Ecumenism and Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue

Question: 

I am a Roman Catholic who prays for the unity of our churches and I think that all Christians - Catholic and Orthodox may, one day, be only one. So I have some doubts about ecumenism and catholic-orthodox dialogue. Could you answer them for me?

1) First, what´s your opinion about the sad ( in my opinion) episode of " conversion" of  bishop Yuri Yurchyk of Donetsk to a certain Traditional catholic movement? (see http://www.cmri.org/yurchik.html ) In my opinion  it was a tragic situation for the dialogue between the two Churches, isn´t it?

2)As a Latin catholic, I like to learn about Eastern Christianity, both from Eastern Catholic and Eastern orthodox Churches. Could you show me some points that  are similar between Ukrainian Greek Catholicism and Ukrainian orthodoxy?

3) For you, is it important the ecumenical dialogue between these churches? Do you agree with the pretensions of Ukrainian Catholics of having a patriarch recognized by Rome?

4) What´s your opinion about the beautiful work done in the site http://www.ewtn.org/vexperts/forum25.htm, a bizantine catholic q & a?

Dr. Alexander Roman alex@unicorne.org

First of all, the issue of Bishop Yuri's joining the traditional Roman Catholic (schismatic) sect is something that, of course, belongs ultimately with Bishop Yuri alone.

It is "tragic" only insofar as it constitutes an event that helps only to further confuse the complex ecclesial situation that exists in Eastern Europe and in Ukraine in particular.  But as it concerns only one such person, it is hardly cause for concern beyond that which the press would perhaps like it to become.

It is also rather ironic that he would join a schismatic western Catholic group that represents the kind of monolithic expression fo Roman Catholicism that has, for a few centuries, been completely antagonistic toward Orthodoxy and Orthodox spiritual culture as a whole.

But I, for one, don't find that sort of thing "tragic" or even alarming, given the historic conditions under which all Christians have had to live there, especially under so many years of Soviet atheist repression. 

There are also Orthodox clergy who become Eastern Catholic and Eastern Catholic clergy that become Orthodox.  There are Roman Catholics who become Orthodox as well and the Antiochian Orthodox Church even has a special Western "Rite of St Gregory" that is for Roman Catholics who have become Orthodox Christians and who wish to continue worshipping within the Latin Rite (amended in accordance with Orthodox faith and liturgical praxis, of course).

The points of similarity between Ukrainian Catholics and Ukrainian Orthodox are many, including their common liturgical heritage that is based on shared cultural values and the like.  Where that liturgical heritage is different can be chalked up to either Latinization on the part of Ukrainian Catholics or else Russification on the part of Ukrainian Orthodox (as the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Ilarion Ohienko himself mentioned on more than one occasion in his works).  But both sides are working to return to their original and common traditions.

Today, the points of difference in terms of faith are also being bridged as a result of the "Easternization" movement within Ukrainian Catholicism.  Ukrainian Catholics are becoming more aware of their original identity (as Metropolitan Ohienko also said) as "Orthodox in communion with Rome."

This means that individual Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs, priests and even entire parishes are entering more fully into the "Orthodox spiritual experience" through a better understanding of issues such as Orthodox Triadology, Mariology, Eschatology and Ecclesiology. The Ukrainian Catholic Patriarch, His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar is setting an excellent example in this way, even going so far as to define his Church's relations with Rome as those based on "Eucharistic Communion."  Whether Rome understands those relations in that way is certainly another matter!

In Ukraine especially, there is a kinship between Ukrainian Catholics and Ukrainian Orthodox that hasn't been seen for a very long time.  Both feel they need to rely on each other to weather the various storms currently besetting their Churches.  And perhaps this is God's practical way of getting us to embrace each other in what would hopefully be an eventual act of ecclesial unity with Kyiv as our common church centre?

As for the Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate, I've yet to hear of Ukrainian Orthodox having a problem with that.  The Moscow Patriarchate and world Orthodoxy certainly have a problem with it.  And powerful Roman prelates also have a problem with it.

Personally, I believe that if Rome defers to the view of Moscow with respect to a Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate on its own historic territory, then perhaps the time has come for Rome to stop the pretensions for a viable "Uniate" Church among the Ukrainians and for Ukrainians to unite with their Orthodox brothers and sisters in a Kyivan Orthodox Patriarchate. 

As things stand now, relations between Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox (not those in communion with Moscow, of course), have never been better - thanks be to God!

EWTN's Anthony Dragani is a well-known commentator on all things Byzantine Catholic and I've had the pleasure of communicating with him on a chat forum that I was formerly a participant on.

He is, as you know, a Ph.D. candidate in Eastern theology and is well-acquainted with Orthodox and Eastern Catholic issues across a very wide range of perspectives.

Unfortunately, there are many Roman Catholics, especially those of the "traditionalist ilk," who seem to need that kind of "Eastern consciousness-raising."  As someone who attended Roman Catholic colleges, I know that there is a widespread ignorance among Roman Catholics about Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholicism.

There are also Eastern Catholics who likewise seem to have little clue about the differences between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theology and liturgical life .

Please give my very best and fondest regards to the "Eastern Apostle,"  Anthony Dragani, when you communicate with him next!

Ukrainian Orthodoxy