The Anomaly of Schism 
And
The “RE-ORIENTATION” of the Catholic Church:
 A Case for Change

By

Richard A. Mattiussi
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Editor’s Note
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the editor, newsletter staff, the editor’s pet turtle and dog nor the SSJC. Due to the author’s consistently neurotic and intermittently psychotic state of mind, the editor has been most gracious in allowing the author to freely express himself in the following text as part of his mental therapy.  This will ultimately relieve the editor himself from reading time-consuming emails and from engaging in excessively long phone conversations with the author. In addition, please pray for the author’s wife, Lisa. She must be a saint to put up with him.
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     The opinions expressed in this article are my own and hopefully will be refined through an ongoing ecumenical conversation among the local chapter members of the Society of St. John Chrysostom in future Newsletters. I want to personally thank several members from the various sister churches both Catholic and Orthodox, who by their previous presentations or private discussions inspired me to write this article: Bishop John Michael Botean, Msgr. George Appleyard, Mr. Vito Carchedi, Fr. Bryan Eyman, Fr. George Gage, Fr. Thomas Hopko, Fr. Andrew Kolitsos, Fr. Daniel Rohan, Fr. Anthony Salim and Fr. John Trimbur. My intention is not to speak against our Orthodox friends in a polemical fashion nor is it a deconstruction of “Catholic identity,” although some individuals might accuse me of the latter due to the fact that it goes against the status quo.  I would admit that the article challenges the status quo in nonessential matters, but leaves intact the “orthodoxy” of the Roman Catholic Church.  Rather, it is a response, admittedly incomplete, that desires full Eucharistic communion between the Roman Catholic Church (with Eastern Catholic Churches in its communion since the 15th century) and the Orthodox Churches (with Western Rite parishes in its communion from the 20th century). Concerning unity, Jesus said in John 17:17-21: 

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.

     Rudyard Kippling may also be quoted here concerning the differences between Great Britain and an India and an analogy drawn for Catholic – Orthodox relations in his famous “The Ballad of East and West”:  

               Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from 
the ends of the earth.  

     “When two strong men stand face to face” there emerges a moment of tension or a “face off” and no one seems willing to back down. Hopefully the “two strong men” will be able to move from a “face off” to a moment of honestly seeing each other face to face in a moment of convergence and mutual recognition. Given the recent Vatican document released on July 10, 2007 called "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church," which was approved by Benedict XVI, the moment of tension has already arisen in many secular media reports. The secular media needs to be ignored. Very few secular writers really understand what is being articulated. For instance, after reading about “the Vatican document” in a secular newspaper, one may get the impression that “Responses” sounds like “Feeneyism.” That is, the teaching of Fr. Leonard Feehney, S.J. who was excommunicated by Pope Pius XII in 1953 for essentially teaching that there is no salvation outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church. Consequently, Feeney taught that if you were not Catholic, you are going to the hot house.

     I have purposely quoted the Third and Fourth Questions from the document for the readers to peruse. The document, which will now be referred to as “Responses,” does not  really say anything new, it quotes Vatican II and post-conciliar documents, and seems to not share on the surface at least, the alternate theological thesis that has been discussed among certain Catholic theologians for at least the last 30 years. That is, the thesis of Fr. Louis Boyer, Cardinals Charles Journet and Yves Congar that has been recently promoted by Cardinal Walter Kasper (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity). This alternate thesis will be briefly elaborated on below after the quotations from “Responses:”
Third Question: Why was the expression "subsists in" adopted instead of the simple word "is"?
Response: The use of this expression, which indicates the full identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church, does not change the doctrine on the Church. Rather, it comes from and brings out more clearly the fact that there are "numerous elements of sanctification and of truth" which are found outside her structure, but which "as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel towards Catholic Unity." 
"It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth that has been entrusted to the Catholic Church." 
Fourth Question: Why does the Second Vatican Council use the term "Church" in reference to the oriental Churches separated from full communion with the Catholic Church?
Response: The Council wanted to adopt the traditional use of the term. "Because these Churches, although separated, have true sacraments and above all – because of the apostolic succession – the priesthood and the Eucharist, by means of which they remain linked to us by very close bonds,” they merit the title of "particular or local Churches,"  and are called sister Churches of the particular Catholic Churches.
"It is through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches that the Church of God is built up and grows in stature." However, since communion with the Catholic Church, the visible head of which is the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter, is not some external complement to a particular Church but rather one of its internal constitutive principles, these venerable Christian communities lack something in their condition as particular churches.
On the other hand, because of the division between Christians, the fullness of universality, which is proper to the Church governed by the Successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him, is not fully realized in history.

     As was mentioned above, “Responses” is essentially a recapitulation of previous Catholic teachings and seems to not share on the surface the same thesis of Fr. Louis Boyer, Cardinals Charles Journet and Yves Congar that has been recently promoted by Cardinal Walter Kasper.  That is, that the one Church presently exists with two lungs, one Eastern (Orthodox sister churches) and the other Western (Catholic sister churches) in an asymmetrical relationship that for the last one thousand years manifests an anomaly of schism or lack of full communion. In short, the two lungs are obviously not breathing “in sync” with each other. Hence, due to this anomaly of schism within the one Church (as mother), there no longer is full Eucharistic communion between the Eastern and Western lungs. This is an aberration, a wound and a sin that needs to be properly diagnosed and healed by the Holy Spirit working in, with and through the good will of faithful Christians on both sides. 

     Now, both the Roman Catholic Church (with Eastern Catholic Churches in its communion since the 15th century) and the Orthodox Churches (with Western Rite parishes in its communion from the 20th century) claim to have “the fullness” and when simultaneously viewing the other, see defects or deficiencies, even heresies in the other!  Moreover, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 838, Pope Paul VI is quoted as saying, “With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound ‘that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.’” 

     Hence, could the two men  “facing off,” in a moment of ecumenical convergence, ever mutually recognize the other for whom the other really is, as orthodox and catholic in the fullness of being “Church?” I personally believe that this “face off” at a deeper level, is really a good thing. Why, one may ask? This “face off” allows both sides to honestly claim their own ecclesiastical identity on how they want to speak about themselves in reference to the other. The obvious problem now arises, when the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches no longer see a reflection of themselves (that is catholicity and orthodoxy) in the complementary lung; hence, the lack of recognition of the fullness (of catholicity and orthodoxy) in the other is missing and extremely painful (to both sides).

     I can only speak as a Roman Catholic who is agonizing in a joint search with others for an ecumenical resolution to this anomaly of schism. . Nevertheless, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Both the Orient and the Occident share equally in its beauty, warmth and life giving energies when the sun is at its zenith! Now, the very same source of supernatural light, the Son of God who is the Light of the world, shines equally on the Roman Catholic Church (and those Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with her) as well as on the Orthodox Sister Churches (with Western rite parishes within its communion). We all must look to the Son of Light to enlighten us on how to mutually recognize the other as fully catholic as a sister church and completely orthodox in faith.  

     It is much “easier” for me after Vatican II (because of strident ecumenical efforts with the Orthodox, et. al.), the pontificate of John Paul II (who opened up the whole conversation on the Roman Primacy), the writings of Cardinals Journet, Congar, Kasper and Fr. Boyer to say these types of things than our Orthodox partners in the dialogue to speak in a similar fashion, most especially Mt. Athos! And, of course it would be naïve of me to believe that all Roman Catholics or Eastern Catholics would make the same case verbatim as this one. However, I have received inspiration from both Pope John Paul II who has called us to “be not afraid” and the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI who composed the famous 1976  “Ratzinger Formula” that stated the following:

Rome must not require more from the East with respect to the doctrine of the primacy than had been formulated and was lived in the first millennium [emphasis mine]. When Patriarch Athenagoras, on July 25, 1967, on the occasion of the Pope’s visit to Phanar, designated him as the successor of St. Peter, as the most esteemed among us, as one who presides in charity, this great church leader was expressing the essential content of the doctrine of the primacy as it was known in the first millennium.  Rome need not ask for more [emphasis mine]. Reunion could take place in this context if, on the one hand, the East would cease to oppose as heretical the developments that took place in the West in the second millennium and would accept the Catholic Church as legitimate and orthodox in the form she had acquired in the course of that development, while on the other hand, the West would recognize the Church of the East as orthodox and legitimate in the form she has always had.  

Vatican II stated that special attention must be given to the first millennium as a time when the Catholic and Orthodox Churches were in full communion in spite of the sporadic tensions that arose between them. This does not mean a return to the first millennium, but rather utilizing it more as a major reference. The Council stated: 

“the Council urges all, but especially those who commit themselves to the work for the restoration of the full communion that is desired between the Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church, to give due consideration to this special feature of the origin and growth of the Churches of the East, and to the character of the relations which obtained between them and the Roman See before the separation, and to form for themselves a correct evaluation of the facts. The careful observation of this will greatly contribute to the dialogue in view.”  

     Thus, we come to the following concrete proposals that take their inspiration from the first millennium experience of the Church, that call for some structural changes and a reassessment of certain teachings, laws, and theological expressions. The primary intention of calling for concrete proposals is to allow the Orthodox from their own vantage point to rediscover “orthodoxy” in the Roman Catholic Church and among their Eastern Catholic Church counterparts. Hence, the ultimate goal would be a mutual recognition of “orthodox faith” within one fully united “Catholic Church” simultaneously coexisting with two lungs breathing in unison (in essentials) but not necessarily in uniformity (in non-essentials).  In the words of Fr. Thomas Hopko, as he challenged his fellow Orthodox at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church (O.C.A.) in Campbell, Ohio:
We will never be one unless we desire it with all our hearts, and are ready to put away everything that we can to have it…. Everything that doesn’t belong to the essence of the faith. Language doesn’t belong to the essence of the faith. Calendars don’t belong to the essence of the faith. Certain liturgical customs don’t belong to the essence of the faith. Even the Byzantine Rite Liturgy for us does not belong to the essence of the faith. 
          A similar challenge must be given to fellow Catholics! Next, I would like to propose what the Catholic Church needs to do in order for reunion to seriously be considered by the Orthodox. Hopefully the items listed below will help flesh out the essentials from the non-essentials:

1.	Primarily as a sign of our sincere search for unity, the entire Roman Catholic Church (with the Eastern Catholic Churches) should celebrate Easter on the Julian Calendar with the Orthodox as has been permitted by Rome for pastoral reasons for certain Roman and Eastern Catholics in various locations where there is an Orthodox majority, and as was done prior to the institution of the Gregorian Calendar in 1582. Moreover, once the Eastern and Western lungs of the one Church are fully reunited, then a newly revised calendar possibly could be devised based on the norms laid down at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. with updated astronomical calculations.

2.	In order to profess the same exact Creed in all the sister churches, the Roman Church, and as soon as possible, all the Eastern Catholic Churches should suspend the use of the filioque clause (“and from the Son”) in the Creed. I personally believe that the filioque clause is not heretical but has run its course within the western lung of the Church. There no longer exists a need to maintain it! Pope John Paul II used to recite the Creed either with or without the filioque clause depending on who was present at a particular Liturgy (e.g. Roman bishops or Eastern Catholic and Orthodox bishops). 

We must now move beyond the co-equality of both creeds and for the sake of unity recite from the original Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 A.D. without the filioque clause as was done in the first millennium. It is interesting to note that the original form of the Creed without the filioque clause has been recorded in the Vatican document Dominus Iesus in 2000 under the prefecture of the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.  In all honesty, for the Orthodox to really see that Rome is actually serious about unity, nothing less will suffice!

3.	This one will be posed more in the form of a question with some commentary: Did the Catholic Church in the West ever commemorate the metropolitan of the province in addition to the local bishop and Pope at Mass within the Eucharistic canons during the first and/or second millennia? Or, if a commemoration of the metropolitan bishop can be established, when did the Catholic Church in the West stop commemorating the metropolitans of the local provinces within the Eucharistic Canons? If historians could identify when the commemoration went out of practice, a case could be made to begin the process of reinstituting the practice in order to raise the awareness of the provincial dimension of Church that is still maintained in the Orthodox Churches today. 

The point being, once it can be established that there were Roman metropolitans that were commemorated within the context of a Eucharistic Liturgy in addition to the local bishop and the Pope, a case could be made, albeit a debatable one, that the Pope of Rome in addition to being a local bishop, is a metropolitan and also “functioned” as the Patriarch of “the Roman Patriarchate.” Once a metropolitan – Patriarchal structure can be determined to have historically existed most likely in the first millennium within the Western lung, then the issue of a local, provincial, regional or national election of bishops to local dioceses may be raised. 
	
     Hermann Pottmeyer quotes the then Father Joseph Ratzinger in at least two citations having stated as early as 1965, that the major task at hand will be to tease out what exactly is the bishop of Rome’s role as Roman Patriarch and what is his Primatial role as Universal Pontiff.  For instance, Ratzinger stated that: 

the task for the future: to separate more clearly the office proper to the successor of Peter from the patriarchal office, and where necessary, to create patriarchates and separate them from the latin church. [For] a uniform canon law, a uniform liturgy, a uniform filling of episcopal sees by the Roman central administration - all of these are things that do not necessarily accompany the primacy such as, but result only from this close union of two offices.   

                        Pottmeyer also cites Ratzinger in two articles written in 1964 as follows:
           
 “The separation of the patriarchal and Petrine functions of the pope must be matched by the 
  breaking -up of the functions of the Roman Curia.  Since the patriarchal responsibilities of the 
  pope are a matter of ecclesiastical and not divine law, the corresponding functions of the          
  Curia,” says Ratzinger, can “definitely be shared by the episcopate throughout the world -- in   
  fact, the situation of the church undoubtedly demands such a sharing.”    In this respect, “the 
  college of bishops as such, together with the pope, could regard itself as superior to [the] Curia 
  and could cooperate in  shaping it.”    

      Now, if a reconfiguration of the nonessential elements of Church structures ever takes place, then the Orthodox would be able to recognize Orthodoxy within the Western lung - that is the Roman Primacy in a new light! The previously mentioned points will be the key to unlock the ecumenical impasse concerning the Petrine Ministry of the Pope and the bishops. Let’s be honest, the Orthodox will suffice for nothing less!  

4.	Next, my intention is not to attack or defend the “uniatism” that exists on both sides (admittedly to a greater degree within the Catholic communion of churches). I am personally convinced that either a substantially large or very small portion of individuals leaving one of the Orthodox sister Churches in order to seek communion with Rome (to form an Eastern Catholic Church) or vice versa will never lead to the full restoration of union that Christ desires!

     Moreover, neither do I wish to attack those individuals who presently or in the past have crossed over from one jurisdiction to another and have been unfairly labeled as a “uniat,” “uniate” or some other condescending verbiage. This name-calling is not the will of Christ! They are Christians in the full sense of the word, are members of real churches and are my brothers and sisters in Christ (some of whom are my very good friends)!  Nevertheless, for the sake of unity, the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and Orthodox Church stated in 1993 that:

Because of the way in which Catholics and Orthodox once again consider each other in their relationship to the mystery of the Church and discover each other once again as sister churches, this form of “missionary apostolate” …which has been called “uniatism,” can no longer be accepted either as a method to be followed nor as a model of the unity our churches are seeking (Balamand, no. 12, 1993).

     In order for unity to be reached, some preliminary concrete steps need to be taken. Therefore, all the Eastern Catholic Churches should strive to do the following:

A.	Eastern Catholic bishops need to set up bi-lateral theological commissions with their Orthodox counter-parts with a three-fold purpose. First, realize that the “uniat model” is only an “interim arrangement.”  Secondly, to seek a new model of communion with their direct counter-parts (e.g. Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church and Romanian Orthodox Church) that will work for both sides. Thirdly, to further seek how this communion of counter-parts would hopefully facilitate a reunion between the other Catholic and Orthodox sister Churches.  This is “tricky business,” a daunting task, and at times quite painful, but the process needs to begin for healing to take place.

B.	Eastern Catholic bishops need to de-latinize their churches in Liturgy, catechesis, and particular law or the Orthodox will never fully recognize the Eastern Catholic Churches for who they really are according to Vatican II’s call for the restoration of their traditions. 

C.	Allowing Eastern Catholic Synods to globally regulate the ecclesial lives of their churches and not be managed by the Oriental Congregation (a.k.a. “The Bureau of Indian Affairs”) or some other Vatican office. A highly irregular arrangement exists when the Roman curia replaces the function of bishops who are the natural heads of their respective churches. It is not my intention to demonize the Roman Curia. I only want to point out that the status quo is highly irregular, has lead the Eastern Catholic Churches to become complacent about their real identity, and is just another major obstacle to unity with the Orthodox. Why for the life of me would Eastern Catholics (especially bishops) tolerate such an arrangement, - it only boggles the mind, bewilders the Orthodox, and continues to be a major impediment to unity?  The famous phrase of Pope John Paul II must now be applied to Eastern Catholics - “become who you are!” Nothing less will suffice.

5.	The long standing and at times controversial practice of granting indulgences in the Catholic Church needs to be suspended for an indefinite period of time until a common understanding and an ecumenical resolution is reached between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches on this matter. The Protestants would applaud this one!  Nevertheless, I am not denying what the Roman Catholic Church teaches on indulgences, however, are indulgences so essential to the faith that they could not at least be suppressed for an indefinite period of time until the Holy Spirit leads us to a common understanding? 

6.	Although this one might really open up a “Pandora’s box,” the reinstitution of optional celibacy for those seeking ordination to the “transitional” diaconate and priesthood as it existed in the first millennium in the Roman Catholic Church and should have always been maintained in the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome needs to be honestly addressed. The reasons are as follows: First, if a man is truly called to the priesthood and not celibacy, why would the Catholic Church canonically allow the sacrament of marriage to be an impediment to ordination.  Second, it was part of the Roman tradition in the first millennium. Thirdly, in the dealing with the priest shortage, why not ordain qualified “permanent deacons” to the priesthood. There are around 13, 000 in the U.S.A. If just 5% - 10% of 13,000 deacons were trained and ordained, plus other qualified laymen called to the “transitional” diaconate and priesthood, then this process would begin to alleviate the “priest shortage.” Fourthly, reinstituting optional celibacy would only prove to the Orthodox that there really aren’t two classes of priests, one celibate and the other married, but one priesthood regardless of one’s marital status. 

     By the way, I am not trying to push my own agenda here concerning a desire for ordination to the priesthood nor the obsoleteness of priestly celibacy. Concerning the latter, a chaste celibacy, if lived in an evangelical spirit of economic moderation and not as “princely celibacy” is a great gift to the Church. This point must also be affirmed for those committed celibate priests who have been so faithful to their calling. 

     Moreover, as for the ordination of women to the priesthood, I personally would desire very much to have the matter resolved in an Ecumenical Council, where the Pope of Rome would preside at the Council with Orthodox and Catholic bishops (and others: clergy and laity) in attendance. Then, we would all have to live with the final decision. Of course, a certain number of my Catholic friends will remind me that both Popes Paul VI and John Paul II have already spoken “definitively” on this matter, while others have questioned the “definitiveness” of the teaching. I believe the Catholic teaching is correct but am sincerely willing to be convinced otherwise. So far, I haven’t been convinced to change my belief. Just look at the mess going on in the Anglican Church, that is, if you are really and honestly paying attention – schisms galore! 

7.	Lastly in this list, some people in the Roman Catholic Church would like to entertain the argument that the Catholic communion of churches (both Roman and Eastern Catholic) should return to the practice of celebrating all three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation – Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist together regardless of the age of the recipient at the time of their baptism. I must admit that a much stronger case could be made for the Eastern Catholics by way of de-latinization and the restoration of their traditions as called for by Vatican II and mentioned previously. 

Moreover, like many of the issues mentioned above “the restorations” called for here would be a major shift in sacramental catechesis and practice for the Roman Church. I could see the merits in such an approach for the sake of unity; however, it would be an extremely difficult sale to most Roman Catholic clergy and parents for a number of reasons that I cannot address at this time. However, for the sake of unity, grounded in a sound theology, I would like others to at least entertain this argument in future articles or responses to my present article. Moreover, I spoke to the editor, Mr. Vito Carchedi and he would welcome future articles from our local chapter members. So Carpe Diem!
 
     Furthermore, for those individuals who would have liked an article on some related topics, you now need to write your own article! Please do!  Here are a few suggestions:

1	Papal Primacy and Papal Infallibility vs. Conciliarity; 
2	21 Ecumenical Councils (Catholic) vs. 7 Ecumenical Councils and other councils that have been received as ecumenical (Orthodox);
3	Original Sin, guilt, Temporal Punishments, and Purgatory  (Catholic) vs. an Eastern Orthodox Eschatology; 
4	The dogmatic status of Palamite doctrine (Orthodox) vs. Thomistic theological approaches (Catholic);
5	The indissolubility of marriage and the annulment process (Catholic Church) vs. the ecclesiastical recognition of a couple who have civilly divorced (Orthodox Churches); 
6	Catholic teaching on birth control vs. the lack of an official Orthodox teaching on this subject;
7	The mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception, Assumption - Dormition and Maternal Mediation; most especially the latter teaching as has been proposed by several Roman Catholic theologians still pressing for a papal ex cathedra definition of Mary as “Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces and Advocate of the People of God;” 
8	The restoration of Deaconesses; 

    I would like to convey some very wise words from Pope John Paul II concerning the heart of ecumenism as “a spirituality of communion.” All parties must come to a fundamental realization that the spirituality of communion is the most important component for the Catholic – Orthodox dialogue and in the words of the Pope, we need “to ‘make room’ for our brothers and sisters:” 

A spirituality of communion implies also the ability to see what is positive in others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift from God: not only as a gift for the brother or sister who has received it directly, but also as a "gift for me". A spirituality of communion means, finally, to know how to "make room" for our brothers and sisters, bearing "each other's burdens" (Gal 6:2) and resisting the selfish temptations which constantly beset us and provoke competition, careerism, distrust and jealousy. Let us have no illusions: unless we follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve very little purpose. They would become mechanisms without a soul, "masks" of communion rather than its means of expression and growth.
     
     Finally, Dr. Robert Moynihan has passed around a very intriguing comment by the Moscow Patriarchate on the inter-net from “Inside the Vatican.” Website:

  The Russian Orthodox Church has called "honest" the position of the Vatican published in a document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stating that the Catholic Church is the only Church approved by Christ. "It is an honest statement. It is much better than the so-called 'church diplomacy'." It shows how close or, on the contrary, how divided we are," Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, who heads the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, told journalists in Moscow. "For an honest theological dialogue to happen, one should have a clear view of the position of the other side," because "it helps understand how different we are," he said. Basically, the Vatican's current document has nothing new and is in "full conformity with the doctrine of the Catholic Church," Metropolitan Kirill said. "The Orthodox Church is, according to Apostolic Succession, successor and heir to the old, undivided Church. Which is why everything contained in the Catholic document rightfully applies to the Orthodox Church," the Metropolitan added (my emphasis).

     After reading Metropolitan Kirill’s last statement above, the following two questions really need to be posed at this time, in fact, the situation demands such questions: 

Is the Catholic Church able to make room and actually change certain non-essentials mentioned above (concrete proposals #s 1-7) for the sake of unity?

Would the Orthodox sister Churches then be able to recognize the Catholic Church and the Roman Primacy in a new light as fully orthodox and catholic after these changes have been made?

     In conclusion, if the Orthodox would be able to recognize the Catholic Church and the Roman Primacy as fully orthodox and catholic, then the Catholic Church would reciprocally view the Orthodox as fully catholic and orthodox without any defects or deficiencies. However, for this to realistically happen, the Catholic Church has to reconfigure the Roman Primacy and the entire Catholic Church (in its non-essential dimensions only) in order for the Orthodox to come into full Eucharistic communion with the Catholic Church. A communion not of absorption or the interim “Uniate model,” but a communion of sister churches in which the sister church of Rome and her bishop presides in charity as “servus servorum Dei” from within the heart of the Catholic communion of sister churches as one Church. 

     A communion not of micro-management by the Roman curia but a communion where the Orthodox must maintain their autocephalus status, where they may make appeals to Rome under certain mutually agreed upon juridical procedures, and where the Roman curia takes on a more consultative status. Moreover, if the Pope is to preside in charity in the Catholic Church, “the curia” should be fully represented by qualified members from the various sister churches. Hence, it would no longer be referred to as the “Roman curia” but the “Catholic curia” that is consultative in nature, and assisting rather than directing the bishops.

Now, the two men will no longer be facing off, but recognize the other as equally sharing in the unity of Christ!  Ut unum sint !

Next, we must face West, and discuss the Protestant “ecclesial communities” and “Western Churches” in a future article.  Examples  of Western Churches would be the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht, the Polish National Catholic Church, the very complicated situation of the government controlled Catholic Church in China, and  the Society of St. Pius X. So now my dear friends in Christ, what do you think? 
I would welcome your comments. Please send them to mattiussi52001@yahoo.com   

P.S. Some of the local members (both clergy and laity) have been entertaining three ideas: 1. Starting our own Ecumenical Journal on Eastern Christian Churches in which local clergy and laity may submit articles of a theological, catechetical and pastoral nature. 2. Possibly hosting a mid-west Orientale Lumen Conference in the Youngstown area. We are geographically located between Cleveland and Pittsburgh; Chicago and New York; with a concentration of Eastern Christians from multiple jurisdictions. Let’s continue to explore these two ideas in the near future! 3. Let’s start our own BLOG !