And not by the VatII-speak "Seperated Brethered" drivel
From Catholic World News; (Emphasis mine.)
Smolensk, Jun. 24, 2008 (CWNews.com) - A leading Russian Orthodox prelate has said that the Catholic and Orthodox churches are natural allies in the public realm, notwithstanding their differences on theological issues.
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kalingrad said that the Holy See and the Moscow patriarchate stand side by side in defense of fundamental moral principles, particularly in Europe. He observed that the two largest Christian churches have “almost identical positions” on issues involving social and family morality and the defense of human rights.
The Orthodox prelate pointed out that there is no such agreement between the Orthodox and Protestant faiths. He cited the widespread acceptance of homosexuality as evidence of the “devastating liberalism of many Christian communities.”
He speaks the truth! I don't HAVE to explain to any type of Catholic why we celebrate the Eucharist, why we confess before a priest, why we pray to the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) and saints, why we venerate relics, why we have a calendar, why we have a priesthood, why we have an episcopate etc etc.
ReplyDeleteI also don't have to explain to Trad Caths why women can't be priests, why sodomy, usury and fornication are abominations, why we fast, why we don't eat or drink before communion, why we read the writings of the early Church Fathers, and why we resist any kind of change, adhere to Tradition and why "Spirit of V2" and all it spawned sucks!
You probably already know this stuff, but ...
ReplyDeleteSister Churches is a specific term relating only to those with valid apostolic succession and orders; hence it includes all the Orthodox, and excludes all protestants and the Anglicans; the appropriate term for these groups, not being true churches, is ecclesial communities.
Separated Brethern refers to baptized members of ecclesial communities; eccumenism refers to discussion between actual churches, rather than between churches and ecclesial communities.
Mark,
ReplyDeleteThe only correction I would have to make to your comment, is whatever the source is, they mistakenly differentiated between "Anglicans and Protestants".
As we both know, there is no difference.
Interesting. I learn a lot from your blog.
ReplyDeleteSorry if I was unclear; Protestants and Anglicans (who are protestants, after all) are members of ecclesial communities, neither are true churches. in spite of the Anglican desire to side with the Orthodox, lacking a valid episcopacy and holy orders, they fall square with the protestants, even if (for some of them, bless their souls) not as far from the tree.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we're on the same page.