This is an interesting and very information article. I enjoyed it a lot but I think the comment that "Since Vatican II, however, Roman Catholic services are conducted in the native tongue. Only members of Opus Dei continue to consistently celebrate the Latin mass" is slightly misleading.

There are other organizations, such as SSPX, that still celebrate in Latin. Some Novus Ordo churches still hold Latin services for people who prefer it. In addition, many churches, such as the one I attend, celebrate a Latin mass independent of any organization whatsoever.

Does The Roman Catholic Church recognize the validity of the Euchurist in The Eastern Catholic Church and can a Roman Catholic take part in an Eastern Rite Mass?

Richard

no the catholic church separated from the orthodox church. catholics tampered with the original Nicene creed which orthodox churches still recite if you want to know the true church is orthodoxy because it practices the ways when the orthodox and catholic church were one. to prove it attend a catholic mass then attend an orthodox mass im sure you will find the orthodox mass more spiritual an orthodox mass goes for about 3 hrs. a catholic mass goes for 45 min

In answer to a question above:

Roman Catholic and Eastern Rite Catholics are both governed by the Pope of Rome. Thus, RC's and EC's can commune at each other's churches.

The RC/EC church recognizes the Eastern Orthodox Sacraments, including Confession, thus an Eastern Orthodox Christian can commune at an RC or EC church. But a RC or EC Christian cannot commune at an Eastern Orthodox Church because the EO church does not recognize the sacraments of the RC/EC church.

At one time it was all "one church". And then it separated into the "Western Church" and the "Eastern Church".

Now there is Western and Eastern Rite Catholics, and Eastern and Western Rite Orthodox.

It is true that it was the Western church that changed the Nicene creed, and because of that and the ensuing differences in how Peter's Office is interpreted that the Western Church and Eastern Churches separated.

Is it true that the Eastern Orthodox church allows 2 divorces and 3 marriages? I think East and West can find resolution to each of its differences, if I have heard the Eastern Orthodox side correctly, but if this divorce thing is true, this may be the most difficult, aside from the papacy issue. I recall Jesus saying, "What God has joined together, man cannot separate." How can the East claim to be so faithful to Jesus' teachings, yet so far off here? That sounds like many Protestant churches. Sorry Protestants. Or doesn't Matthew 5:32 say, "If a man divorces his wife, he can remarry and is allowed to divorce one more time and remarry and that's it. The 3 strike and you're out rule." NOT. Regarding the primacy of the pope, I heard that in Nov. of '07, when East and West met, the East did admit that the pope had primacy. I guess the East still doesn't see the pope as leader. It's fairly easy to defend the primacy and authority of the pope with Mt. 16:17-19 and other passages, quotes from Church Fathers, Old Testament passages and logic.

Then of course we would have to lengthen the liturgy a couple hours and then that will be proof. Aside from all that, it's a scandal and a sin that the church is divided, as the Church is Jesus. He called for unity 4 times in His high priestly prayer of John 17. When there is difference in doctrine (I see some of the differences between East and West more as semantics and not huge), the Holy Spirit who was promised to guide us into all truth cannot be saying one thing then another. I hope the leaders have the courage to rectify the schism, despite the fact that many of the laity will not want change. Those who truly love Jesus will be happy that His Body is being mended.

Hail Mary...

Some argue that it was the Pope and his desire for supreme power (a power no Pope before him ever claimed) who broke away from the other 4 ancient patriarchates and the vast majority of the rest of the Church. Truth be told, the Pope didn’t even have the authority to excommunicate the “rest” of the Church; only a great council (such as had been convened many times before) could decide if a group had fallen into error. The Orthodox Church does not believe in change, at least to its doctrines and traditions. The Roman Catholic Church goes through some changes with every Pope.

Dear My Orthodox Brothers and our Beloved Catholic Friends,

Although Christian Unity is important, the Orthodox Church must place truth above a false union with the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope is not the head of the whole Church, even if one did think that Our Lord calling Peter the rock meant that he was head of the Church, Peter was first Bishop in Antioch before he went to Rome. Is the Bishop of Antioch therefore head of the Church? Besides, the Ecumenical Councils (which the Catholic Church theoretically accepts) give the Ecumenical Patriarch like privileges to the Roman Pope (the Patriarch of Alexandria has also historically been called the Pope) and declared that the Pope is first among equals.

Even if the Pope was the successor of Peter, as we can see from the New Testament the Church Council holds the authority. For example, at the First Council of Jerusalem, Bishop James the Brother of the Lord (not birth brother obviously) presided over the council because it was in his diocese. Peter did not preside! Furthermore, the council rebuked Peter and his teaching about converts needing to be circumcised etc. Clearly the Pope is not the only Bishop who lays claim to an Apostolic throne founded by Peter (Antioch has the first claim) and even then Peter did not lord over the whole Church.

The corrupt and unfortunate result of this teaching in the condition of Popes for many centuries can be sadly found in history. The Orthodox Church with the ancient sees of Constantinople (St Andrew, near Ephesus), Alexandria (St Mark), Antioch (St Peter and Paul), Jerusalem (St James) and the other 40 out of 45 earliest Churches are still Orthodox (I once read that 44 out of 45 of the Earliest Christian Churches are still Orthodox, only Rome is not because of here desire to be the sole head of the Church. She attained her desire by separating and is now the sole head of her Church comprising of herself).

History shows that the Roman Church added the filioque to the Creed (which the councils said could not be changed), added the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, added and now took away the doctrine of purgatory, has engaged in the error of using indulgences at times, has a false understanding of sin and guilt, and has made drastic changes to the Liturgy (a recent example is Vatic II).

Even a short examination of the Orthodox Church will show that it is the most Ancient in its Doctrines and Liturgical Practice.

In regards to divorce, the Orthodox Church recognises that Marriage is forever. However, the Church also knows that humans are weak. So in cases where there has been infidelity or a similar sin in a marriage resulting in divorce and the couples will not unite again, the Church may grant a divorce. Then they can marry someone again in a special penitential ceremony asking for God's forgiveness. Priests cannot marry again or marry someone who has had a divorce. If someone fails three times, the Church will not allow you to marry again. This is clearly in line with the teaching of the Bible. How can the Catholic Church bless a marriage, and then later annul it? Do the children born in this marriage therefore suddenly become born out of wedlock?

Jesus said "What God has joined together, man cannot separate." So how can the Church declare what God has joined annulled? However Jesus did say that in certain cases of unfaithfulness a divorce was allowed.

To all Catholics, please research the Orthodox Church and return to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church's ancient teachings. Look at the lives of our monks, nuns, the Jesus Prayer, the Holy Mountain, our saints, at our spirituality, at Theosis, etc. The Orthodox Church is truly a treasury, a spiritual hospital to cure any of your illnesses.

Come home!

In Christian love, Lord Jesus Christ, You who prayed that the Church would be one and promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against Your Body, guide all those who call upon your name and bring all schismatic or heretical Churches to truth for to You we ascribe all Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Through the prayers of the Holy Fathers Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on us. Amen.

The Russian Orthodox Church does not celebrate Christmas on the same day as it is celebrated in the West. The Russian Church uses the 'old calendar,' the Julian calendar for ecclesiastical matters.