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That's exactly the problem. One has to ignore that and live pretending there is a reality that is not there.

Those are very helpful quotes from the melkite.org site. Thank you for posting.

They are also something like eleven years old and express the views of the former Eparch, whose views are definitely not those of the rest of the Melkite synod. Which puts Bishop John in the position of Beetle Bailey, who complains to Sgt. Snorkel that all the other guys in the platoon are out of step.

To quote Puddleglum the Marshwiggle, "I'd rather live and die a Narnian, even if there is no Narnia".

Or perhaps Kevin Costner, in Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come".

You are way too comfortable with the intolerable status quo.

I think you are defining "Orthodox" differently than others here. I know when I say "Orthodox in communion with Rome" I am not saying that I am a *member* of the Orthodox church, who also happens to have communion with Rome. You are, of course, correct that the AOC would not allow this. Rome, however, does welcome Orthodox Christians to communion the last time I checked.

If, however, we are talking about Orthodox in faith and practice, then I don't believe that the Antiochian Orthodox Church, or anybody for that matter, can or would claim to be the authority as to who is or is not "Orthodox."


Probably because people like you kept trying to convince them that the Orthodox Church was the only place that they were welcome to practice their faith.

When the Pope says something that might diverge even slightly from accepted dogma, people are quick to make sure we all understand that it is not binding in the slightest or even really important, just one man's theological opinion. Not a blanket statement on behalf of the entire church.

When melkite.org says something, however, it is naturally the authoritative and declarative profession of each and every Melkite on the planet and beyond contradiction.

There was a time in early Church history when a minority of bishops were seen as "out of step" with the majority of the bishops of the East. The minority eventually were proven right.

Dear jjp,

I have never ever made anyone in my parish feel that they were unwelcomed. Those who decided to leave did so by their own accord. No animosity has ever existed between me and those who were OICWR in my parish. There was one lady in particular whom I was sad to see leave, but that was her decision. She shared with me her struggles. I never told her to leave; she can even confirm that. I am always happy to see her when we cross paths.

I know you don't know me personally, but I tell you that you are mistaken. We may feel strongly, even passionately, about our respective positions, but let us avoid making unfounded personal comments.

I didn't take it personally. Not offended.

May Our Lord bless,

GC

But this ain't one of them.

That would be my guess, though GC probably won't see it that way. Nonetheless, his constant harping on the necessity of adopting every jot and tittle of Latin theology dignified with the name of "universal dogma" would certainly be seen as discouraging by those who take at face value the Holy See's directives for us to restore the fullness of our Tradition. Nowhere in any of those statements did I see anything that said "except when it contradicts or diverges from the Latin Tradition".

Such mixed messages tend to make it plain that those who want to be Orthodox in communion with Rome will not be allowed to do so, or at best, will be constantly harangued about their failure to follow the "Catholic" faith. Not everybody is as thick-skinned or ornery as I am, and they might tend to go to greener fields where they can follow the Tradition unhindered, surrounded by like-minded people. Me, I intend to hang around and give back anything they can dish out. And a lot more, since I am not the type who thinks "tradition is what we were doing the day I was baptized".

You can't see the forest because of the trees.

Whereas statements from the Ambo by the reigning patriarch of the Church are to be discounted. It's an interesting mindset, isn't it?

Time will tell.

I can have her call you.

I'm listening openly to both sides here, and have become extremely confused and frustrated about many of these issues. The idea of being Orthodox in communion with Rome is an idea I find extremely attractive, but in trying to discover just how much one can be both Orthodox AND Catholic, I haven't found enough affirming documentation to satisfy my conscience. I really can't seem find any clear and authoritative answers anywhere.

Yes, it seemed to me like melkite.org would have some fairly good information, but if those statements are so outdated that they do not represent the current mindset, I wish they would get busy on making it up-to-date.