Orthodox Unity

Question: 

If the Orthodox Church is One, why are there so many competing factions, such as "Orthodoxy in Resistance" v. "World Orthodoxy?"  Many non Orthodox (particularly Catholics) use this to "refute" Orthodoxy's claim of being the undivided Church.  I myself find it disturbing to see Orthodox fighting amongst each other, wasting precious time and upholding a poor example

Dr. Alexander Roman alex@unicorne.org

From the point of view of world Orthodoxy, there are no divisions in the Church at all!  There are only bodies of Christians that have, for one reason or another, separated from the Orthodox Catholic Church, even though they continue to call themselves "Orthodox."

There are groups of Christians who are separated as a result of adherence to heretical teachings or teachings that have been condemned by the Church in history.  There are also, and these are by far the greater number, groups of Orthodox Christians that have been cut off from the Orthodox Church not as a result of any heretical teachings, but as a result of canonical disputes and issues.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church are two examples of such bodies that are perfectly Orthodox in their beliefs save for the canonical issues that separate them from world Orthodoxy - and, unfortunately, from each other.

Roman Catholics also say that there are no divisions in their church.  But the schisms involving traditional Roman Catholics, historically as well as in contemporary times are not taken into consideration by them.  The fact is that Anglicans and Lutherans both broke away from their mother Roman church, and this led to the many diverse denominations of Protestantism.  The once united Roman Catholic West is woefully divided by schism and heresy.

In addition, Roman Catholicism in North America especially is divided along "liberal" and "conservative" lines.  One can find many RC's who are in favour of women's ordination, abortions and the like.  The current U.S. presidential candidate, John Kerry, although a professed Roman Catholic, is in support of abortion.  In addition, we understand his party may even force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or else risk losing funding etc.!

And many American Catholics, priests and laity, including Byzantine Catholics, support John Kerry notwithstanding.  Rome's command to deny Holy Communion to politicians who support abortions and abortion funding is ignored by many of the U.S. Catholic bishops who say that they "don't want to use the Eucharist in that way."

Roman Catholics affirm they are against artificial birth control, but statistically a minute percentage of Catholics here actually follow their church's teachings on this matter.  Roman Catholics are against divorce, but thousands of RC's receive church "annulments" of their marriages that allow them to remarry again.   Divorce by any other name . . .

And if you ask Roman Catholics, as I have, about the Latin teaching on Original Sin and Purgatory, you will get more than one answer that leaves one really confused as to what the position really is.  One Catholic professor said that Roman Catholics are allowed to hold TWO positions on Original Sin!

I don't see any of this type of doctrinal or moral waffling in world Orthodoxy that remains committed to the Seven Ecumenical Councils and the historic canons of the Church and teachings of the Fathers.  Yes, one comes across this or that theologian or bishop saying otherwise, but they are in the minority and don't affect how Orthodox Christians understand and practice their faith.

I know of Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans who have become Orthodox precisely because of this issue and who find in Orthodoxy a clear and uncompromising affirmation of the faith delivered to the Apostles and handed down by the Church.

So the next time a Roman Catholic derides Orthodoxy for her "divisions," let him or her know about the divisions in the once united Roman Catholic West, beginning with Dr. Martin Luther, going on to traditional Roman Catholics today and the current internal conflicts in the Latin Church between liberals and conservatives.

In North America at least, it seems that the liberals are winning . . .

Ukrainian Orthodoxy