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Mar 25th, 2025
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POLL: Where are people religiously at this forum ?
For each question, pick the one option that is closest to your view.
-- John
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Dear John, This is a GREAT poll. Thanks for creating it. I hope that alot of people will answer it--it will be interesting to see the final results. Regards, Alice 
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Harmon,
Overall you have constructed a very good poll; and that's not easy to do with so many little nuances.
If I may, my one small issue with the poll is the question dealing with divorce.
Divorce, in itself, perhaps is sometimes necessary and in the best interest of the spouses, if we're talking a civil divorce. But a marriage, according to Catholic teaching, can never be dissolved except by the death of a spouse. As I imagined you were probably asking whether a marriage can be dissolved, I answered "always wrong," since it's not possible anyway. If you meant a civil divorce in the eyes of the state or government, then I would've answered differently.
Logos Teen
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OrthoDixieBoy Member
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Wow great questions! Thanks for posting this poll!
Jason
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Greetings and Blessings, John, Sunday 15 October 2006
I took the poll and I find several things very interesting from these first 9 postings...being that it had (with my answers) mostly, "baptized Roman Catholics" (so far) who had contributed an answer!
There were several answers in the poll that proved the importance of "spirituality", thus far, of those who cherish their Catholic faith. Also, the importance of those values we hold so dear, the protection of (child birth) human life as well as the preservation of the unity in the Sacrament of Marriage between a man and a woman!
We, as "Roman Catholics" are not aware with how the "Eastern Church" treats divorce. And, by the previous response/comments this knowledge prevails. As a Roman Catholic, who is continually searching within my heart for a much stronger faith, see within the East, some hope and foundation! And, it is so unfortunate and sad that "we" as Roman Catholics have been deprived of being taught about the richness and traditions of our TRUE Church of the East! I have personally experienced this beautiful Liturgy many times and have visited Eastern Churches, Orthodox and Byzantine. And, I continue to learn like a sponge!
Thank you again, John, for putting together such a wonderful demographic of our (joined) Catholic faith as well as the representation with how the role of the Church plays in each of our lives! God Love You for that!
...From someone who is a Roman Catholic,
but has a devout Eastern heart!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oblate of St. Benedict
"FOLLOWING THE MASTER"
++++++++++++++++++++++++
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John: Good poll, although on a couple questions I believe there may be other possibilities. Question 10 immediately comes to mind. While I believe that the Apostolic Churches will somehow find a way together by the Holy Spirit, I don't think it's realistic to try to turn the clock back 1000 years because that still leaves a lot of problems unresolved, such as the plight of the people who have migrated and taken their liturgical and ecclesial traditions with them. I think an alternate position in that area might read something like "the Orthodox and Catholic Churches will find unity by understanding their developments over the last 1000 years and resolving those things which are essential and allowing for legitimate diversity where they are of lesser importance." The whole idea of turning the clock back is one that assumes that one means just before 1054. But what about the fact that things weren't static during that first 1000 years. There are some who might like to return to the way things were before we became legal in the Empire--pre-Constantine. Some of our Oriental Orthodox brethren who suffered at the hands of the Byzantine Empire and the state Church might like to put that on the table. Somehow we've got to find a way to live together and rediscover what truly being in communion is all about--and that means accepting that the person next to you may have warts or an unpleasant odor about him. Similarly we've got lots of different people in our different parishes in the Churches as they now stand. And I doubt that anyone can claim absolute uniformity in his particular Church. So extending that, how can we expect that we will come to some point where we will eliminate all in us that the other finds unacceptable? I guess the question becomes what are we willing to do to fulfill the Lord's prayer "that all may be one"? I'd even posit that the biggest task will be to find a way to silence the bigots that we've all got now in our own Churches.  :rolleyes: I mean thta ones who demand that anyone coming into communion with our Church has to grovel and admit that he was before a Christless heretic. But good poll and thanks for posting it. In Christ, BOB
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Greetings and Blessings!
As I am watching this poll unfold (now at 19 answers!), I find the last question, "The future of the Eastern Catholic Churches out side their homelands is:" the most intriguing! Bigger and better, holding their own, shrinking and dying out all seem to try to gain the "finish line." And, those who say "I don't know" really haven't looked within to see the change(s) that is happening within the Church (East and West) today to cause this effect.
Always in the Spirit of the Lord....
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oblate of St. Benedict
"FOLLOWING THE MASTER"
++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Thank you, all, for the kind words. I hope more people vote in the poll. There are some surprises in the responses...
Bob, you're right. But I couldn't figure out a way to what your whole post said in a few words that fit in the blank. So, I made the option for 'the way things were 1000 years ago' -- figuring that everyone would know what I was getting at.
-- John
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Greetings and Blessings, John,
One thing that this poll does is to examine how well founded the knowledge is of our (joined) Catholic faith. And, the representation of how we value our hallowed Sacraments! I know that in the Roman Church there is a "disparity" as I'll call it, of the "true" substance of the Holy Eucharist!.. and, not a symbol as many believe! Yes, there are changes occurring, some good and some "not so good" and unfortunately, society (or Satan) tends to get their quota! This all proves out just how strong each of our faith truly is!!
It would be beautiful if all of us here could worship together!!
God Love You!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oblate of St. Benedict
"FOLLOWING THE MASTER"
++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Good questions. Thanks for posting this poll! However, I had a few qualms with the way some of the answers were worded and put "I don't know" as a result. There's one that I disagree with particularly. The Eastern Catholic Churches (Byzantine, Melkite, etc.) are
a. a means to unity between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches
b. an obstacle to unity between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches
c. an historical anachronism
d. a stepping stone to the Orthodox Church
e. an escape from liberalism in the Roman Catholic Church
f. just my spiritual home
g. not sure / seeking to which I answer: "Patriarchates, Major Archeparchies and Eparchies of the Church of the Byzantine tradition who have chosen to be in communion with Rome". We do not exist because we are useful in the cause of "reunion" even if it's a subject of considerable interest to us. We exist because we are real Churches. Best, Markos
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 gtJC!! nice one  toodles & God bless, sUSAn
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I think the last question is most interesting right now. All the others have clear favorites (with several options at 0-2 people and all the rest voting between one or two of the choices), but the last one has a wide spread.
The future of the Eastern Catholic Churches outside their homelands is
bigger and better 20% (7)
holding their own 17% (6)
shrinking 17% (6)
dying out 14% (5)
I don�t know. 23% (8)
I don�t care; it�s my spiritual home, and I�m sticking with it. 9% (3)
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We sure need to pray more! The number of immoral answers regarding abortion, etc. are astounding!
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What is your main goal at this forum ?
Choose 1
communicating with other people interested in Eastern / Byzantine Christianity 54% (21)
learning more about Eastern / Byzantine Christianity 41% (16)
exploring the possibility of converting to another religion 0% (0)
helping others to convert to your religion 0% (0)
a safe place to debate / discuss Roman Catholic Christianity 0% (0)
puffing up your own ego / tearing down others� egos 3% (1)
just curious 3% (1)
not sure / seeking 0% (0)
What do you think is the main goal of most others at this forum ?
Choose 1
communicating with other people interested in Eastern / Byzantine Christianity 72% (28)
learning more about Eastern / Byzantine Christianity 18% (7)
exploring the possibility of converting to another religion 0% (0)
helping others to convert to your religion 0% (0)
a safe place to debate / discuss Roman Catholic Christianity 0% (0)
puffing up their own egos / tearing down others� egos 5% (2)
just curious 0% (0)
not sure / seeking 5% (2) So, there is at least ONE poster who admits their goal on the forum is to puff up his own ego!  But TWO respondents feel the main goal of the forum is for some to puff up their egos!Hmmmm...  Overall, this is perhaps one of the best polls on the forum. Steve
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Greetings and Blessings,
The one area that took me by surprise within this result POLL are the first two questions (at 40 responses):
1) WHAT IS YOUR RELIGION, OFFICIALLY, RIGHT NOW?"
Byzantine Catholic answered: 38%
2) WHAT WAS YOUR RELIGION, OFFICIALLY, 5 YEARS AGO?
Roman Catholic answered: 41%
Now, that clearly shows that there are real changes happening within our (joined) Catholic Church!
Blessings of the Lord to you!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oblate of St. Benedict
"FOLLOWING THE MASTER"
++++++++++++++++++++++++
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