FACT: The S.S.P.X. teaches the SAME Faith and offers the SAME Mass and Sacraments as all Roman Catholic priests did until 40-some years ago. They do not withdraw submission to the Pope, they pray for the Pope and local ordinary at each and every Mass, they desire no schism, they've not set up a "parallel church" by claiming ordinary jurisdiction.
FACT: The Orthodox deny the Catholic understanding of the papacy, purgatory, and the Immaculate Conception. They are heretics.
Now, can you explain why the neo-cats rail, rail, RAIL against the S.S.P.X., talking about them as "those Protestants," warn people away from them, etc., etc., ad nauseum, but embrace and apologize for the Orthodox as if there is no problem whatsoever? A sampling from EWTN's "Ask an Expert" columns:
Re-Converting Eastern Orthodox Christians
Question from on 12-23-2001:
How many Orthodox Christians do you know that consider the Catholic and Orthodox as "Sister Churches"!. I don't know of any!. According to an Antiohcian Orthodox priest. The Catholic Church and Orthodox Church have "nothing" in common. And Eastern Catholics under the Bishop of Rome is an insult to Orthodoxy!.
Answer by Anthony Dragani on 01-02-2002:
Bob,
To say that the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have "nothing" in common is absolutely ridiculous. What about Jesus Christ? Don't Orthodox and Catholic Christians share a common devotion to the Lord? Don't we share in the one baptism? Do we not both partake of the Body and Blood of Christ?
I know of many Orthodox Christians who consider the Catholic and the Orthodox Church to be "Sister Churches." The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, signed a joint declaration with Pope John Paul II that says:
"Considering that in every local Church the mystery of divine love is realized and that this is how the Church of Christ shows forth its active presence in each one of them, the Joint Commission has been able to declare that our Churches recognize one another as Sister Churches, responsible together for safeguarding the one Church of God, in fidelity to the divine plan, and in an altogether special way with regard to unity. We thank the Lord of the Church from the bottom of our hearts because these affirmations we have made together not only hasten the way to solving the existing difficulties, but henceforth enable Catholics and Orthodox to give a common witness of faith."
- COMMON DECLARATION SIGNED IN THE VATICAN BY POPE JOHN PAUL II AND PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I June 29, 1995
God Bless, Anthony
Orthodox and Communion
Question from on 05-23-2005:
Receiving communion in the Orthodox Church is a moot point because the Orthodox as a rule do not give communion to Catholics. Conversely, they excommunicate any of their members who receive communion in a Catholic Church.
Answer by Robert J. Flummerfelt, J.C.L. on 05-23-2005:
Hi John,
While this is true for most Orthodox Christians, this is NOT the case for all Orthodox Churches. Determinations about reception of Communion and under what circumstances are determined by which Eastern Orthodox Church you are talking about.
Regarding the Catholic perspective on receiving holy Communion by the Orthodox we permit it, but we also recognize that the Orthodox should respect their own discipline before receiving in our Church. CIC canon 844 is germane to the discussion.
Peace, Bob
Eastern Orthodox Church and Communion
Question from on 05-18-2005:
When is it acceptable for an Eastern Orthodox Christian to receive communion in the Catholic Church and when is it acceptable for a Catholic to receive communion in an Eastern Orthodox Church?
Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 05-18-2005:
This is settled by the Code of Canon Law.
For Catholics receiving from Orthodox:
Canon 844, 2. Whenever necessity requires or genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for the faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose churches these sacraments are valid.
For Orthodox receiving from Catholics:
c. 844, 3. Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the oriental churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacraments and are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other churches, which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are concerned.
Receiving communion
Question from on 04-25-2005:
I'm not sure if this is Canon Law, but all the bins are full and I'd like an answer: My brother-in-law & wife will be godparents to our baby-daughter, the christening is at Pentecost. Now, my sister-in-law is Greek-Orthodox (so, she's basically the 'Christian Witness'), and I was wondering: is she allowed to receive H.Communion during Mass (the christening is during the Family Mass with the whole parish present)? I know when we married, the priest allowed the Greek-Orthodox guests to receive H.Communion, but I'm thinking maybe that was because we got married in Cyprus...This time she'll be one of very few non-Catholics present, and I know she'll go up as she would do back home in Cyprus (we live in England). Is she 'allowed'or would she need to ask the priest first? I don't want to cause her any embarrassment, but I've heard different things from different people...
Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 04-25-2005:
Your Greek Orthodox sister-in-law may serve as the godmother, not merely as a Christian witness as if she were a Protestant or Anglican.
She is permitted to receive Holy Communion if this is what she wants (and she is the one taking the initiative). However, she may be prohibited from receiving Catholic communion by her own Church's laws.
Communion in Orthodox Churches
Question from on 03-08-2005:
This is more about the Eastern Orthodox Churches than Eastern Catholic Churches but I figured you would take it. I am planning to go to Russia for about three weeks for a class. Part of the time I will be near Moscow, part on the southern coast of the white sea, and part on the Kola peninsula. How prevenent are the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches in these areas? Also, if I cannot get to a Catholic church I understand it is O.K. to go to an Orthodox church instead from the Catholic point of view (correct me if I'm wrong), but on Orthodox web pages, including that of the Russian Orthodox Church, I just found over and over again the statement that non-Orthodox were not permited to recieve the Eucharist from them. Therefore, will they permit me to revieve the Eucharist if I wish to? Finally, if it looks likely that I will not able to attend Mass at any church whatsoever for one or more Sundays, do you think a college course not required for graduation but which will be very helpfull is good enough reason to miss Mass, or at least to risk it?
Answer by Anthony Dragani on 04-22-2005:
Jason,
There are Catholic churches in Russia, although they are not nearly as prevalent as the Russian Orthodox churches. There are very few Eastern Catholic parishes there, however, and they may be extremely hard to find.
If it is not possible to get to a Catholic church on a Sunday, you are dispensed from the Sunday obligation. However, I would recommend attending a Russian Orthodox Church for Sunday Divine Liturgy. While you cannot receive communion, as most Orthodox priests do not allow this, you can still participate in the liturgy, which is in itself a heavenly experience.
Finally, if I was in your situation, I would avail myself of the opportunity and definitely go on the trip.
God bless, Anthony
I could find PLENTY more. 'Splain that to me, Lucy.
