Orthodox Outlet for Dogmatic Enquiries	Papism and Ecumenism

Intervention by the Greek Archbishop of the Old Catholics

on the matter of the Orthodox - Roman Catholic dialogues

Source: http://panagiotisandriopoulos.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post_07.html

This is a re-publication of the letter by the Archbishop of the Old Catholics in Greece, Mr. George Papathanasiou, addressed to a blog that supports the Ecumeni(sti)cal trend and provides us with an independent look at the issue of dialogues with the Latins. The reason for this letter was the complaints that were expressed by the Orthodox during a scientific meeting between Orthodox and Latin theologians at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki.

Honourable Mr. Andriopoulos,

We read your article in the Catholic newspaper "Parish Bells", issue No.711 of 21-6-2009, in which you refer to the "turmoil" by the "super orthodox". Albeit not an orthodox myself, I still believe that you are wronging a large portion of the faithful of Orthodox Christianity. In this joke of a theatrical performance which has been called a "scientific meeting" at the Aristotelian University, I ask you, who were the ones that essentially participated?

1. Cardinal Kasper: who participates in ecumenical discussions with sects and with 'churches' that have women in the priesthood; he is one who is under a Holy Father, but is among those that tolerated the horrible scandal of Assisi (common prayer with all the other strange representatives: Jews, Muslims, Voodoos, Animists, etc...)

2. The Exarch Uniate, D. Salachas: a representative of a problematic Church that is neither Orthodox nor Catholic, and whose "priests" slander and insult Hierarchs of other Churches that do not agree with their tactics and beliefs. I have personal experience, and all the relative information is at your disposal.

3. The "Most Reverend" Mr. John Spiteris: of the same material as the Exarch Salachas, and additionally, that his ecumenical spirit does not coincide with his harsh, anti-Orthodox statements in the British Catholic Newspaper "Tablet" two years ago.

4. The co-Chairman, Rev. John Zizioulas: A greatly respected elder with an academic spirit and a broad education, but with many mistakes on account of his bad alliances with individuals like the ones mentioned above.

Today, we acknowledge in the Holy Orthodox church a lofty spirituality and a powerful pacifist asceticism - an element that it had lost, during the pastorate of the Reposed Archbishop Christodoulos. There are no self-luminous reactions, only provoked ones, by spirits that are animated by the sin of self-love, grandiosity, egotism, the exploitation of the principles and the beliefs of others, the characterization as "schismatic" - "anti-catholic" or even "super-orthodox" or "super-catholic".

Ecumenism demands the respect of one's faith and personality by the other. I want to remind you - and this is something that everyone knows - of the continuous claims of quality by Catholic modernists (emulators of the Protestant monstrosity of the 2nd Vatican Council) with regard to the superiority of the Catholic clergy's education and its philanthropical opus as compared to the simple and suffering family man (in many cases a Holy and 'combatting' Priest). Those protesting against such practices are not fascists, dear brother; Do not give the right to your text to "make all of them appear 'holier-than-thou'". Your article has been published only in Catholic papers, and I ask you: why?

What will the Reverend John Zizioulas accomplish, with his infinite Meetings and Conventions? Essentially, nothing; because you either accept the role of underling and join up with them (just like those who are also called Hellenic-Rite), or, you remain independent, together with your tradition, with your faith, with the example of the Saints and your martyrs, with your theology and your "minimal" -in their opinion- education. However, you are independent, and this independence leads you to the realm of Salvation. I am not writing to you in order to defend the methods of certain fanatic brothers of ours; I am simply telling you that nothing happens without a reason.

May the Heavenly Father give you Love and Peace

With every Blessing

In Christ and Mary

Reverend Dr. George - Gregory

Archbishop of the Old Roman Catholic Church

____________________

Note: The "Old Roman Catholic Church" is a "community of churches". Many of them were the German-speaking churches, which had excised themselves from the Roman Catholic Church in the decade of 1870, on account of the institution of the dogma of Papal infallibility by the 1st Vatican Synod. Many objections had been raised, mainly by theologians and Catholics of Germany, the first one being the Munich professor Ignatius Dollinger. Even though he was excommunicated along with his ideological followers by the Metropolitan of Munich, they together formed a special Church, which was named "Church of the Old Catholics", initially in the German-speaking countries. The Orthodox Church is presently in a dialogue with the Old Catholics. The term "Old Catholic" was first used in 1853 to denote the members of the Utrecht seat, who did not belong to the jurisdiction of the Pope.
For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Catholic_Church

Translation: K.N.