www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Are we embarassed to be Catholic?

That is a great ideal, but reality is different. We are more of a blockade to union, as we currently are. As some in the Orthodox churches have said, we are an example of the wrongs that can happen in union with Rome. We have lost the "flavor" of what it means to be Eastern, and they fear that will happen to them as well.

At this point, and the Archeparchy is doing it, an examination of where we currently are, and where we should be. Attempting to throw out the bathwater without tossing out the child as well. It's a balance game that will take years, and has taken years.

The problem is, that we are a shrinking Rite. Our people are moving around the country, and there are not enough Eastern Rite churches across the country. Many are leaving and going west (Roman), many are going east (OCA, etc.). In a few decades this discussion may be a mute point.

Slava Issusu Christu!

mike

Hi,

Slava n'viki!

This is indeed a problem. We should ask ourselved *why* the Byzantine rite is shrinking...

It seems that what's basically happening is that the lazy and/or apathetic Byzantines are going Roman, because it's more convenient, and the really devout ones are going Orthodox... because they want the fullness of Eastern Christian spirituality, something BC's don't often get.

We can't do anything about the lazy/apathetic BC's, but it seems to me that if we rid our rite of latinizations, we could keep the devout ones from going Orthodox.

In fact, I'd have to say that *most* of the problems we face can be solved if we simply followed the order of our former pope and did that. We also are in need of shepherds who care about our rite and are willing to promote it.

This is from part of a speech give by Patriarch Husar of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

It has some relevance to the discussion here.

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Not a Bridge, But a Mediator
From the speech of Bishop Lubomyr Husar at the inauguration of Fr. Borys Gudziak as rector of the Lviv Theological Academy on 14 September, 2000.

It is often said that we Byzantine Catholics should be a bridge between East and West, between Byzantine-Slavic and Latin culture, between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches. A bridge connects two shores, but it doesn't have its own essence, its own existence. In itself, strictly speaking, a bridge is just a bridge, but it is never solid ground, and so, in some way, it's as if a bridge is nothing. Therefore I think that calling the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church a bridge is not sufficient.

I see our church as a mediator. A mediator has its own identity. A mediator is someone or something; it is present on both sides. This is a very important position. For the mediator not only connects, but it can also pass on its own sort of life.

We stand on the frontier of two great Christian cultures: the Byzantine-Slavic and the Latin. By force of circumstances and historical development we partake in both: we have distinct elements of the Byzantine-Slavic culture -- it is primary and foundational for us -- though we also have definite characteristics of Western, Latin culture. We must admit that these two great cultures to which we are joined know practically nothing at all of one another: the West neither knows nor understands the East, and vice versa.

Given this background, our church could help these two cultures to begin to understand one another, if it would set this as its goal and make the appropriate efforts. This, I think, is where our great strength lies, and our great task.
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mc

Hello John,

It would have been quite marvelous if the union churches had become a catalyst for reconciliation from east to west, but it was not to be (at least not yet). However a hybrid is not a good descriptor for the church, it will satisfy no one except a few silverhairs in their comfort zone, whose children have probably moved on.

There is no third way. Once we have accepted a special permanent place for the eastern Catholic churches in the scheme of things between the Orthodox east and the Roman Catholic west we will have to admit that the Unia has failed in it�s original goal, and it�s reason for being has come to an end.

Bridges are meant for crossing, if you are on a bridge and not moving you are stuck.

+T+
Michael

Michael,

Agreed. I think the Balamand Declaration admitted as much officially.


I disagree. I think the purpose of the Eastern Catholic Churches is three-fold these days:

1. to serve existing Eastern Catholics

2. to remind the Western Christians of their living heritage of patristics and theosis

3. to evangelize the millions of non-Christians with the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ, offering a mystical understanding and expression of it.

I think Eastern Catholics can *be* the bridge. A human bridge. Christian West and East can cross to each other on us. Or, as the other Michael posted above, Eastern Catholics can be the mediator.

MizByz made a good point above about why Eastern Catholics are shrinking. But, as was discussed some time ago on the Evangelization board, I think the solution is to attract new members.

In a sense, the Eastern Catholic churches are a product in search of a market. We should do better marketing. Our "product" is a mystical form of Christianity that is part of the Catholic Church. The "market" is those people who would be interested in a mystical form of Catholic Christianity.

For example, there are the *millions* of people who are searching for a mystical form of religion --New Age, Wicca/Witchcraft, East Asian religions, etc. Eastern Catholics could show them that the answer which they seek is Jesus Christ. He Is; and He is the Way, the Truth and the Life; and He completes, corrects, perfects all that is true in other religions.

The key, however, is holiness. No amount of books and websites and so on will do a bit of good --and neither will pew-less churches, akathists or saying "Pascha" instead of "Easter" -- unless we back it up with holiness. Only in us and through us can Jesus Christ touch others.

I think the topic is starting to drift, but I think these points are still germane. If uniatism is a defunct policy, and it is, Eastern Catholics must decide what it means to be distinctively Eastern Catholic. Otherwise, especially in the diaspora, Eastern Catholics will shrink in numbers: giving up members to Roman Catholics, Orthodox and other churches. But if Eastern Catholics can define themselves as a unique identity, with a unique calling and a unique charism, Eastern Catholics could then thrive by appealing to people who are in search of what Eastern Catholics have and are.

-- John

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Hi John, Agreed.

I agree with this, but there is only one real product: active Faith in the Truth of the Holy Trinity.
This is all good, I am with you on this.

It shouldn't be that hard to define it's unique calling, but because it is that hard I think there is something wrong about it all.

It almost seems like the time to act was 30 years ago. How does one get the babushkas out there ringing doorbells and preaching Christ?

I think Eastern Christianity is a great gift, I have stated so many times on this very message board. But if it cannot bring at least some of the culture to Christ it has no other real mission, and is wasting resources perhaps best applied elsewhere.

I mean this, if Orthodoxy cannot bring people to Christ it has no more of a mission either. If we cannot do this we deserve to see our temples shut down around us.

One of the things that frustrated me the most as a Byzantine Catholic was the focus on bringing Roman Catholics in to the church and calling it "evangelization". That is nothing but a crime. Roman Catholics can bloom where they are planted.

Byzantine Catholicism needs to find protestants and agnostics, the unchurched and the doubt filled. It needs to contend with sceptics and atheists, it needs to present it's own true teaching to the people, and make no apologies for it.

If the church cannot even try to do this it deserves whatever happens.

+T+
Michael

Well put! I am Greek but a Latin Rite Catholic and I am proud that Eastern Catholics exist. I can't imagine the Catholic Church without Greek Catholics!...

Dear Armando,

I suffer the fact that there are Ukrainians who are Latin Catholics, but Greeks too?

Can't you become a Greek Catholic?

Alex