Another Evidence for the Corruptible and Fallible Church of Rome.

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Another Evidence for the Corruptible and Fallible Church of Rome.

Forum: Theological Expressions
Re:

Reconciliation, Towards Unity: JOINT STATEMENT BY POPE, ORTHODOX PRELATE (Matthew Tan Yew Hock)
Re:

PAPAL APOLOGY TO GREEK ORTHODOX (Matthew Tan Yew Hock)
Re:

"Enemy" Churches Praying Together: Pope and Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens (Matthew Tan Yew Hock)
Re:

Read What Christodoulos Says to John Paul II (Christopher Yip)
Re:

Ecumenical Impetus from Papal Apology (Matthew Tan Yew Hock)
Date: 2001, May 31
From: Christopher Yip CKHY

A reminder of Christodoulos' words: Your Holiness,
These reactions express not only explicit censure of the unacceptable acts of violence perpetrated against concerned Orthodox peoples, but also the demand of Orthodox conscience for a formal condemnation of injustices committed against them by the Christian West. This would facilitate the advancement of a spirit of constructive dialogue in our bilateral relations.
[Chris: note - bilateral relations, not ecumenism]
The Orthodox Greek people, more than other Orthodox peoples, senses more intensely in its religious consciousness and national memory the traumatic experiences, that remain as open wounds inflicted on its vigorous body, as is known to all, by the destructive mania of the Crusaders and the period of Latin rule, as well as by the unlawful proselytizing of the Latin Unia. Yet until now, there has not been heard even a single request for pardon.
[Chris: note - unlawful proselytizing of the Latin Unia]
Indeed, on many occasions in our history, our people bitterly noted that the powerful Church of Rome denied it during difficult moments; that, she frequently oppressed its ecclesial conscience; and that, she wronged it even with regard issues of its national concern....
[Chris: note - the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic" church that withstood time and tide "frequently oppressed its ecclesial conscience" - what sweet words!]
That which is important is that we await a courageous word to be uttered by Your lips, the word of a Christian Bishop that speaks to our heart. This word must set the foundation stone on which shall be built understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation.
[Chris: "understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation", not ecumenism and certainly not "return" to Rome, under Rome's jurisdiction, under that "universal jurisdiction". If Rome wants any reconciliation at all, it would never be on such grounds]
Surely Your bold word will not automatically resolve our dogmatic and ecclesiological differences.
[Chris: note that Rome's apology does NOTHING to further ecumenism, contrary to what anti-Protestant Mr Tan asserts. And to get this point across, I shall like to use anti-PRotestant Mr Tan's recent tactic of mindless repetition}
Surely Your bold word will not automatically resolve our dogmatic and ecclesiological differences.
Surely Your bold word will not automatically resolve our dogmatic and ecclesiological differences.
Surely Your bold word will not automatically resolve our dogmatic and ecclesiological differences.
Surely Your bold word will not automatically resolve our dogmatic and ecclesiological differences.
Surely Your bold word will not automatically resolve our dogmatic and ecclesiological differences.
[Chris: Is there any hope then?]
This shall be achieved with the grace of God through a sincere theological dialogue, which already has been taking place over the last two decades, albeit facing hurdles.
[Chris: Oops, did I just shoot myself in the foot?]
The dialogue in truth between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches must be based on the common Apostolic faith of the undivided Church of the seven Ecumenical Councils and on our Patristic Tradition. «We seek», together with our Holy Father St. Mark of Ephesus, «and we pray for our return to that time when, being united, we spoke the same things and there was no schism between us». (Acta Graecorum, p 53)
[Chris: Phew! Lucky me. So it is back to 7 ECs. Hmm, methinks the Eastern ORthodoxs can have more ecumenism with us than with the RC. Actually, I do wish that the RC and EOC would reach ecumenical unity. Why? Because if they do reach that, it would mean that Rome would have to give up Trent and Vatican I, II. Yippee!!!]
Your Holiness, representing the two thousand year historical course of Western Christendom, is well aware of the priceless contribution of the Greek Holy Fathers of the East to the formation of the spiritual legacy of the Christian world of the West, as for example Saints Athanasius the Great, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Irenaeus of Lugdunum, Maximus the Confessor. Without them the establishment of Western Tradition in its entirety would have been difficult, if not impossible. This can be readily seen in the declarations concerning the relations of the Roman Catholic with the Orthodox Church made by the Second Vatican Synod (1962-1965). Thus, Your Holiness in the recent encyclical «Ut unum sint» proposed that all differences that have disrupted the communio in sacris, be dealt with on the basis of the Patristic and the wider ecclesiastical Tradition of the first millennium.
[Chris: note that the East might have had their heresies but at least they were put to rest. Rome, on the other hand, has institutionalised and continue to perpetuate another Gospel.]
Your Holiness also is well aware that the Orthodox Church, having held firmly on to the common Tradition of the first millennium, lives and experiences the entire mystery of Divine Economy in Christ, in the Holy Eucharist par excellence, not simply as remembrance, but as continuous manifestation of the Holy Spirit, Who composes and sustains the entire institution of the Church. In it also is preserved the resounding voice of the Western Fathers, as for example of Saints Cyprian of Carthage, Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, Leo of Rome, Gregory Dialogus, Martin the Confessor Pope of Rome et al. Through their voice was strengthened the communion of faith in the bond of love.
[Chris: another unambiguous declaration of their orthodoxy]
The time has come for us to coordinate our efforts to assure that Europe remain a Christian land, away from the apparent tendency to transform her nations into atheist states (états laiques), denying their Christian identity. The time has come for us to work for a United Europe, that respects its minorities as well as the freedom of each of its peoples to retain its faith, its language, its culture and its tradition, in other words, its spiritual identity.
[Chris: wonderful if Rome can do that, then we would be left in peace! no more trying to make "separated brethren" "return" to "Mother Church"]
Having always before us His will, we shall work, neither to increase the influence of one Church at the expense of another, nor to reinforce our superiority on the basis of secular criteria, that are foreign to our spirituality, but in order to contain the insatiable appetite of injustice, to relieve the suffering of God⦣8364;™s children, to offer to man of the twenty first century the one Gospel of life, grace and freedom; to put forth the hope of faith to contemporary man who, while inundated by material goods and technological achievements, greatly suffers from the lack of hope, inner peace and certitude.
[Chris: note "neither to increase the influence of one Church at the expense of another" - in other words, butt out of other people's affairs, Rome.]
Christopher