Why are you assuming that Fr Taft is not a man of prayer -- as I understand it, he prays the entire Byzantine office each day. Everything I have read from him indicates he is a model scholar and man of prayer. The two are not contradictory or mutually exclusive.

Of everything that Fr Taft has written, the third chapter in his most recent book (Through their own eyes: Liturgy at the Byzantines saw it) reveals his true spirit of prayer the best (to me). Here is my favorite part:

"Orthodox-Catholic Christians believe that a liturgy rooted in the mystery of the Risen Christ not only symbolizes the heavenly reality; it also renders permanently active on earth whatever the Incarnate Word was and did. In other words, Byzantine Orthodox Christians base the realism of their liturgy on faith in the reality of the Risen Christ. Because the Risen Jesus is humanity glorified, he is present through his Spirit to every place and age not only as Savior, but as saving; not only as Lord, but as priest and sacrifice and victim. This is because nothing in his being or action is ever past except the historical mode of its manifestation. Hence Jesus is not extraneous to the heavenly-earthly liturgy of the Church, but its first protagonist. ... The basis for liturgical anamnesis is not psychological recall but theophany, an active, faith enounter now with the present saving activity of Christ. For what Christ was and did, he still is and does; it is he who preaches the Word, he who calls us to himself, he who binds the wounds of our sin and washes us in the waters of salvation, he who feeds us with his own life, he who is the pillar of fire leading us across the horizon of our own salvation history, lighting our sin-darkened path.... In this theology, church ritual constitutes not only a representation, but also a re-presentation--a rendering present again--of the earthly saving work of Christ." (pages 138-140)

And also:

"In the present age of the Church, the divine grace is mediated out to those in the world from the divine abode and its worship, icon of the heavenly liturgy. In this dynamic, our worship rises to the throne of God from the earthly altar only to be returned to us as the heavenly gift of the Spirit." (page 149)

As per the disciples on the road to Emmaus, just reading these words makes one's heart warm -- what a glorious gift to us is the heavenly liturgy in which we sinners are allowed by the Spirit to participate! It is my belief that only one who is a man of prayer could write them!

In the few things I read from him I had the impression of a polemic man. Maybe he would enjoy this forum.

I too get the impression that there is too much made of appeals to Rome. Whatever issues the church has should be handled within it's own house.

Unfortunately, that has not worked out too well in the past. Even the restoration of authentic traditions (such as they are) began only after a mandate from Rome. This was not a movement that began in Pittsburgh.

Probably things would be a lot different today if Metropolitan Judson was still around, but who really knows?

Michael

Speaking of appeals to Rome, I don't think it makes sense for me to send a letter, does it? I don't belong to your Church nor to one of your parishes. I am happy with the Tridentine Latin Mass, but I do love your liturgy for its own intrisic value (and not as surrogate to the T.L.M.), and I attend on weekdays or Saturday when I can. I'll refuse to attend your services or support your Church, if inclusive language is used.