Roman Catholic view of Orthodox Church

[Irish Hermit]

[Why would God make it so difficult for a person who is concerned about his eternal salvation and who is concerned about receiving valid, efficacious and true Sacraments from his Church? Is it reasonable to suppose that God would set it up  like this so that it is impossible to determine which Church has the true Sacraments ?

When two of our new immigrant children, Lebanese boys, were taken by their parents to be enrolled at one of the Catholic parochial schools, the parish priest (who has to approve non-Catholic enrolments) refused to allow their enrolment even thought they had baptismal certificates from Lebanon.  Before he would allow them to enroll at school he re-baptized them.

These boys now have a full immersion Orthodox baptism and a Catholic baptism by sprinkling.

Seems to me that Catholics get a bit fluffy minded about who has and who does not have true Sacraments.

 

[stanley123]

[Why would God make it so difficult for a person who is concerned about his eternal salvation and who is concerned about receiving valid, efficacious and true Sacraments from his Church? Is it reasonable to suppose that God would set it up  like this so that it is impossible to determine which Church has the true Sacraments ?

When two of our new immigrant children, Lebanese boys, were taken by their parents to be enrolled at one of the Catholic parochial schools, the parish priest (who has to approve non-Catholic enrolments) refused to allow their enrolment even thought they had baptismal certificates from Lebanon.   Before he would allow them to enroll at school he re-baptized them.

These boys now have a full immersion Orthodox baptism and a Catholic baptism by sprinkling.

Seems to me that Catholics get a bit fluffy minded about who has and who does not have true Sacraments.

As you have described it this is not right of course.

But it does raise a few questions:
1. Why would an Eastern Orthodox want to go to a Catholic school? I thought that all of the Catholic Sacraments were invalid anyway, and Catholics are heretics. So why endanger the eternal salvation of an Eastern Orthodox by sending him to a school run by heretics?
2. As I know it to be,  non-Catholics are admitted freely into Catholic schools. In fact I know of a case where a Jewish student, enrolled in Catholic schools, went on to become a rabbi. There was no question of his having to convert to Roman Catholicism. However, there is a catch here. And that is that Catholics students pay a lower tuition rate than do non-Catholics. The  reason for this is that Catholic students are subsidized by the Church, since they are already making weekly contributions to the RCC. 
3. Anyway, I know in our local area, of several  Orthodox families whose children  were allowed to attend Catholic elementary schools with no problem at all, except that they were asked to pay the non-Catholic rate of tuition.

 

[Irish Hermit]

1. Why would an Eastern Orthodox want to go to a Catholic school?

Catholic schools are perceived as having a better quality of education and of fostering good morality.  This was most certainly true when I was there in the 1950s but not so true these days, the surrounding culture of permissiveness has penetrated.

2. As I know it to be,  non-Catholics are admitted freely into Catholic schools.

In New Zealand the Catholic School system was extremely well developed, parallel to the state system.  There seemed to be a surfeit of nuns willing to enter the teaching orders and educate young Catholics.  But in the 1950s and 1960s it became impossible for the Catholic Church to maintain the system financially any longer.  The burden was too great.  It received NO financial assistance from the Government and depended on Catholic parents and school fees.

To continue operating Catholics reluctantly accepted integration into the State system (1975, IIRC.)  Their expenses were taken over by the State but they were allowed to retain the Catholic character of their schools.  But the Government insisted that they also had to accept a certain percentage of non-Catholic students.    In the cities where the majority of Orthodox live, the Catholic schools were quite happy to make up this mandatory percentage of non-Catholics with Orthodox students.

 

[stanley123]

1. Why would an Eastern Orthodox want to go to a Catholic school?

Catholic schools are perceived as having a better quality of education and of fostering good morality.  This was most certainly true when I was there in the 1950s but not so true these days, the surrounding culture of permissiveness has penetrated.

2. As I know it to be,  non-Catholics are admitted freely into Catholic schools.

In New Zealand the Catholic School system was extremely well developed, parallel to the state system.  There seemed to be a surfeit of nuns willing to enter the teaching orders and educate young Catholics.  But in the 1950s and 1960s it became impossible for the Catholic Church to maintain the system financially any longer.  The burden was too great.  It received NO financial assistance from the Government and depended on Catholic parents and school fees.

To continue operating Catholics reluctantly accepted integration into the State system (1975, IIRC.)  Their expenses were taken over by the State but they were allowed to retain the Catholic character of their schools.  But the Government insisted that they also had to accept a certain percentage of non-Catholic students.    In the cities where the majority of Orthodox live, the Catholic schools were quite happy to make up this mandatory percentage of non-Catholics with Orthodox students.

I don’t see how the Catholic schools can foster good morality if they are run by heretics and if all of their Sacraments are invalid and inefficacious.  Why wouldn’t it be detrimental to the eternal salvation of an Eastern Orthodox Christian to attend a school run by heretics? There is a proximate danger that he might become infected with the dangerous heresy of Romanism and partake of invalid and inefficacious Sacraments and thereby place his eternal salvation in serious jeapordy?
Also,  does not God want each one of us to be able to partake of valid, true and efficacious Sacraments. Now we see that a poster here effectively indicates that it is impossible to determine which Church has the valid, true, and efficacious Sacraments. Why would God want to set it up in such a way as to make it impossible for the average person to determine which of the churches, EO or OO is the true Church of Christ, with the true Sacraments?

 

[Irish Hermit]

I don’t see how the Catholic schools can foster good morality if they are run by heretics

Hold on to your hat, Stan.  Some Orthodox parents realise that the standards in Roman Catholic schools have slipped over the last few decades and I can think of three families who are sending their children to the Jewish school.  Two families have opted for Montesorri.

 

[Irish Hermit]

There is a proximate danger that he might become infected with the dangerous heresy of Romanism

To be quite honest, the danger could be that the student will pick up on the prevailing cynical approach to religion by some of the teachers.

and partake of invalid and inefficacious Sacraments

Unlikely.  The Catholic bishops have published a small booklet for the guidance of Catholic schools which have Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox pupils.  In the case of the latter it is forbidden to administer Catholic sacraments to them.  When one school started to disregard this instruction and give commnion to Orthodox students, the Greek bishop visited the Cardinal and the practice was stopped by written directive of the Cardinal.

 

[WetCatechumen]

^No, it's the EO, of course! ;D

One says the OO is the true Church of Christ, the other says the EO. Is there a simple proof which shows that it is one and not the other?
One OO poster says that Sacraments outside of the OO Church are not efficacious. An EO poster says that Baptism and other Sacraments outside of the EO Church are not valid and Baptism has to be repeated. This is getting to be confusing.

"Although all heretics wish to be styled Catholic, yet if any one ask where is the Catholic place of worship none of them would venture to point out his own conventicle." - St. Augustine of Hippo

;D

It depends on what they mean by "Catholic". If they mean the standard watered down meaning of it being equivalent to Romanist, I would point out the nearest Romanist church. If they really meant "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic", however, I would most certainly point them to the nearest OO church. So that quotes not applicable.

So, you're admitting that my church is the one called Catholic by most everyone, even though she's not Catholic.

 

[LBK]

I don’t see how the Catholic schools can foster good morality if they are run by heretics and if all of their Sacraments are invalid and inefficacious.  Why wouldn’t it be detrimental to the eternal salvation of an Eastern Orthodox Christian to attend a school run by heretics? There is a proximate danger that he might become infected with the dangerous heresy of Romanism and partake of invalid and inefficacious Sacraments and thereby place his eternal salvation in serious jeapordy?
Also,  does not God want each one of us to be able to partake of valid, true and efficacious Sacraments. Now we see that a poster here effectively indicates that it is impossible to determine which Church has the valid, true, and efficacious Sacraments. Why would God want to set it up in such a way as to make it impossible for the average person to determine which of the churches, EO or OO is the true Church of Christ, with the true Sacraments?

My dear stanley123, where I live, for close to 40 years, schools which are nominally denominational (RC, Lutheran, Anglican) have, at the very least, not insisted that their students not of that denomination attend chapel, or receive religious instruction. Most have, in fact, completely respected the religious background of their students who are not of the religious tradition of the school, and won't push their denomination's beliefs and doctrines on the students not of the same faith.

The most common reason for folks to wish to enrol their children in religious schools is that, in many cases, there is a perception, rightly or wrongly, that such schools are more likely to have higher academic standards, better teachers, a more diligent approach to proper behavioral standards for students, compared to the local state-funded school.

Let's not forget that nominally Orthodox schools which cover all school grades are still somewhat thin on the ground.

 

[GregoryLA]

^No, it's the EO, of course! ;D

One says the OO is the true Church of Christ, the other says the EO. Is there a simple proof which shows that it is one and not the other?
One OO poster says that Sacraments outside of the OO Church are not efficacious. An EO poster says that Baptism and other Sacraments outside of the EO Church are not valid and Baptism has to be repeated. This is getting to be confusing.

"Although all heretics wish to be styled Catholic, yet if any one ask where is the Catholic place of worship none of them would venture to point out his own conventicle." - St. Augustine of Hippo

;D

It depends on what they mean by "Catholic". If they mean the standard watered down meaning of it being equivalent to Romanist, I would point out the nearest Romanist church. If they really meant "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic", however, I would most certainly point them to the nearest OO church. So that quotes not applicable.

So, you're admitting that my church is the one called Catholic by most everyone, even though she's not Catholic.

This isn't something shared by all languages.

 

[Melodist]

So, you're admitting that my church is the one called Catholic by most everyone, even though she's not Catholic.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

 

[88Devin12]

So, you're admitting that my church is the one called Catholic by most everyone, even though she's not Catholic.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

 

[Irish Hermit]

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Yes, exactly.

The Russian theologian Khomiakov has a small explanation of the meaning of the word "catholic" (from Greek kata holou - according to the whole.) 

He divides Christianity into three strands...


1. Catholic - kata holou - according to the whole - Orthodoxy

2. Kata-monou - according to one man - the Pope

3. Kata-ekastou - according to every individual - Protestantism (kind of an omni-papism, every man in the role of his own Pope.)


"The Apostolic Church is not the Church kath'hekastou (according to the understanding of each individual) as the Protestants teach,

"It is not the Church kata tou episkopou tes Romes (according to the understanding of the bishop of Rome) as the Latins preach;

"Orthodoxy is the Apostolic Church.  She is the Church kath'holou (according to the understanding of all within her unity), the Church as it was before the Western schism and as it is now for all whom the Lord has preserved from schism..."

 

[stanley123]

I don’t see how the Catholic schools can foster good morality if they are run by heretics and if all of their Sacraments are invalid and inefficacious.  Why wouldn’t it be detrimental to the eternal salvation of an Eastern Orthodox Christian to attend a school run by heretics? There is a proximate danger that he might become infected with the dangerous heresy of Romanism and partake of invalid and inefficacious Sacraments and thereby place his eternal salvation in serious jeapordy?
Also,  does not God want each one of us to be able to partake of valid, true and efficacious Sacraments. Now we see that a poster here effectively indicates that it is impossible to determine which Church has the valid, true, and efficacious Sacraments. Why would God want to set it up in such a way as to make it impossible for the average person to determine which of the churches, EO or OO is the true Church of Christ, with the true Sacraments?

My dear stanley123, where I live, for close to 40 years, schools which are nominally denominational (RC, Lutheran, Anglican) have, at the very least, not insisted that their students not of that denomination attend chapel, or receive religious instruction. Most have, in fact, completely respected the religious background of their students who are not of the religious tradition of the school, and won't push their denomination's beliefs and doctrines on the students not of the same faith.

The most common reason for folks to wish to enrol their children in religious schools is that, in many cases, there is a perception, rightly or wrongly, that such schools are more likely to have higher academic standards, better teachers, a more diligent approach to proper behavioral standards for students, compared to the local state-funded school.

Let's not forget that nominally Orthodox schools which cover all school grades are still somewhat thin on the ground.

It looks like some of the good Eastern Orthodox Christian people here might be taking a step toward embracing the philosophy of ecumenism by sending their children to heretical Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican schools.

 

[LBK]

It looks like some of the good Eastern Orthodox Christian people here might be taking a step toward embracing the philosophy of ecumenism by sending their children to heretical Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican schools.

stanley123, it seems you haven't bothered to read my post. The religious schools I referred to have a policy of not pushing their faith on their students not of their faith. What is taught in the classroom is overwhelmingly academic, with any religious component taught as separate subjects or modules, if, indeed, religion is taught at all. And, as I said before, there is no compulsory requirement of attendance of chapel in those schools which have a chapel on campus. If anything, the students not of the school's denomination are asked to check with their parents first if they approve of their child attending chapel.

While I was educated at State-funded schools, I have family members and close friends, who either teach at denominational schools (including Roman Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian), or who were schooled in them. In none of their cases was their Orthodox faith compromised in any way, either as students or as teachers. All have maintained their ties with their Orthodox parishes, whether as common parishioners, or as church singers, readers, etc; those who have children have, without exception, baptised them Orthodox.

If family and church life is strong, then there is nothing to fear from sending Orthodox children to a denominational school. May I ask, Stanley, how much religion is taught at denominational schools, particularly Roman Catholic, where you are these days?

 

[stanley123]

It looks like some of the good Eastern Orthodox Christian people here might be taking a step toward embracing the philosophy of ecumenism by sending their children to heretical Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican schools.

stanley123, it seems you haven't bothered to read my post. The religious schools I referred to have a policy of not pushing their faith on their students not of their faith. What is taught in the classroom is overwhelmingly academic, with any religious component taught as separate subjects or modules, if, indeed, religion is taught at all. And, as I said before, there is no compulsory requirement of attendance of chapel in those schools which have a chapel on campus. If anything, the students not of the school's denomination are asked to check with their parents first if they approve of their child attending chapel.

While I was educated at State-funded schools, I have family members and close friends, who either teach at denominational schools (including Roman Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian), or who were schooled in them. In none of their cases was their Orthodox faith compromised in any way, either as students or as teachers. All have maintained their ties with their Orthodox parishes, whether as common parishioners, or as church singers, readers, etc; those who have children have, without exception, baptised them Orthodox.

If family and church life is strong, then there is nothing to fear from sending Orthodox children to a denominational school. May I ask, Stanley, how much religion is taught at denominational schools, particularly Roman Catholic, where you are these days?

If you send your children to Catholic schools, even though you may request and subsequently obtain permission to be absent from religion classes, nevertheless, there is still a certain amount of Catholic teaching and training which is unavoidable. For example, in the schools in our area, before each and every class, a Catholic prayer is said. Now as an Orthodox you would have to at least be present when these Catholic prayers are said, and as they are said before each and every class, and every day, you would gradually become accustomed to praying the Hail Mary in the Catholic form. I spoke to a Buddhist professor here, who went to Catholic schools in Hong Kong and he says that he still says the Hail Mary, even though he is not Catholic. And then there are the Catholic statues and crucifixes in each classroom. . The Roman crucifix is three dimensional and not an icon. Further there are the many statues of the Mother of God with the rosary in her hands and the expression: "I am the Immaculate Copnception." Oftentimes when Catholic students are praying the Hail Mary, they will turn to the Blessed Statue of Mary, the Mother of God. So there is the temptation to pray with the heretical Romans, as everyone else in the class is joining in at the beginning of the class. Of course, I personally don't see a problem with an Orthodox Christian doing this, but from what I have read on this board, many Orthodox believe that it is seriously and gravely wrong to pray with heretics.
This is why, I would say that it looks to me like many of the Orthodox Christians here might be seen as taking a step in the direction of the ecumenical movement, when they are sending their children to Catholic schools. BTW, if I were in an Orthodox country, such as Russia for example, and I had children to enroll in the schools there, I would not hesitate to have my children enrolled in the Orthodox religion classes in Russia. And I don't have any problem with praying with Orthodox Christians or attending their services in a respectful manner. I only mention this, because from what I read here, the feeling is not reciprocal.

 

[LBK]

Like I said, if the child's family and church life is strong, then any non-Orthodox influences on the children would be quickly dealt with. Sending an Orthodox child to a non-Orthodox school has nothing to do with ecumenism, and everything to do with a perceived/actual higher academic and disciplinary standard. One small example: Of the Orthodox children I know (many of whom are now adults and parents) who attended denominational schools, how many cross themselves left-to-right? NONE.

 

[stanley123]

Like I said, if the child's family and church life is strong, then any non-Orthodox influences on the children would be quickly dealt with. Sending an Orthodox child to a non-Orthodox school has nothing to do with ecumenism, and everything to do with a perceived/actual higher academic and disciplinary standard. One small example: Of the Orthodox children I know (many of whom are now adults and parents) who attended denominational schools, how many cross themselves left-to-right? NONE.

It is noteworthy that anti-ecumenical Orthodox Christians would rely on heretics in a Roman Catholic school to teach their children.

 

[Irish Hermit]

Like I said, if the child's family and church life is strong, then any non-Orthodox influences on the children would be quickly dealt with. Sending an Orthodox child to a non-Orthodox school has nothing to do with ecumenism, and everything to do with a perceived/actual higher academic and disciplinary standard. One small example: Of the Orthodox children I know (many of whom are now adults and parents) who attended denominational schools, how many cross themselves left-to-right? NONE.

It is noteworthy that anti-ecumenical Orthodox Christians would rely on heretics in a Roman Catholic school to teach their children.

He's got a point, LBK.  I remember how Greek parents became distressed when their daughter refused to join in prayers to the Mother of God, because she had been told at Catholic school that is not the proper way to pray! 

 

[LBK]

Like I said, if the child's family and church life is strong, then any non-Orthodox influences on the children would be quickly dealt with. Sending an Orthodox child to a non-Orthodox school has nothing to do with ecumenism, and everything to do with a perceived/actual higher academic and disciplinary standard. One small example: Of the Orthodox children I know (many of whom are now adults and parents) who attended denominational schools, how many cross themselves left-to-right? NONE.

It is noteworthy that anti-ecumenical Orthodox Christians would rely on heretics in a Roman Catholic school to teach their children.

He's got a point, LBK.  I remember how Greek parents became distressed when their daughter refused to join in prayers to the Mother of God, because she had been told at Catholic school that is not the proper way to pray! 

What I have written is from my own life experience, and I'm happy to stand by what I've written. None of the Orthodox friends and family who have attended RC, Anglican or Presbyterian schools (because these schools had a good academic reputation, compared with the local State school) has had their Orthodox faith compromised through attending such schools.

I remember how Greek parents became distressed when their daughter refused to join in prayers to the Mother of God, because she had been told at Catholic school that is not the proper way to pray! 

This is indeed sad. However, if the parents, priest(s) and Sunday school teachers are diligent, then this girl, and others like her, would soon be put to right.

 

[WetCatechumen]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.

Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

 

[Orthodoc]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

 

[Papist]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

 

[88Devin12]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.

Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

I wasn't aware it was supposed to be a joke.  ???

 

[stanley123]

Like I said, if the child's family and church life is strong, then any non-Orthodox influences on the children would be quickly dealt with. Sending an Orthodox child to a non-Orthodox school has nothing to do with ecumenism, and everything to do with a perceived/actual higher academic and disciplinary standard. One small example: Of the Orthodox children I know (many of whom are now adults and parents) who attended denominational schools, how many cross themselves left-to-right? NONE.

It is noteworthy that anti-ecumenical Orthodox Christians would rely on heretics in a Roman Catholic school to teach their children.

He's got a point, LBK.  I remember how Greek parents became distressed when their daughter refused to join in prayers to the Mother of God, because she had been told at Catholic school that is not the proper way to pray!   

Unfortunately, some Roman Catholics are out of touch when it comes to Orthodox and even Eastern Catholics. At a local Church here, the R. Catholic priest invited a local  Orthodox priest to come and say a few words either in the Church or in the Church hall. However, he politely declined to do so. But at least after that, a Byzantine Catholic priest was invited and he said an Eastern Divine Liturgy for the Roman Catholics there. 

 

[elijahmaria]

Not from the Orthodox point of view.  For us, there are some things that are just plain wrong.  The whole Scholastic way of thinking about God, for example.  Sorry, but that is the way it is.  You are not obliged to like it.  And yes, I do believe that it is quite possible to be "Western" without incorporating a scholastic way of looking at God and the universe into one's consciousness.

What is wrong with the Thomist view of God?

Better to leave it as "scholastic"  It is more accurate in this context and does not necessarily have anything to do with the teachings of St. Thomas....There are few modern Thomists who illuminate St. Thomas.  Most self-professed Thomists follow down one scholastic trail or another trying to "improve" on what continues to be the unadulterated and classical position of the Angelic Doctor.  Some of the trails are simply in error.  Some of them follow errors that were interjected in Cardinal Cajetan, for example, that were never explicitly corrected in the 20th century.  But nobody is giving up their position to settle for the idea that their major premises or unspoken premises are in error, so you have scholastic error piled upon scholastic error and incorporated into all kinds of texts and sub-texts.

We are blessed that the Church carries on is spite of these ruminations.

Heaven help you if you simply say "That line of thought is in error."...

M.

 

[Orthodoc]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

One has to wonder why after centuries of usage the term ROMAN Catholic has become such no no for some RC's!  We Orthodox defend our Catholicity because the Church of Rome uses the term Catholic to revise history.  I've even read where claims are made that the land of Rus accepted Christianity from the Roman Catholics in 988 because it was 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church in 1054!  We never left the Catholic Church.  We are the original Catholic Church mentioned in the Creed.  We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  If ya all want to call yourselves Catholic go right ahead but be ready for a challenge when you proclaim excluse rights to the word but not identifying just what type of Catholic you are.

Orthodoc

 

[FormerReformer]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

But, to build on Orthodoc's analogy, the official name of the Mormon church starts with "Church of Jesus Christ" (of Latterday Saints).  Having the word in your name doesn't make it so.

 

[WetCatechumen]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.

Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

I wasn't aware it was supposed to be a joke.  ???

I know that I am not well known in this forum, but I would have that no one would believe that I would actually try to defend the Catholicity of my faith based upon what it is commonly called. Also, I thought I put the ;D smiley after I quoted St. Augustine.

 

[stanley123]

 We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  

Yes. the extent and number of changes in the Orthodox Churches is relatively miniscule, when compared with those which have taken place in the Roman Catholic Church over the past 60 years. But still, it
looks to me like a few things have been modified in your Churches:
1. The calendar issue.
2. Women wearing headcovering in Church.
3. The question of artificial birth control.
4. The use of the organ in Church services.
5. The slavery question.
6. And of course, there is the question whether the Latin Sacraments are valid. Before 1054, they were. This teaching has since been changed.

 

[stanley123]

But, to build on Orthodoc's analogy, the official name of the Mormon church starts with "Church of Jesus Christ" (of Latterday Saints).  Having the word in your name doesn't make it so.

Is it a bit silly to debate about the name of a particular Church?
For example, there is the *first* Baptist Church. Is it right to call it the *first* since the Orthodox Church was baptising before the Protestant Baptist Church came into existence? So, when someone asks for directions to the First Baptist Church, shall we say, well these are the directions, but actually, this is the Second Baptist Chruch because my Church baptised before your Church did?  And by the way, since your baptism is invalid, the correct name should be the Invalid Baptist Church?

 

[WetCatechumen]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

I would be very confused, because I call my parish an orthodox Catholic Church because we believe what the Church teaches. However, the title of this forum is very telling. "Orthodox-Catholic Discussion".

I understand that there are Eastern Christians who are very insistent that the Romanist Church not be called the Catholic Church. This is a minority in my experience.

 

[Papist]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

One has to wonder why after centuries of usage the term ROMAN Catholic has become such no no for some RC's!  We Orthodox defend our Catholicity because the Church of Rome uses the term Catholic to revise history.  I've even read where claims are made that the land of Rus accepted Christianity from the Roman Catholics in 988 because it was 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church in 1054!  We never left the Catholic Church.  We are the original Catholic Church mentioned in the Creed.  We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  If ya all want to call yourselves Catholic go right ahead but be ready for a challenge when you proclaim excluse rights to the word but not identifying just what type of Catholic you are.

Orthodoc

Yes. Yes. We are all aware of your views on the matter and I have no problem with people using the word "Roman" to describe the particular sui juri Church to which I belong. But just so you know,
"Catholic" is part of our name or is our name and we are not going to change it.

 

[Schultz]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

One has to wonder why after centuries of usage the term ROMAN Catholic has become such no no for some RC's!  We Orthodox defend our Catholicity because the Church of Rome uses the term Catholic to revise history.  I've even read where claims are made that the land of Rus accepted Christianity from the Roman Catholics in 988 because it was 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church in 1054!  We never left the Catholic Church.  We are the original Catholic Church mentioned in the Creed.  We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  If ya all want to call yourselves Catholic go right ahead but be ready for a challenge when you proclaim excluse rights to the word but not identifying just what type of Catholic you are.

Orthodoc

Actually, the term ROMAN Catholic was originally used as a perjorative in the English-speaking lands.  While certainly polemical in nature, the old Catholic Encyclopedia article on Roman Catholic gives a good over-view of its use among Anglophones.

 

[Orthodoc]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

One has to wonder why after centuries of usage the term ROMAN Catholic has become such no no for some RC's!  We Orthodox defend our Catholicity because the Church of Rome uses the term Catholic to revise history.  I've even read where claims are made that the land of Rus accepted Christianity from the Roman Catholics in 988 because it was 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church in 1054!  We never left the Catholic Church.  We are the original Catholic Church mentioned in the Creed.  We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  If ya all want to call yourselves Catholic go right ahead but be ready for a challenge when you proclaim excluse rights to the word but not identifying just what type of Catholic you are.

Orthodoc

Yes. Yes. We are all aware of your views on the matter and I have no problem with people using the word "Roman" to describe the particular sui juri Church to which I belong. But just so you know,
"Catholic" is part of our name or is our name and we are not going to change it.

And no one here is asking you to.  We are just asking you to further define just what type of Catholic you are. And defending our tight to define ourselves as Catholic to keep your church from revising church history.  I thought I've already have made that quite clear.

Orthodoc

 

[Papist]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

One has to wonder why after centuries of usage the term ROMAN Catholic has become such no no for some RC's!  We Orthodox defend our Catholicity because the Church of Rome uses the term Catholic to revise history.  I've even read where claims are made that the land of Rus accepted Christianity from the Roman Catholics in 988 because it was 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church in 1054!  We never left the Catholic Church.  We are the original Catholic Church mentioned in the Creed.  We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  If ya all want to call yourselves Catholic go right ahead but be ready for a challenge when you proclaim excluse rights to the word but not identifying just what type of Catholic you are.

Orthodoc

Yes. Yes. We are all aware of your views on the matter and I have no problem with people using the word "Roman" to describe the particular sui juri Church to which I belong. But just so you know,
"Catholic" is part of our name or is our name and we are not going to change it.

And no one here is asking you to.  We are just asking you to further define just what type of Catholic you are. And defending our tight to define ourselves as Catholic to keep your church from revising church history.  I thought I've already have made that quite clear.

Orthodoc

And all I am asking is that you stop making false accusations of the revision of Church history. You know your abrasive approach doesn't draw anyone in. It pushes faithful Catholics away from Eastern Orthodoxy.

 

[Irish Hermit]

So, you're admitting that my church is the one called Catholic by most everyone, even though she's not Catholic.

What is interesting is that if you asked the man in the street for the Catholic Church he would point you to a Roman Catholic church.

But if you asked him for the Christian Church, then a Catholic church would be the last thing that would pop into his mind.

Why is it then that Catholics are not seen as Christian?


The thing with the modern term "Catholic" is that it is not seen in its ancient meaning  of "the true Church which holds the true Christian faith." 

It is now seen by your average Joe Blogs as the Church which worships the Virgin Mary, the Church which has horrible rules about contraception and horrible rules about getting remarried,  It is seen as a Church with a major problem with sexual abuse among its ministers.  These are the things which are in the mind of Joe Blogs when you ask him how to find the nearest Catholic Church.

 

[Irish Hermit]

Actually, the term ROMAN Catholic was originally used as a perjorative in the English-speaking lands.  While certainly polemical in nature, the old Catholic Encyclopedia article on Roman Catholic gives a good over-view of its use among Anglophones.

I think this has become a bit of a canard among some Roman Catholics.  If you search the term "Roman Catholic" in various languages, Italian, French, Spanish and even Russian, we find that they are proudly and voluntarily terming themselves Roman Catholics.

 

[Orthodoc]

This isn't something shared by all languages.

Most people outside of either EO or OO (they also claim to be "catholic" as stated in the creed) who do not consider those particular churches to be "orthodox" still refer to them as "Orthodox" churches, including Roman Catholics.

Not to mention, "catholic" literally means "according to the whole".

Precisely, there is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. For us Eastern Orthodox, it is the Orthodox Catholic Church.

We refer to the Roman Catholics as Catholic because that is the title known around the world. Not because we believe the Roman Church is the true Catholic Church.

You are all are positing that your church is in fact the Catholic Church, but, if I ran up to you and asked you where the nearest Catholic Church was, none of you would point me to your own church.
Also, I think you all are taking my joke a little seriously.

It's nice to know that you think you know us better than we know ourselves?  When that question is asked of me (and it has been) my response is always the same.... Do you mean Roman Catholic or Orthodox Catholic?  I'm always amazed when you RC's give the analogy about asking the average man or woman on the street where the nearest Catholic Church is and where they would direct you to.  Those of us who are Orthodox and know enough to defend the Catholicity of our faith, also know that our Catholic identity is not determined by the average person on the street but by the early church fathers and the ecumenical councils.  Ask those same people on the street if Mormons are Christians and they will most probably say yes.  That doesn't make it so.

Orthodoc

BUT, Catholic Church, is the name of our church. Even is some people don't like it.

One has to wonder why after centuries of usage the term ROMAN Catholic has become such no no for some RC's!  We Orthodox defend our Catholicity because the Church of Rome uses the term Catholic to revise history.  I've even read where claims are made that the land of Rus accepted Christianity from the Roman Catholics in 988 because it was 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church in 1054!  We never left the Catholic Church.  We are the original Catholic Church mentioned in the Creed.  We have not altered those teachings believed before the schism as Rome does.  If ya all want to call yourselves Catholic go right ahead but be ready for a challenge when you proclaim excluse rights to the word but not identifying just what type of Catholic you are.

Orthodoc

Yes. Yes. We are all aware of your views on the matter and I have no problem with people using the word "Roman" to describe the particular sui juri Church to which I belong. But just so you know,
"Catholic" is part of our name or is our name and we are not going to change it.

And no one here is asking you to.  We are just asking you to further define just what type of Catholic you are. And defending our tight to define ourselves as Catholic to keep your church from revising church history.  I thought I've already have made that quite clear.

Orthodoc

And all I am asking is that you stop making false accusations of the revision of Church history. You know your abrasive approach doesn't draw anyone in. It pushes faithful Catholics away from Eastern Orthodoxy.

What false accusations?  You mean teaching that Orthodoxy left the Catholic Church or that Russia/Ukraine accepted Christianity from Rome because it happened 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church?  These are just two of the many revisions made by the RCC.

As far as pushing faithful ROMAN Cathoilics away from Orthodoxy, I guess the truth always hurts.  It seems the RCC itself is doing a great job of pushing its own people away.  Two of the largest RC High Schools here  in Philly were just closed for lack of student enrollment.  Are we Orthodox Catholics to blame? 

In my parish I'm know as the 'Godfather' because I have sponsored 15 converts to Orthodoxy.  Out of those 15, 10 were former Roman Catholics so what you call my abrasive approach sure isn't pushing former RC's away from Orthodox Catholicity as you state.

Three blocks from my house is the nearest Roman Catholic Church.  It was built in 1958 and the cornerstone states 'St William's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'  And the sign states 'St William's.  A ROMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY'.  Fr Ambrose is right, for centuries the term Roman Catholic was acceptable.  All of a sudden after Vatican II it became a no no. 

Orthodoc

 

[Papist]

What false accusations?  You mean teaching that Orthodoxy left the Catholic Church or that Russia/Ukraine accepted Christianity from Rome because it happened 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church?  These are just two of the many revisions made by the RCC.

You did leave the Catholic Church.

As far as pushing faithful ROMAN Catholics away from Orthodoxy, I guess the truth always hurts.  It seems the RCC itself is doing a great job of pushing its own people away.  Two of the largest RC High Schools here  in Philly were just closed for lack of student enrollment.  Are we Orthodox Catholics to blame? 

I'm not really sure what this has to do with anything? Are you just throwing stuff in there?

In my parish I'm know as the 'Godfather' because I have sponsored 15 converts to Orthodoxy.  Out of those 15, 10 were former Roman Catholics so what you call my abrasive approach sure isn't pushing former RC's away from Orthodox Catholicity as you state.

First, I said, faithful Catholics. Any faithful Catholic who really knew his faith would not leave the Catholic Church. Second, does your status as the 'Godfather' give you the right to be abrasive? Look, I am glad that you are proud of your faith, but there is no reason for you to be in attack mode on every single post regarding the Catholic Church.

Three blocks from my house is the nearest Roman Catholic Church.  It was built in 1958 and the cornerstone states 'St William's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'  And the sign states 'St William's.  A ROMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY'.  Fr Ambrose is right, for centuries the term Roman Catholic was acceptable.  All of a sudden after Vatican II it became a no no. 

Orthodoc

1. I never said I had a problem with calling my sui juri Church "Roman Catholic".
2. If you look at the link that Shultz provided, it describes the history of the term and how it was considered offensive at one time but was only adopted out of courtesy to those not in the Catholic Church so that communication between the two groups could be simplified.
3. After Vatican II, many Catholics wanted to return to the use of the Church's proper name.
4. Finally, my issue is not really with those who call us "Roman Catholics" even though that is not the proper title of my Church. My problem is with those who refer to my Church as "The Vatican" or the "Papal Church" or those who call Catholics "Romanists" or the like. It's rude and not befitting civil discourse.

 

[elijahmaria]

What false accusations?  You mean teaching that Orthodoxy left the Catholic Church or that Russia/Ukraine accepted Christianity from Rome because it happened 66 years before the Orthodox left the Catholic Church?  These are just two of the many revisions made by the RCC.

You did leave the Catholic Church.

As far as pushing faithful ROMAN Catholics away from Orthodoxy, I guess the truth always hurts.  It seems the RCC itself is doing a great job of pushing its own people away.  Two of the largest RC High Schools here  in Philly were just closed for lack of student enrollment.  Are we Orthodox Catholics to blame? 

I'm not really sure what this has to do with anything? Are you just throwing stuff in there?

In my parish I'm know as the 'Godfather' because I have sponsored 15 converts to Orthodoxy.  Out of those 15, 10 were former Roman Catholics so what you call my abrasive approach sure isn't pushing former RC's away from Orthodox Catholicity as you state.

First, I said, faithful Catholics. Any faithful Catholic who really knew his faith would not leave the Catholic Church. Second, does your status as the 'Godfather' give you the right to be abrasive? Look, I am glad that you are proud of your faith, but there is no reason for you to be in attack mode on every single post regarding the Catholic Church.

Three blocks from my house is the nearest Roman Catholic Church.  It was built in 1958 and the cornerstone states 'St William's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'  And the sign states 'St William's.  A ROMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY'.  Fr Ambrose is right, for centuries the term Roman Catholic was acceptable.  All of a sudden after Vatican II it became a no no. 

Orthodoc

1. I never said I had a problem with calling my sui juri Church "Roman Catholic".
2. If you look at the link that Shultz provided, it describes the history of the term and how it was considered offensive at one time but was only adopted out of courtesy to those not in the Catholic Church so that communication between the two groups could be simplified.
3. After Vatican II, many Catholics wanted to return to the use of the Church's proper name.
4. Finally, my issue is not really with those who call us "Roman Catholics" even though that is not the proper title of my Church. My problem is with those who refer to my Church as "The Vatican" or the "Papal Church" or those who call Catholics "Romanists" or the like. It's rude and not befitting civil discourse.

I use papal Church all the time to distinguish between papal Catholics and Orthodox Catholics.  As an Eastern Catholic, and by using Roman Catholic to distinguish, I simply write my own Church out of the picture.  Now I am sure some would love to see that happen, I am not one of them.

M.