www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West The Great Sin of the Latin Church

I think that this has been a good thread. Ghazar is right, he is articulate and his posts have been well crafted, as were so many others here. There wasn't one thing posted here that I find malicious.

The wounds need air, wrap them too tight and they fester.

I see a lot of good coming from all of this, I'm sorry if some of the things said here have hurt. But if they were not said, they would still be there under the wrap, rotting the flesh of the body of Christ.

Michael

Well,

I can see some have appreciated the point I was trying to make and others have not. This shouldn't be a surprise to me or anyone on this thread. If I have offended anyone (especially Logos Teen whom I have brotherly affection for) I am sorry. Please remember one thing: I respect Latin Tradition and have tried to always say so. I have always tried to make statements in a way that does not call into question the Latin Church's Tradition. I have attempted (in hopes of making an important point needed for true ecumenism) that the integrity of the Eastern Tradition must be respected. As many have pointed out this is the official position of the Latin Church. Hopefully more and more faithful Latins will realize this and respond accordingly. Please forgive me if I have appeared arrogant. I was only trying to make a point, which some may or may not appreciate.

Thank you to everyone for your input, support or criticism,

Your brother,
Ghazar

I'm sorry if I came off condescending about the whole thing.

Ghazar, out of all the Easterners here, I would say that you, Alex, and Alice are, on all accounts, very fair-handed when it comes to the Latin Church and her Traditions. It's evident that you greatly esteem the Latin Church, and I definitely don't mean to imply otherwise.

If this thread helps some deal with whatever needs to be dealt with, then y'all go for it. But because it is spiritually harmful to me (not to dramatize it or anything ), I can't in good conscience participate in it any further. Not that anyone asked me to.


I think the title just startled me in and of itself, especially coming from an unbiased poster as my spiritual brother, William.

Logos Teen

Teen, that's a whole lot of Glory you've got there!

Dear LT,

I just used the title for dramatic effect. Perhaps I should have put the word "sin" in quotes to indicate this. My point was rather afirming towards Latin Tradition if you think about it. What I was saying was that the only error the Latin Church should be accused of is not respecting the faith and Tradition of the Eastern Churches. This is hardly an attack on the Latin Church. Anyways sorry for the offense.

Ghazar

I gotcha. I apologize for the overreaction as well.

Logos Teen

William, at least you got everyone's attention with that thread title.

This is a subject that is bound to bring up emotion, and from the Eastern Catholic side, loads of frustration. Education, catechesis, all of these things are so necessary to enlighten the Latins about the Eastern Catholics.

I hope Eastern Catholics take every opportunity to go spread the word. If you volunteer to go talk at a RCIA class or something similar that about Eastern Catholics, you will likely not be turned down.

William, I don't not think any of the Eastern Catholics here were out of line. Some who do not fully understand the background and perspectives of our churches, especially yours (Armenian) with respect to latinizations, will likely take those comments in a wrong and disparaging way.

I especially appreciate Jakub's and Paul's heartfelt comments regarding the need for the Latins to better know and appreciate us Eastern Catholics. I have found their love for the Eastern Catholic Churches to be inspiring and a great example of "breathing with both lungs."

Coalesco,

What a great pic of St. Maxamillian Kolbe! I had never seen him smile. Makes for a happy saint.

Paul

Dear Diak,

I both agree with and appreciate your comments. Thank you.

your brother,
Wm. D.G.

p.s. My family and I are trying to do our part to get the word out about the Roman Pontiff's vision for a Church breathing again with both lungs. Even my daughter did a presentation for all her Roman Catholic girl friends in their "Little Flowers" Group (which is kind of like a Roman Catholic version of "Girl Scouts." It came out so nice I almosted posted their talk on this forum. Anyways, thanks for the advice to continue doing this very thing.