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Well, pick anything you personally think creates an unbridgeable barrier to communion between the Churches. It has to be substantive, not a difference of expression or emphasis. And I know they have been discussed ad nauseum. I have observed most of these threads for about six years, now. Frankly, I haven't seen anyone point to anything that is actually taught by either Church that rises to that level. A lot of people have raised issues that might (might!) in the past have created problems, but have since been resolved. Most Orthodox don't seem to know what the Catholic Church really teaches, and most Catholics aren't much better. Whether it's the procession of the Holy Spirit, purgatory, original sin, the immaculate conception, Palamism or what have you, most of the time the issues involved have been resolved (usually, the Orthodox win but won't admit it). But people do love to pick at old scabs in a badly-informed manner, because it is so much more fun than finding real ground for unity.

When all is said and done, there are no theological issues dividing Greek Catholics and the Orthodox. Two Greek Catholic patriarchs have said it; argue with them. The only substantive issue is the nature, exercise and perquisites of the Bishop of Rome, which is not theological but ecclesiological, and therefore does not rise to the level of something over which one should divide the Body of Christ. This was apparent to Antiochian Patriarch Peter III back in 1054, and should be even more evident today, given how much better informed we are concerning the actual history involved.

On the matter of obedience, one's first obedience is owed to one's conscience; canons and disciplines are very much a distant second. If, after prayerful discernment you feel you must comply with these particular canons and disciplines, that is what you must do. Do not, however, presume that other people will come to the same conclusion after prayerful discernment of their own conscience. I believe the schism is unjust and unjustifiable, a scandal before God and the world, and I resolved long ago to act as if it simply did not exist. I am a Greek Catholic, and the Orthodox are my brothers. I believe what they believe. I maintain my communion with the Church of Rome because the Latins are also my brothers, and I can see nothing in what they believe and profess that prevents me from being in communion with them. If there are Orthodox who believe as I do, then it is evidence that the Holy Spirit is moving to bring unity to that which was sinfully divided.

As an Eastern Catholic I profess the Orthodox faith. Nevertheless, when I attend the divine liturgy at an Orthodox Church I refrain from receiving holy communion because I do not want to cause a scandal or act discourteously.

Todd/Apotheoun is correct in this.

This is what all should do...respect the fact that non-Orthodox are not supposed to commune in Orthodox churches, and Orthodox are not supposed to commune (though they are allowed) in non-Orthodox churches.

We may personally feel that it is not right--but unless we are in a life and death situation, we should remember the utmost Eastern directive which is humility and obedience to one's spiritual father, and since these are presently the rules, they should be respected...and for sure, we can refrain from the Mystery for a week or two that we are visiting elsewhere.

Infact, refraining from partaking of the mystery, in Orthodoxy, is not uncommon. You can be assured that in an Orthodox church, you will be standing with many others in the pews, unlike the Latin Church, where you can often be the only one remaining in your pew at Communion time!

Let me be clear: I do not force myself on any Orthodox priest, nor do I present myself at the Chalice under false pretenses. But I will ask, and frequently the answer is yes, not only from priests, but also from bishops. Canons are subject to oikonomia.

If you stick to this opinion you really must name names or all the Hierarchs are will be regarded with a degree of suspicion .

I find statements like this very disturbing .

StuartK:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

The issue of the schism which you raise is far off topic. The original question was whether the originator could go to an Orthodox parish. The answer to that is, of course, positive. The step further to being able to commune in the Orthodox parish is quite another. Explaining to the poster the reasons is enough. Your opinions about the schism and whether there are sufficient reasons for the schism to continue should have been marked as your own. There are many Orthodox Christians of good conscience who disagree strongly, not the least of whom belong to the largest Orthodox Church in the world--the Moscow Patriarchate.

Your argument to conscience over the discipline of canons and other rules is something our own Church has taught to be a dangerous one. There are many with ill-formed consciences who have taken positions contrary to Church teaching, discipline, and canons--not the least of whom have been Catholic politicians over life issues.

Being that this is Holy Week for Catholics and the last week of Great Lent for our Orthodox brethren, and since I have had complaints about the direction of this thread, it is hereby closed.

In Christ,

BOB
Moderator