I couldn't decide which to put first and really it depends on your view of the schism of 1054...or some where around that time. 

I've been thinking alot about this unification.  As a Byzantine Catholic, moving closer to accepting Orthodox Christianity, I have mixed feelings.  Of course my Catholic friends seem to know little about the differences in the 2 denominations and my Orthodox friends seem to be very much against it.

I really don't feel comfortable voicing my opinion to any group I belong to as someone might be offended, so I write it here, to get it off my mind so I may move on to more important mundane mom thoughts like "Did my 14 yr old wet the bed or was someone sleeping with her last night?"  "How old ARE the cheereos in the plastic container in the back of the cupboard and would it be ok to tell the children I just bought them?"

First, I like the Creed saying the Holy Spirit  proceeds from the Father and the Son.  I don't like how it GOT  in the Creed, but I believe it. I believe it should be there.  I believe there are many great truthes in the Roman Catholic Church.  I believe birth control is wrong.  I believe we should trust God when it comes to bearing children.  I personally, struggle with doing what I believe is right, but that doesn't change what IS right. 

I believe the Eastern Orthodox have  the proper view of Mary, the Theotokos. I know Catholics don't worship Mary, but somethings just don't seem "right". Eastern Church celebrates the Circumcision of Jesus on New Years Day, Roman Catholic celebrates Mary.  Immaculate Conception is hard for me to accept, Mary becoming Immaculate at the moment she said, "Yes" to God makes sense.  I can look to Mary as fully human yet the Christ Bearer when I pray the prayers within the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christian Chruches.  I had a hard time as a Roman Catholic though I wanted badly to have a relationship with Mary and to feel comfortable praying the prayers of the Roman Church.

I KNOW the bells and smells of the Eastern Churches are important, not to God but to man.  It brings us TOTALLY into worship of God. It brings to us some connection to Heaven here on Earth.  Chanting, in any language is truely praying twice!  Seeing my prayers rise to God as the incense rises to heaven gives me peace and confidence.  And some Catholic Churches have come back to these practices.

SO, how do I feel when there is talk of unity?  Scared.  Scared for ALL of us.  What if the "Big Guys" (I almost said the Big Hats, get it? LOL)  What if our Bishops get together and we unite and then they mesh together all the things *I* don't like?  What do I do then? 

Also, I know what the Holy Bishop, Pope of Rome has to work with, I AM Catholic!  We are strong willed.  Don't be messing with Mother Mary, calling her new things like Theotokos! Come into our Church and bring in fasts much stricter than we have had in a long time!  No way!

But then, so are the Orthodox strong willed!  You put the Holy Spirit to proceed from the Father and Son without our OK a thousand years ago!  You were always doing that,  bossy Catholics and we aren't going to let you get away with it !

So why, with all the Bishops of both Churches have to deal with, do they try to unite us?  Can they not leave well enough alone?  Can they not just say, I'm right, you are wrong lets just care for the sheep that come our way and not be bothered with one another?

What if our Bishops are working to unite because, in prayer, they feel God leading them?  Are they not our leaders, blessed and ordained from God? Does not God have the final say?  And those thoughts make me feel my arguements above are weak.  Weak in the sense that God IS in control.  The Holy Spirit was involved in their Ordinations.  They ARE human and make mistakes, but I do believe they WANT to do the will of God so God blesses and guides them.

And this next thought is the one that drives me crazy!  After the schism of 1054 we have the Crusades against the Muslims. I've always wondered why we Christians didn't win.  Why we don't have complete control over the Holy Land.  I think it is because we split.  Had there been a united Christian Church under the leadership of all the Bishops, I believe we would have been blessed and won the Crusades.  

And all that leads me to my next personal, and crazy thought:  If we unite the TWO Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Churches into ONE, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church there may come about peace in the Middle East.  The Muslim religion would fall and we would be closer to doing the Will of God.   

There I said it.  If we unite the jhad will end and there will be peace in the Middle East.  All we have to do is confess that we are wrong to be divided, to have ever divided.  We have to ask forgiveness of one another for ANY wrong commited and work toward unity.  Not for the Roman or Eastern Churches satisfaction, but because God is calling us to unite. He is a God who blesses forgiveness and repentence.  And as siblings we need to repent, do penance and forgive.

Ok, call me crazy and pray for me, but don't get mad at me.  I'm only human.  I'm sure someone with much more knowledge of all this will comment and clear up all the things I said wrong.  Let me say with all honesty, forgive me and thank you for your correction.

I am just pleased I have had the chance to get the thoughts off my chest. Now, off to bed as tomorrow is busy busy mom stuff!

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Posted by debdillon

and its always nice to get them off our chest. I dont' know that I totally agree -but thats okay... I appreciate your thoughts.

I'm not sure unity between Catholics and Orthodox would bring about Peace in the Middle East. There wasn't peace when we were united, I don't think it will happen if/when we are ever united again.

God bless.
Deb

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Posted by grelihm

Yes, there is a lot more to this history which makes it difficult to agree with you as an Orthodox Christian.

But I pray God's blessings and guidance upon you as you struggle with all these issues!

Take care.

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Posted by comomx3

Wow! You have many thoughts on this subject. I am not catholic-although I come from a long line of Roman Catholics.

My only 2 cents- is that the split between Jews/Christians and Muslims is older the Crusades and goes back to Essau. The only resolution to this split is Jesus coming to earth again- the end of the world as we know it. No matter how much we united back then or now- it will not help.
Just my thoughts.

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Posted by Anonymous

I am a Roman Catholic. I believe all Christian Churches should reunite under the one true Christian religion: Roman catholicism. Of course, the first church that would reunite with the Catholic Church is the Orthodox Church. The differences in these two churches are very minimal, and are non-dogmatic traditions. For instance, both Churches believe in God, Jesus as the savior, and the Holy Spirit. Thruthfully, though, the differences have kept us from reuniting. I pray for the reunity of all Christian Churches, including the mormons.

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Posted by Anonymous

Dear sister,
Like you, I'm a homeschooler. I doubt the Latin and Eastern Church will ever come together. You don't seem to understand the significance of their disagreements. There are many wonderful Catholics in the world, God bless them all. To avoid arguments between the churches, let us remain happily separate and respect each other, but have the freedom to believe as God has called us. If you try to force an administrative union, you'll generate a malicious civil war, because the two cultures do not and should not unite. Your dream of bringing them together, and that this would somehow cause peace in the Middle East (how? do we gang up on the moslems? no thank you) -- well, congratulations, with that concept you've cooked up an even bigger pipe dream than the administrative union of the Latin and Eastern Churches. We will never have the Grace of God imposed upon us from outside, whether through unification of churches or overthrow of "enemies." We must each fight our own personal, inner fight to receive the Grace of God, "for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you." Good luck in your fight, sister. I respect your choice to homeschool, this is a good arena to fight the fight of faith. Don't wait for huge external events, find the Grace of God in whatever way He is giving it to you in this moment.

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