www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West AP:Catholic-Russian Orthodox Split Decried

If the WRO have found a nich they're comfortable with, and people support them, more power to them.

They're not a threat to anybody. They're just who they are.

The entire concept of Western Rite Orthodoxy is extremely interesting, yet at the same time, a very sad story. It is my belief that Western Rite Orthodoxy or, WRO, for brevity's sake, is a response based on Pastoral concern, rather than as an evangelistic tool. Both the actions of the Antiochian Church, and ROCOR's efforts with the French and Dutch Orthodox Churches were done in response to petitions from the laity, as opposed to a deliberate attempt to "set up shop" to compete with Rome. Not that that would be all that difficult. If that was the desire, the hard core Latin Trads would be a good target. Set them up, turn their altars around, let them commemorate the local Orthodox bishop and Pope Leo the Great if they want, and voila!, competition with Rome. Or with Old Catholics or Polish National Catholics. But that has not been the case. There is not now, nor has there ever been a deliberate attempt on the part of the Orthodox to "poach" from Rome. WRO churches have been small localized responses to the needs of a small group of people, usually Anglicans or other high church Protestants who want to maintain their traditions, but under canonical bishops. Similar to "Greek Tradition" parishes under a Russian bishop, but with even greater differences. When Poland was a duchy of Russia, the great Roman Catholic cathedrals all remained Roman Catholic under the protection of the Czar. The Orthodox line stopped where traditionally, it had always stopped, at the Tatras. History has proven to be not so kind to the Orthodox finding themselves under a Roman Catholic Monarchy after political shuffling of borders. The treatment of the Ukrainian and Carpatho Russian Orthodox under the Magyars speaks volumes. But that is history. For good or bad, what happened, happened, whether it be the 17th or 20th century. But we are now in the 21'st century, and the need is to look ahead. The "My dzedushka whipped your dzedushka" business only leads to heightened levels of polemics, which benefit no one. Especially the poor WRO, who are the left handed stepchildren of the Orthodox world, who are so different and so misunderstood by most of their coreligionists, with bishops who do not fully understand their traditions, and with Eastern laity and clergy who, ever so slightly, look down just a bit on them as being "different". So let's not be so hard on them. I rejoice when I hear of a Saint Alban's or a St David Of Wales Orthodox Church being raised. It is awakening an old Tradition that has lain dormant for a long time. These people need our prayers and our assistance, not our judgements.

Alexandr

Alexandr:

I agree with your very thoughtful post. As an Eastern Catholic Christian, of course I am always happy to see Protestants brought into the Catholic Church. However, I would also rejoice to see them brought to Apostolic Christianity by way of Orthodoxy-Western Rite or otherwise. May God bless them and grant them continual growth in the life of the Church, by the power of the Holy Spirit-whether it be as Orthodox or Catholics.

Ryan

Alexandr,

I never said Orthodox people don't have the Gospel. Why are words being put into my mouth?

I was quoting His Grace who said he's never tried to convert anyone in Russia, and pointing out how sad it is when a Christian archbishop boasts about how he's not tried to bring anyone to Christ.

I think we need to have a major reality check, here. Not every person in Russia is Orthodox. Not even close. Not even beginning to approach a majority, if you want to include those who are Orthodox in name only.

The archbishop didn't say "We aren't trying to convert Orthodox people," he said "I've never tried luring [read: converting/evangelizing] people from other religions to Catholicism." Other religionS with an S, which makes it plural, which means he's certainly not discussing Russian Orthodoxy only, and didn't mention it by name, anyway!

By his statement we are to, regrettably, assume His Grace purposefully has done nothing to bring the Gospel to Jews, Muslims, the numerous atheists of Russia, Protestants, or anyone else of any religious stripe whatever.

Fr. Steele,

My one quibble with your post, if I may humbly offer my opinion, is that you charge that the "Church is divided." With all due respect, Father, we believe Unity is part of the Church's very Nature; She cannot be divided and She isn't. She is "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic."

Alexis