Likely Moscow patriarch stresses differences with Catholic belief

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Comments: 17

Moscow, Russia, Jan 23, 2009 / 07:03 am (CNA).- An Orthodox prelate considered to be the most likely successor of Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II has said that while Orthodox Christianity shares similarities with Catholicism, there are a “great number of differences” on which “there is no room for compromise.”

Metropolitan Kirill, Patriarchal Locum Tenens of Moscow, made the remarks in an interview recently published by Argumenty i Fakty (Arguments and Facts), SIR reports.

Discussing relations with other Christian confessions, Metropolitan Kirill said: “unfortunately, differences in religious doctrines and practices have increased between orthodoxy and other confessions.”

“With some Protestant communities, such as the Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Episcopal Church of the United States, we have come to a complete break, due to the official recognition of homosexual relations,” he continued.

While noting that the social positions of Orthodox Christianity and the Catholic Church are “more close,” the metropolitan said, “nevertheless, we have be accountable for a great number of differences in doctrine and practice between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches and, in this regard, there is no room for compromise.”

“Nevertheless,” he added, “this does not prevent us from being open and friendly with people who share different points of view, and with whom we live in the same society.”

Comments: 17

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Catholic
C 01/29/2009 01:14 PM EST

It is a dogma of Catholic faith proclaimed by pope Boniface VIII: "We declare, define and pronounce it to be necessary to salvation for every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.". Eternal salvation stands or falls with any Catholic dogma.

The Church is all about salvation. Thus the Orthodox, not being subject to the pope and due to that being without salvation, don't belong to The Church.

Published by: Mark
Ct 01/26/2009 10:16 AM EST

Our Catholic Church allows for annulments concerning divorce. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the first book from the Church in 400 years, spells everything out clearly. Buy it at any book store. It cost around 14.99

Published by: Robert
USA 01/25/2009 10:29 AM EST

I have studied the issue for quite some time. I am Catholic but love the East. Most of the differences are minor and can be reconciled easily by those who love the same Jesus Christ and his one Church. An example is the East calls Mary the Panagia (all holy). So we agree that Mary was sinless. Looking at a truth through Eastern an Western eyes can enrich the faith - not diminish. The only real difference is jurisdiction and based on pride. When this is overcome by the Holy Spirit, the Church will again breathe with "both of her lungs" as Pope John Paul II has written.

Published by: Howard
Huntington, WV, USA 01/24/2009 04:05 PM EST

One difference is the presence of "Ecclesial divorce" in Orthodoxy; that is, they allow, under some circumstances, remarriage after divorce. Catholics can't budge on this -- if we could, the Anglican Schism could have been avoided -- but there would be practical, as well as theoretical, problems for the Orthodox in taking the Catholic position.

Another difference is that the Orthodox do not consider deacons to participate in the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Published by: Alan
New York 01/24/2009 02:48 PM EST

A married priesthood is not a dogma of the Catholic Church. It is merely a time honored practice.

Keep in mind that both the Catholic and Orthodox faiths dont allow their bishops to marry either.

As for baptism, the practice of immersion versus sprinkling is also just that, a practice and not a dogma.

These are not obstacles to communion. There will be communion with Constantinople with or without Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church likes Constantinople about as much as they like the RCC.

Published by: Jerry Wood
Springfield, Illinois, USA 01/24/2009 02:07 PM EST

Let's not be simplistic here. While there are more things that unite than divide us, the issues that divide us are very importatnt to both the Roman Church and Orthodoxy. 1. Primacy and Infalibility of the Pope 2. The understanding of original and actual sin and its affect on grace 3. The role of councils 4. Rome's insistance on full and immediate jursidiction of church in union with the Holy See. PLUS, Orthodoxy in general are suspicious of other Orthodox churches. They have never forgiven Rome of the sack of Constantiople.

Published by: Paulus Alter
USA 01/24/2009 11:32 AM EST

Although Fr. Ryan is right there are significant differences between Eastern and Western theology, the two are objectively complimentary (witness the Eastern Catholics.) These issues are Church dividing only to the extent that Easterners THINK that they are obligated thereby to deny the Western doctrinal formulations. Rome, for its part, allows Easterners to prefer the Eastern formulations catechetically, etc. so long as they don't do reject the truth of doctrinal declarations put in Western terms.

Published by: Bob Rainis
NY/USA 01/24/2009 10:09 AM EST

(7) Sacraments affixed later during the life of the Church.
Assumption and sinlessness of the BVM-please show in Holy Scripture
Infallibility of the Church---In their Ecumenical Council's or in Papal infallibility?
Theology of the Mass- a sacrifice offered anew? Priest as "agent"? One who "confects/effects" again,please show holy Scripture
Male priesthood, over and against the priesthood of all believers?
Apostolic succession, like the Pope lifting the excommunication of seperatist bishops after years of dening the validity of their ordinations and those they ordained, thus inflicting inconsistant teaching into the order of the Church?
Blessing as we pray that Allmay be one, In Christ, by Christ, for Christ!

Published by: Bob
San Luis County, CA, USA 01/24/2009 09:33 AM EST

There are many differences other than the filioque clause.

The Orthodox practice baptism by immersion (not sprinkling), allow for a married priesthood, and have governmental and other differences from Rome.

Additionally, they reject purgatory and the immaculate conception of Mary.

It is not that these differences cannot necessarily be overcome, but they do exist.

Published by: Bob Thiel
Arroyo Grande, CA, USA 01/24/2009 09:28 AM EST

There are many differences beyond the filioque.

Essentially, the Russian Orthodox practice baptism by immersion, a married priesthood,and other items that Rome does not.

The Orthodox also do not believe in purgatory, nor the immaculate conception of Mary. They are also more open to the use of contraception within marriage.

It is not that these differences may not be surmountable, but they do exist.

Published by: Lawrence Miller
Wichita 01/24/2009 04:10 AM EST

Orthodox bliefs:
There are probably more than sacraments. Don't know for sure how many.
Do not believe in the RC doctrine of the Assumption or the Imamaculate Conception.
Theology of the Mass is somewhat different.

Published by: doug
Omaha, NE USA 01/23/2009 03:28 PM EST

Maybe this is part of the Fatima message/secret for the conversion of Russia. Maybe our Lady was looking at the clergy along with government. Convert to the Church's beliefs

Published by: patrick finley
hazelwood/mo/usa 01/23/2009 03:08 PM EST

Perhaps Filioque?

Umm other then that...

If My memory of history I read serves correctly out of the orthodox sees, the russians were always the most stern. At one point they were even out of communion with constantinople, believe it or not.

Pray that the differences can be over come

Published by: Paulus
San Jose/CA/USA 01/23/2009 02:28 PM EST

One major difference was the relationship with the KGB in the former USSR:

Russian Orthodox - KGB collaborator
Catholic Church in Russia - victim of persecution by the KGB and its collaborators

Published by: Fr. Ryan
Lincoln, NE, USA 01/23/2009 02:16 PM EST

Actually, Geoffrey, I would argue there are some larger differences than you seem to want to admit. They both have the 7 sacraments, though the theology of confession and the role of the confessor is very different. Their views on Mary are radically different, as the Orthodox reject the Augustinian definition of origin sin, which is crucial to the necessity of the Sinlessness/Assumption of Mary doctrine that Rome holds. The theology of mass is likewise completely difference. There are some liturgical similarities, but the Orthodox view the Divine Liturgy as a living icon window into heaven of which the priest is a part. In the Roman mass, the priest is in Personae Christi. They do largely hold the same view of apostolic sucession, but the theology of why priests are male is also different.

Published by: Rich
Mukwonago, WI, USA 01/23/2009 11:05 AM EST

What are the key differences in religious doctrines and practices btwn Orthodox Christianity and the Catholic Church that Patriarchal Locum Tenens references?

Published by: Geoffrey
Austin/TX/USA 01/23/2009 08:45 AM EST

Differences...like what? Fasting rules for Lent and non-Russian citizenship? Give me a break!

Seven sacraments...same
Assumption of Mary...same
Sinlessness of Mary...same
Infallibility of the Church...same
Theology of Mass...same
Male Priesthood...same
Apostolic succession...same

Honestly, I'm not seeing any differences here. Please enlighten me.

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