[jo kus]

1. Because Rome and the Orthodox are NOT in communion with each other. Recall, according to you, we are heretics who cannot even receive communion in your churches. That is not even close to comparing Polish and Italian Roman Catholics. I can go to any ethic Roman Catholic Church and receive. Can I go to an Eastern Orthodox Church? No. AGAIN, you are comparing apples and oranges.

2. AGAIN, you seem to think that Rome is the all-powerful, controling, centralized government of the Church, micromanaging everything at the local level. I already told you that this is RARELY done! Consider the Sexual Abuse scandal in the US. If Rome was so all-powerful and ever-controling, explain to me the response? Rome is hands-off in most cases. I sincerely doubt that Rome is going to tell ANY church to stop evangelizing. That is the mission of the Church, to spread the Good News. Perhaps if we were not considered heretics, maybe Rome might then try to curb them in. But again, unless it becomes a major political reason for disunity among our churches, I don't see it happening. Rome has other things to worry about, esp. in Europe. Esp. in the West. If the Orthodox make it a reason for continued separation, I can then see Rome stepping in. Otherwise, I see them not interfering, as their custom.

If the Orthodox want reunification, they need to seriously consider whether Rome is a heretical Church. If so, then its not going to happen.

Regards

[x5452]

1. The ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH is proposing and END TO THE SCHISM AND A UNION. The Moscow Patriarchiate is NOT PROPOSING ONE. They are being PETETIONED TO BY CATHOLICS SAYING WE ARE ALREADY ONE CHURCH. You cannt say WE ARE ONE and simutaenously be converting the converted and challanging ownership of church buildings. That is completely against the spirit of union and it is tearing faithful communities apart out of a selfish desire for more funds and more political influence by the Uniate church. You cannot say you are working to heal when you are tearing things apart.

2. If Rome had intervened early and absolutly in the clergy abuse scandal thousands of Catholic faithful wouldn't be leaving the church or just not going. That scandal has done the most to weaken the Catholic faith since Catholicism came to America.

The Orthodox DO NOT want unification they really don't give a hoot one way or the other. Moscow didn't send Metropolitan Kirill begging for union with the Catholics. The pope send Cardinal Kasper asking the Moscow Patriarchiate for unification. The burden is on the Catholic church to prove it wants healing not more hurt.