On Orthodox / Catholic Relations
John Michael Talbot

John Paul II, and Vatican II teach that the priority in ecumenical relations is the Orthodox first, followed by relations with the Protestants. Relations with non-Christians is not called ecumenism, but inter faith.

As to the Orthodox, the Pope teaches that in the Body of Christ, the Church has two lungs, the East and the West, and that we of the West have only been breathing from one lung for a long time. This leads to an unhealthy body. He encourages us to learn to breath with BOTH lungs again in order for the Body of Christ to be in full good health!

The Pope has repeatedly reached out to the Patriarchs of the Orthodox churches, who are also successors to the Apostles. Many have responded in an open and brotherly way. Some are still quite resistant.

The theological issues are complicated, but great strides have been made between the Roman and Orthodox Christians. In particular, Rome has addressed the primary issue of the added words to the Nicene Creed in the West (Catholic and Protestant), in a way that agrees with the Orthodox, but also attempts to explain the development of the West in a way the East can understand.

Let us continue to pray for attitudes of great mutual respect and love between Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians, beginning with ourselves.

Personally, I find the monastic tradition of the East quite wonderful. My book, Meditations From Solitude, hopefully explains this to western readers in a way that they can better understand.

John Michael Talbot