www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Filioque text addition (not theology)

Dear brother DTBrown,

Unless brother StuartK can cite any other source, I think he is giving his opinion based on the North American Catholic-Orthodox consultation on filioque in the 1990's, where the USCCB reps agreed that removing filioque would be beneficial for ecumenism.

But you have to understand that national episcopal conferences in the Latin Church do not function in the same way that national Synods function in the Eastern and Oriental Churches. Unlike Synods, episcopal conferences (in the Latin Church) have no inherent legislative, judicial or executive power. They have a purely consultative role in the life of the local Church.

I don't know if they have ever submitted such a request to the appropriate curial Congregation, or if they have, if there was ever a response. Though reconciliation with the Orthodox is on the top of the current Holy Father's list of "to do" things, I wonder what effect it will have for ecumenism efforts with confessional Protestants, which represent a much larger constituency in the Western countries than the Orthodox. IIRC, EO-Anglican dialogues on the matter have been fruitless.

Blessings

I heard it from a priest who is a secretary at the USCCB, who said it in the presence of a second priest who is also a member of this forum. The issue is now pastoral preparation of the faithful for the removal of the offending clause.

I get tired of having my veracity questioned, constantly.