This entire year has been me going back and fourth between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, and it's getting tiring. I'm attending divine liturgy right now, I'm not a catachumen yet but I've made friends with people at the parish and have been trying to get more involved. However lately my mind has been consumed by thoughts of Catholicism, and doubt for Orthodox claims. Catholicism even seems to be more pragmatic in it's claims to truth. I don't want to be a church hopper, and I'm starting to feel really ashamed of myself.
I can't stop thinking about Catholicism
Liam Jenkins
Cameron Garcia
Every week we have this thread.
Grayson Parker
What kind of thoughts are you having about Catholicism?
Aaron Lopez
*day
Austin Hughes
The churches claims to authority, what that authority means, and the grand scheme of things. I kind of miss praying the rosary as well, and there's something too Roman Catholicism that feels instinctually right. I got that same instinctual feeling of truth when I first started attending divine liturgy, but I don't know how to make sense of the schism, or if it's even justifiable.
Carter Howard
Read the latter-schism Saints and decide for yourself. For Catholicism, I recommend St. Francis De Sales and St. Alphonsus Maria De Ligouri. Orthodox have Seraphim Rose and Kallisto Ware.
Camden Foster
Its a actual question that neither Catholics or Orthodox can answer. Well, nobody can answer for all I can see.
At the same time, since the schism is going to end as prophesied by multiple saints, I suppose it doesn't matter.
Zachary Collins
You mean the Pope's authority?
Don't get carried away with your feelings, that's how the Enemy tempts us.
What don't you understand about it?
Joseph Cook
which is?
if you mean this
Yes, it has everything to do with what Christ proclaims is His Church, which has the ability to loose and bind on Heaven and Earth, and against which Hell shall not prevail.
There are several things you get out of this:
1. The need for the true Church to have true authority to "loose and bind" things, which pertains to teachings on Faith and Morals. Elsewhere in the scriptures, the Mosaic Jewish Rabbi's had the authority to "loose and bind", and Christ rebuked them for not following what they "binded".
2. "Hell will not prevail" - So, this True Church with always exist.
3. Now, what is this authority?
For 3., this has everything to do with the Apostle's, and in case for Catholics, Christ's pronouncement of St. Peter as the "block" that Christ's Church shall be built upon.
Both Churches claim apostolic succession, but only one claims that St. Peter had primacy, and an eternal seat of the Church that had to be filled.
David Stewart
Obviously I'm biased, but we have both a formidable theological tradition and expansive spiritual traditions.