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Orthodox Ties to Catholics Seen as Vital [nytimes.com]

I think there is a subscription you must sign up to read the rest of the article. Because of copyright issues I think I can only quote a portion of it. Hopefully, I got the important part.

BTW, my 2 cents: I think some one in Orthodoxy finally "GETS IT." Protestantism is dangerous and growing fast. The apostolic church needs to stick togther regardless of differences to defend the Church.

Ray,

This has been the trend that has been developing for a number of years now. Most Orthodox have very little use for the WCC as of late. Bishop Hilarion is just voicing what has been the attitude prevalent for the last decade or so. Thanks for posting this article.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Water and oil do not mix, better to leave them to their own devices!
Stephanos I

Dear Father Stephanos,

Could you please clarify your post for me?

I am able to interpret it a couple of different ways, and one of those interpretations does not leave a good feeling inside me.

Thank you,

Michael

I was saying that the two properties of oil and water are fundamentally different. In fact they can not mix.
That being an analogy to Protestantism and (Catholicsm/Orthodoxy.)
Since the Protestants have taken a route so fundamentally opposed to the Catholic/Orthodox faith we should concentrate on the reunion of the later. Thats all.
Stephanos I

I don�t think Bishop Hilarion is alone in his disenchantment with the WCC. There was nearly unanimous relief last year for instance within the AOA when the decision was made to pull out of the NCC, which is basically the local version of the WCC.

I do think there is a distinction to be made here however. The type of Protestantism that is growing rapidly, particularly Pentecostalism, has nothing to do with the liberal Protestants who form the bulk of bodies like the WCC and they do not participate in such bodies. These denominations are the ones growing, whereas Protestantism of the liberal variety is essentially in rapid retreat.

Although I share in Bishop Hilarion�s opinions of the WCC, I don�t know that I necessarily agree with his other conclusions. I�m sure he also must be aware that the views of the western WCC ecclesial communities he is commenting on have significant play elsewhere.

Andrew

I think Orthodox membership in the WCC, while Catholics have avoided it, is indicative that they perhaps still do not realize the potential impact from Protestantism. I applaud those who have realized the lack of fruits of continuing to belong, and have withdrawn.

As St. Peter Moghila so wisely observed about Catholic/Orthodox relations after the fracus with Cyril Lukaris: "...our shared battle against the inroads of Protestantism".
FDD

Dear Father Stephanos,

Bless.

Thank you for the clarification.

I still so much love the statement that Bishop Kallistos makes regarding Protestantism and the Roman Church, but will resist the urge to post it here.

In Christ,

Michael

I really don't think that Protestants are really "Crypto-Papists!"

I think the source of the statement is actually Khomiakov. He felt that because of their common theological heritage among other reasons that the RCC and the ecclesial communities of the Reformation were like two sides of a coin in his words, sharing more with each other than the do with Orthodoxy.

Andrew

I don't see how Protestants and RC's are more alike than RC's and EO's.

Protestants don't subscribe to the role of Tradition, Apostolic Succession, a truly hierarchical view of the Church (mostly), ecumenical councils, prayer for the dead, the truly sacrificial elements of the Eucharistic liturgy, the Eucharist as being Christ Himself, prayer to saints, sacramentals, seven Sacraments, etc., while they do believe in sola fide, sola scriptura, and the like. The list goes (way) on. Just one or two of these things is enough to alienate Latin-Rite Catholicism and Protestantism to almost irreconcilable distances!

Logos Teen

I'm trying really hard to avoid conflict here, but gosh, sometimes I think Protestants are painted with a pretty broad brush. I have a knee jerk reaction to Protestants who do that to Catholics, but I try not to take offense when RC, EO or ECs do it to Protestants, because I do believe in Christ's prayer that we be one, as He and the Father are one. However, I would ask that it be remembered that many of us Protestants have as deep a passion for the one true God, for His Son Jesus Christ and for the Holy Spirit who guides the church into all truth as believers in the Apostolic Churches. There are many serious differences, but please don't lump all Protestants together into the Pit,thinking that we are all drifting into a pro-gay marriage, pro-women's ordination, pro-whatever-the-world-says-goes mess. We're not. Charity, I think, dictates that we not only long for reunion between schismatic brethren but that we long for deeper understanding between all Christians baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Oh I promised myself I would never write a post like this. I should have gone to bed!
Warily,
Michele

Michele

Don't worry - we don't believe that all Protestants are like that . Catholics are a very varied bunch , and so are the Orthodox [ you should see the infighting that can go on there ]. We do realise that Protestants have their full range of 'flavours' too.

That's actually what makes this place so interesting - we can all meet and talk here [ even in what is turning out to be your extended Family's Wedding thread ]

Anhelyna

Dear Michele,

Thanks for your post.

Many of us do NOT feel the way you have been made to feel about Protestants. I much admire my Evangelical brothers and sisters, their zeal, their commitment, their awesome preaching, their spirituality in every day life, and their love for the Lord...

Many Orthodox and Catholics, from lay men to clergy men have Protestants like Billy Graham to thank for their own personal spiritual revivals.

I hope that one day we will stop fearing our Evangelical brethren who really share much with us in conservative belief, and that they will stop fearing us and our cultural tradtiions, and that there will be a mutual understanding and respect of differing traditions that can be brought together to glorify Christ.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

May the Lord help us bridge the gap of fear, misunderstanding, and judgement between some of us on both sides.

We love and cherish your participation here Michelle. I am so glad that you posted and I am so sorry that some have offended you.

May God bless you.

Faithfully,
Alice

Well said, Annhelyna and Alice !

Many Protestants are righteous, true Christians. Also, the forms of Protestantism that are growing are the Evangelicals and Pentecostals -- the Protestants who are most likely to be true to the Gospel (within the confines of "only faith, only scripture.")

It is the theologically and morally liberal forms of Protestantism that are losing members. This is not a big surprise because they are not teaching the Gospel. And, it is they (I believe), who dominate the WCC. Hence, it's no surprise that the Orthodox would increasingly want to distance themselves from the WCC.

Protestantism isn't the enemy; they (especially the more conservative / evangelical ones) are our brothers in Christ. In addition to our shared faith, we also share causes. We both share a passionate drive to end legalized abortion as well as other forms of immorality. And we each need as many allies as we can get in these battles.

Protestants have a lot to learn from us (the sacraments / mysteries, the Tradition, true mysticism, liturgy, apostolicity, etc.).

But, in my opinion, we have some things to learn from them:
--treating Scripture as the living Word of the living God,
--having a personal conversion experience with Jesus,
--eagerly desiring to evangelize, and
--most notably, their churches are actually growing . . . while ours are usually shrinking or holding steady in numbers.

-- John