The Roman Catholics ecumenists seem to conveniently never get the memo that there are still many and major points of doctrinal disagreement between them and the Orthodox Communion of Churches. It's like a relationship that's been split up and one party still continues to insist they are boyfriend-girlfriend and the other party says no. It is aggravating to hear Catholics on internet forums, in churches, at friendly get-togethers continuing to put forward the absolute myth that there are no major disagreements. That's ridiculous.
I will direct you to my friend Anastasia's blog where she recalls an instance when a Roman Catholic, at an ecumenical meeting got up and made that blatantly false statement. Her response to it is worth reading. (FYI: I have a comment on that post)
She asks at the end How the Orthodox are supposed to have any real dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church who simply must know, must know that there are no doctrinal differences is blatantly false. The simple answer is "We can't and we shouldn't." If the Roman Catholics are not going to even be honest with the fact that divisions still do exist, then they are being disingenous, at best.
The question then arises about why they do this? They cannot plead ignorance because I believe that they are being actively taught this by their clergy and hierarchs. I believe that the Roman Catholics do this because they know that their beliefs of being subject to the pope who has universal primacy over doctrine is completely anathema to us Orthodox. They can't say it else the conversation is immediately ended. So, they'll deny it to hopefully keep us talking and, when the moment is right and when the ink on the paper is still wet indicating full communion, some Cardinal will jump out of the cake and yell, "You're papists now!"
Dialogue only works when both sides approach it from absolute honesty. Sadly, the Catholics are not being honest and when they are called on it, they cry foul.
St. Stephen
3 hours ago
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