tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post2305770485766698336..comments2023-04-27T05:31:50.020-06:00Comments on Is My Phylactery Showing?: Common Declaration by Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew IDeacon Bill Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11484509700642430451noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post-65684108593114361652006-12-01T09:24:00.000-07:002006-12-01T09:24:00.000-07:00I was going to go into the words of the early Chur...I was going to go into the words of the early Church fathers and the history of the developing situation, but that would be largely pointless and require way more time than I have to devote to the subject this morning. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for sure. I don't believe anything will be resolved if we 1) expect human beings to do the work without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and 2) insist on assigning blame rather than seek to do the will of God.<br /><br />That said, I've always had a problem with the idea that the schism is one in which the RC is solely at fault. I think Church history belies that point quite well if you look back at the minor schisms and heresies that led up to the Great Schism. The fault lies on both sides, and I think the damage can be seen on both sides. If you think of the Church as being a building, the East is the ground, the See of Peter is the foundation (the rock on which Christ built the Church). If you leave the area of the foundation, it makes no sense to talk about being in the building anymore. You can create a new building, and it will be solidly on the same ground as the Church, but it will be a different building. Likewise, moving the foundation from its original ground weakens the structure of the Church. We are both damaged by the schism and lessened by it. I think the lack of discipline in the Latin Rite is a prime example of this weakness. However, the Eastern Church has its own weaknesses. We can sit and point fingers, but it does no good, and <b>we</b> will only persist in not doing God's will.<br /><br />Whether the other churches will follow the actions of the Ecumenical Patriarch is a good question. Changing their hearts will not be done by historical or doctrinal arguments. Love is what converts hearts.Deacon Bill Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11484509700642430451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278999.post-4390696470143909002006-11-30T22:49:00.000-07:002006-11-30T22:49:00.000-07:00The joint decree is quite interesting. How do you ...The joint decree is quite interesting. How do you think the "orthodox" Orthodox will react to this possible future attempt at full reconciliation and combination as between equal pastors and their flocks? It is my limited understanding that the "orthodox" Orthodox view the RC/EO schism as being the RC's fault, of the Latin church separating itself from the trunk of the Eastern, African, Palestinian, Syrian, etc. churches (which remain THE true Church). And such schism is contrary to Jesus' desire that all be one as He is one with the Father, therefore the Latin church is in a state of separation at best, sin at worst. <br />Secondly, as the EO churches are national in character, with the patriarchs as equals among equals, how much ecclesiastical weight does Bartholomew hold with the numerous national EO churches?<br />--Gotthoffnung aka DavidTetelestaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03014095023992370621noreply@blogger.com