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But Alex, TwoGathers is arguing that the priesthood is not necessary for the Eucharist. Obviously, a different view from both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Dr. John, the Moderator,

If you haven't read my comments earlier somewhere on this post saying that Protestants may go to Heaven before we Catholics/Orthodox do.

The points that I was making is that the Catholic/Orthodox Church is the One only Church which Jesus Christ founded upon and carried out by the Holy Apostles. If one believes that other Christian Churches are just as good as the Catholic/Orthodox, then one is mistaken. Until the Protestants accept full teachings of Christ in the Catholic/Orthodox Church, they are to remain outside until they can reconcile and reject any heretical beliefs. A lot of their teachings go against God's word in the Bible and the Tradition of the Church. That is why I am saying these things on the forum.

One have to be careful not to think that Protestant religion is equal to Catholic/Orthodox.

I've heard of the word "Heresy of Ecumencialism" by the traditionalist RC somewhere and thought that people generally out there use it, if not, my mistake for poor choices of words. I'd go with Serge, Heresy of Religion Indifference.

The reason I was upset with the Protestants are because they were using our traditions (small "T") such as rituals, customs, feast days, etc. to convert Catholics of South America and the Orthodox in Russia. They they've deceived many. That has got to stop. That is why the authorities in Russia are banning Protestant religion in the country because they were taking the Orthodox Christians into the false Christian Churches (Protestant).

Any more comments here?

Dear spdundas,

You don't have to ask me twice to make another comment . . .

I think you are right. The use of three-bar Crosses, Icons and cupolas to give the impression that one is Orthodox, when one really isn't, is just plain religious chicanery.

During the Reformation Era, some Lutheran teachers kept as much of the traditional Catholic rites as possible to give the impression to the people (especially in Scandinavia) that nothing has really changed at all etc.

However, this being said, it is important for the Orthodox Churches in the former Soviet empire to get to work and get the message out to bring the unchurched into the Church.

By the same token, I still think it is workable for Roman Catholic missionaries to evangelize in Russia, for example, as long as they bring people to the Russian Orthodox Church.

If the Russian Church is a "Sister Church," then what would be the problem with that?

But my in-laws, for example, when in Russia visited a Roman Catholic mission Church that was bringing Russians into the Latin Rite, as I mentioned some time ago.

When they asked the RC priest why he didn't adopt the Byzantine Rite (he was working in Russia after all), he replied that he didn't because "it wasn't his tradition."

Personally, I think that goes against the spirit of the Decree on the Eastern Churches, for a start.

Russian Byzantine Catholics in Rome publish Orthodox literature to assist their Orthodox brothers and sisters.

I have one such publication, a collection of Akathists. Even though this was published by Byzantine CAtholics, there is nothing that contradicts Orthodox faith and practice in it.

And it is overtly stated that it was published as a gift to "our Orthodox brothers and sisters."

Now that's the Spirit!

Alex

It can always be helped. It is one thing to disagree with another's post and to conclude that the contents of that post is incorrect (or even heretical). It is quite another to look for imprecise expression in another's post and jump to the conclusion that the other person is a heretic. To do the latter is not acceptable in this forum.

All participants are reminded once again that The Byzantine Forum is not a place for needless controversy or fight picking. If you disagree with something someone else has posted, please query that person as to their intention, giving the benefit of the doubt to that person before hurling accusations of heresy. If you are not capable of doing this politely, please do not post on this forum.

The vast majority of people who post on this forum do so in the spirit of helping others grow in Christ. We thank them for their posts and encourage them to continue posting in this spirit. Let's not let a few people who love to miss the point to purposefully begin needless arguments cause this forum to be taken down.

This thread has wandered - it is hereby closed.