get confused and discouraged over them.

Do you own a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)? It is well organized, well written and has the authority of Pope John Paul II.

The CCC has many references to the Eastern and Western Fathers, Doctors, Sacred Scripture, saints, and ecumenical councils if you desire to study the CCC reference works.

I have learned much from the CCC and have enjoyed its clarity.

I will pray for you.

Paul

Dear Paul:

Thank you very much for your understanding and prayers. It's interesting that you should suggest the CCC. I ended up buying a copy, and have found it to be very helpful in clarifying things.