www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Catholic v. Orthodox

Alex,

I was not referring to you my friend.

All,

My question is: what does the Catholic Church mean by saying that obedience to the Catholic Church (note, capital C)is necessary for salvation?

Do I believe that the Orthodox share in the life of the sacraments JUST AS MUCH AS CATHOLICS? YES. Do I believe that the Orthodox life in the sacraments will lead them to holier lives and Heaven JUST AS MUCH AS CATHOLICS? YES.

Is this contrary to Catholic teaching? NOT SURE. I know the term "just as much as Catholics" is not the right term, but you get my drift.

Greg

Dear Catholicos Mor Ephrem,

In answer to your question, I don't know!

There would certainly be no way that you could liturgically express your Syriac spirituality in a Byzantine Catholic Church, but you would be closer to it than elsewhere.

If there are both Syriac Catholic and Orthodox Churches where you are, then I say go for the Syriac Rite one way or another.

God bless!

Alex

Greg,

Orthodox = "C"atholic. Goes back to that two lung thing.

anastasios

We Catholics and Orthodox have so much in common, "it cannot even be called schism" (Professor Wotylia once said). Fromt he Catholic standpoint, it would be hard to point to anything as to Orthodoxy that impares an individual's path to salvation. The Petrine Ministry has always been about the good of the church and the evangelization of new people. The Catholic Church's CORPORATE mission is hurt by disunion. Also, her ecumenical mission is hurt by acts that pretent the sad disunity that does exist is not worth working to overcome.

K.

>>>Fromt he Catholic
standpoint, it would be hard to point to anything as to Orthodoxy that impares an individual's path to salvation.<<<

In fact, the Balamand Declaration, which the Catholic Church has accepted as binding upon itself, says explicitly that each Church has the full sufficiency of grace to ensure the salvation of its members, and that "conversion" from one Church to the other is not a precondition for salvation. Ergo, if the Catholic Church seriously believes this, then there is no schism. And if it does not, then it is engaged in a blasphemous duplicity. Since I cannot believe that the Catholic Church would ever consciously engage in the latter, I must believe the former. Hence I do not consider myself bound by a separation that is manifestly sinful and for which there is no good reason to maintain. To the greatest extent possible, I act as though there was no ecclesial separation, and treat both the Orthodox and Catholic communions as part of one big (not so happy) family.

Stuart's quote:

"In fact, the Balamand Declaration, which the Catholic Church has accepted as binding upon itself, says explicitly that each Church has the full sufficiency of grace to ensure the salvation of its members, and that "conversion" from one Church to the other is not a precondition for salvation."

Thank you, Stuart.

Stuart again:

"And if it does not, then it is engaged in a blasphemous duplicity."

Ooops! Well, which is it?

So all of us ex-uniate Orthodox aren't going to hell. Whew! What a relief. :-)

XPHCTOC BOCKPECE
Matthew

And people ask me why I break out in hives when dealing with lawyers!

"By their works shall you know them" ..."You shall love the Lord your God...and your neighbor as yourself.."

T-t-tthatsss allll, folks!

Christ is Risen!!!