Sister Alice, I dont think a lot of Latin Catholics would see that as "good will"(myself included) nor his conversion as "great." Many would see that as proslytism. What would have been better is that both remained in their specific jurisdictions and lived in harmony together as an example to us all.
Stephanos I
PS Alice, I hope you also realize by now my great respect and admiration of the Orthodox. So please do not take my statement as a slam. I really dont like Denny's that much anyway lol.
Dear Father Stephanos,
Ofcourse I don't see your response to me as a slam, and infact, I do agree with you. If you reread my post, you will not read that I thought his conversion was 'great'.
My point was, (oh the limitations of the written word!
) that ATLEAST this priest had the courage to accept my former RC friend as being one in the faith and therefore, communed him.
He *did not* do it, to my knowledge to convert him. However, when the inevitable marital problems of whose faith a couple is going to raise their children in arose its ugly head, and my GO girlfriend's husband wished to please her as well as to worship as one family with her and their children, he so *appreciated* her priest's gesture that it made him consider his wife's desire for him to convert.
I guess the silver lining in all of this is that he is now a weekly church goer, whereas he was a marginal Catholic, at best, before his marriage.
Unfortunately, as relations between our faiths stand presently, this is the difficult decision many have to make in the many interfaith marriages which occur yearly. (It is of even greater dismay because MOST of the marriages in my church are with Roman Catholics, and because we are not in communion, spouses generally have to decide to choose one OR the other).
On the other hand, I have another RC friend married to a Greek Orthodox woman who NEVER converted because he was a devout RC, and would attend Mass every Sunday morning and then attend Divine Liturgy with his wife and children afterwards.
He is well loved in both the RC church where he also teaches catechism and in the Greek Orthdox church that his wife belongs to. Their children have grown to be well adjusted ecumenical and lovely young adults.
With great knowledge of both his faith and a good knowledge of the Orthodox faith, conservative RC piety, as well as a theology degree from a RC University, he has been a Godsend of good ecumenical relations for our two churches.
As his wife tearfully prayed at a Greek Easter party they throw every year for their RC and Orthodox friends, "I wish that our two churches would unite soon so that we could celebrate every year together!" (That particular year we shared a common Easter)
To that, I say "AMEN"!
Always Respectfully,
In Christ,
Alice
P.S. When prosletyism rather than careful consideration is imposed by either faith on a couple OR anybody, it is uncalled for.
P.P.S. DISCLAIMER: Incase the above story of communing outside the faith causes any of my Orthodox brethren to be scandalized, please note that I am only the messenger, and am not endorsing nor taking a position on what has not been agreed upon by the Orthodox in regard to this matter. What one's heart desires should not supercede obedience to one's faith.
