Catholics and Orthodox both believe they have the true Faith and that their respective Churches are the ONLY true ones - that is a fact.
The point of this forum is to allow for a "neutral zone" where the two can meet and discuss matters of mutual interest without denigrating each other in the hope that one will convert to the other.
There are Orthodox who have tried to convert me - and I didn't appreciate that at all, so I removed myself from the entire situation. To this day, I won't go into an Orthodox Church, other than for weddings and funerals, because I've had one too many such experiences in the past where not only my own EC allegiance was, shall we say, "not appreciated" but also my church. No one should stand for that, on either side.
Any ecumenical conversation, such as should be had here, must be free of the "threat of proselytism." That is a principle that the Catholic Church accepts too.
It is perfectly legitimate to affirm what one personally believes about schism etc. I just don't believe that has any place here and haven't heard the word "schism" used for years before I came across it here.
I'm a born UGCC and half of my family, here and in Ukraine, is Orthodox. The only time anyone decided to become Catholic was following St John Paul the Great's trip to Ukraine when he beatified new Martyrs there. He made such an impression that some Orthodox, like two of my relatives, became EC, some secular people became religious and tepid EC's became fervent.
I understand and love all that. I know all about the branch theory of Anglicanism and how some Catholics can closely approximate it.
That has NOTHING to do with the ecumenical atmosphere which should exist on this forum. That it is "Byzantine Catholic" and warmly embraces Orthodox Christians is, in and of itself, a great testimony to Catholic openness. There are Orthodox Christians who are Moderators here, such as our beloved Alice (on whose nerves I do get on) and Father Anthony.
And these Orthodox Christians themselves demonstrate great Christian love and understanding of us Cath'lics. Alice's warm embrace of true Christian piety in both traditions and her always very positive comments about Catholicism are well known - appreciated by all.
I once got angry at a UGCC poster from Poland for attacking our Primate. OK, so I tore him a new . . . navel.
Fr. Anthony came on and actually understood my anger completely. Rather than chide me for it, he told the other fellow to observe the bounds of order and decency. I almost fell out of my chair, but that is the kind of high quality of person he is and this Forum is better for having him on board.
That such excellent individuals embrace, and are embraced by, the Byzantine Catholic Forum says a great deal about the Forum and about the Administrator whose vision has led to the development of such an ecumenical community.
To sit down with Orthodox Christians, look them in the eye (figuratively, of course) and share our mutual experiences as Christians is the sine qua non of ultimate reunion.
Anything less will set the reunion clock back and that would be a tragedy and even a great sin.
We are all here to advance the cause of Christ and the unity of His Church.
Let's keep focused on the positive things of our traditions. If we centre ourselves on the following of Christ within our respective Churches, we will truly become one in the same Christ.
I think this thread, which I began, has come full circle and I ask the Administrator and the Moderators to consider closing it down.Thank you for your attention.
As Fr. Keleher of blessed memory once wrote to me in a letter: "May St Mark of Ephesus pray for us."
Alex
