Old Habits Die Hard or Not at All
Many sincere, and others perhaps not so sincere, Orthodox theologians are convinced that the theological dialogue has brought about major changes within Roman Catholicism.
This article reveals just how wrong they are in at least one area: how far Roman Catholics and Protestants have fallen from the Orthodox Christian understanding surrounding Holy Communion. Especially noteworthy are the comments of the R.C. priest at the end of the article. They continue their old erroneous practices and ideas unabated, in spite of supposed “ecumenical gains.”
“Corporate Union” in the “Faith of our Fathers”?
The article took its title from the words of the Patriarch of Constantinople: “No Insurmountable Obstacles” to Catholic, Orthodox Unity. However, of greater interest for the faithful is what Cardinal Kasper had to say:
“What unites us is much more than a human bond; it is a communion in the faith that John Chrysostom and Gregory Nazianzen confessed and courageously proclaimed.”
To be united in faith with Sts. John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian the Papacy is going to have to do a lot more than make a show of handing back their relics. They are also going to have to repent of their heretical beliefs, of which the great Fathers had no part. The Three Hierarchs were not papalists! To begin with they certainly held no man up as infallible! They would have sooner been martyred than accept the dreadful innovations of the Papacy.
In any case, we are assured that progress is being made and that this time around will not be a replay of Uniatism. The Holy See assures us that they acknowledge that “ecumenical progress should come through corporate reunion with the Orthodox churches [not Church – ed.] rather than the recognition of new Eastern-rite Catholic communities.”
Let’s read that again: “rather than the recognition of new Eastern-rite Catholic communities.” If the Papacy was truly thinking in terms of pre-schism ecclesiology the above reference to the method of Uniatism would have been impossible. An honest shepherd doesn’t need to give assurances that he’s not interested in acquiring his brothers’ sheep (c.f. Jn. 10:10-14). This well illustrates that they view the Orthodox as potential new “Eastern-Rite Catholics.” It makes little difference if they use the jargon of old, pre-Vatican II imperialists or new, corporate tycoons, the goal is the same: takeover. The Papacy has only changed their methods – honey instead of a stick - but not their aim – the absorption of the Orthodox as “Eastern-Rite” Uniates.
In any case, even more obvious than the intentions of the Papacy are the delusions of the Orthodox ecumenists. Even a so-called “corporate reunion” doesn’t leave room for a retraction of such heretical views as the filioque or papal infallibility and supremacy, not to mention all of the delusions accepted or reaffirmed only in the past century, such as the “catholic charismatic” movement, the veneration of the “immaculate heart” of Jesus, stigmata (mystical or otherwise), indulgences (this is the “year of the Eucharist indulgence”
, etc. Is it possible that our Orthodox ecumenists have resigned themselves to accept the Papacy as is, heresy and all, but just “quarantined” within the “Western Patriarchate”?
Let the Orthodox be aware: nothing has changed except the methodology. It is the same old papacy: it has always been and is now about being first and on top, and everything and anything is “on the table” in order to achieve this.
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