Fellow Catholics:

Sometimes, I find myself wanting to talk to an Orthodox priest about various spiritual matters that I seek answers to. I know what the Roman Catholic take on these matters would be, but I'd like to hear the perspective of an Orthodox clergyman.

But I worry that this is something the Catholic Church would frown upon, or that it might even consider an occasion of sin...flirting with schism or...goodness only knows what. Is my desire to make a comparison between the Catholic and the Orthodox position already an affrontery of some sort? Heaven knows I can deal without the grief of one more intricate and complicated thing to confess.

Any Catholics out there (particularly clergy) who would be able to offer solid advice on this? I would be grateful.

Thank you.

I see nothing wrong in speaking to an Orthodox priest about these issues and I have done so myself many times. Keep in mind that the Catholic churches have welcomed Orthodox priests to be on the faculty of Catholic seminaries and universities around the world. In fact, several are even teaching (and studying) at Pontifical institutes in Rome. Is that a good enough answer for you?

The present Ecumenical Patriarch studied in Rome at the Oriental Institute.

It's a piece of the puzzle. Thank you. However, learning about, say, the history of the development of the Byzantine Rite or something from an Orthodox professor isn't exactly the same thing as contemplating approaching an Orthodox priest for spiritual direction because you wonder if the direction of your own clergy might be...lacking a dimension.

If I'm not mistaken, we very, very, recently had a thread on this very topic in one of the fora. Anyone remember where it is?

James,

You can expect to receive very little discouragement from members of this forum as regards seeking out advice, counsel, or spiritual direction from clergy of any of the Apostolic Churches.

Many years,

Neil

Hi RI. I just read this thread for the first time. Did you decide to act on this yet?

http://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads...lear#Post379525

Go back a page to the thread "Is there anything wrong in learning from an Orthodox priest?"

Bob

Thank you, Neil, for pointing me to the thread where this discussion apparently already took place. I must have missed it. My apologies.

Having read through the discussion, however, I'm not any clearer with regard to the right thing to do. Opinions on the thread seem divided, and I'm really not sure where I land. Good arguments for and against were put forward. And then it turns into a strange plunge into the netherworld of Lefebvrist priests.

While I think I would like to talk to an Orthodox priest about spiritual matters, I'm concerned that this would be tantamount to a manifestation of mistrust of the Catholic Church on my part and that there would be some sin involved, somehow. What sort of a witness for the Catholic faith would I be, after all, to an Orthodox priest who sees me coming to him for direction because I've decided that I can't seem to rely upon my own Catholic clergy for direction?

One poster on the other thread said something to the effect of, "hey, you know...you can talk to Eastern Rite Catholic clergy just as easily as Orthodox clergy" if you want spiritual advice from an Eastern Christian perspective.

I'm not sure that it is just as easy, however, at least not in my case. Where I live, all the Eastern Rite Catholic clergy are from the old country and English is their second language, making communication a challenge at times. Sometimes it's difficult to convey subtleties to someone whose grasp on the English language is only so-so. It also seems to me that the Eastern Catholic priests around here aren't very available. Their churches are only open on Sunday mornings during liturgy, and they have no parish offices.

The Orthodox clergy in this area, on the other hand, are all Americans, born and raised here, so there would be no language or cultural barriers. Furthermore, they seem altogether more available than their Byzantine Catholic counterparts. They have parish offices and staff. Their churches are open at certain times during the week because they have services beyond just the Sunday morning liturgy. So they would be easier to get ahold of, and I have to imagine, alot easier to talk to.

It seems it shouldn't be this complicated, though.

I say go for it.

It seems like people keep saying "it's ok" and you keep saying "but is it ok??"

It's ok.

Is it?

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Oh, does it? I'm sorry. To me it seems (on this discussion thread, at least) as if one person has opined that he thinks it's okay because Orthodox professors often teach in Catholic seminaries, and another has remarked that the Ecumenical Patriarch once studied in Rome. Another says "it's okay" but doesn't say why he believes it's okay. That's what it seems like to me.

The references to Orthodox professors and to the education of the Ecumenical Patriarch, interesting though they are, do not specifically address my concern with respect to a Catholic approaching an Orthodox priest for spiritual direction.

On the other thread addressing this matter referenced by Neil in this discussion, there are in fact some who have posted contributions that seem less than warm to the idea of a Catholic approaching an Orthodox priest for spiritual direction. It seems to me, then, that I'm merely inviting any readers who might be interested in the subject to offer additional insights and to address the refinements I've made to my original post. I imagine it's acceptable to do that. I mean, that's typically the way discussions go, I believe.

Hmm ... in retrospect, that seems more tiresome than humorous.

RI, I wonder if it would help the discussion if you elaborate on how you understand the term spiritual direction. (It might not, but it might.)

Dear RI,

I 've asked the same question directly to an orthodox priest( Constantinople jursidiction) last year.
The answer was: spiritual direction is closely link with the Sacrament of Repentance/Confession. So, normally spiritual direction is offer to Orthodox brethren first...
It makes senses to me. The priest in question was my professor at University. I'm still in contact with him and we have theological discussions from time to time. It is not spiritual direction in the sense that you might think but nonetheless his insights have help me a lot.
I finally found an EC priest to be my spiritual advisor.

RI,

You have your answer and no matter who tells you otherwise it seems that your mind is made up.

I personally, as a Greek Catholic, seek and do ask questions of a spiritual nature to Orthodox priests that I know. (I also read pretty much exclusively Orthodox books) They are always helpful and kind with me and even at times very stern.

They don't replace my normal spiritual direction with my Spiritual Father/Confessor but they do help me live my Tradition more fully. Plus they all like coffee and I love coffee!