the cuppboard

Anonymous asked: Have you eliminated Eastern (Orthodox) Church? I am asking this because I am eager to convert to Orthodoxy. I've been through all these feelings and doubts you've been through. You are not alone! xxx

I wouldn’t say I’ve eliminated the Orthodox Church. No matter what, they will always be a part of my spirituality! I connect with Orthodox prayers in a way I haven’t yet with Catholic prayers. The Jesus Prayer has become a vital element of my spiritual walk. I love so much about their tradition, it is hard for me to even think of eliminating them!

I don’t want to say too much, because I am not very knowledgeable on the subject of the relationship between the Orthodox & Catholic Churches (and it seems like an area you must have VAST knowledge on to speak well about it), but thus far, it seems most Catholics largely affirm Orthodox theology and want to bring them into communion with Rome. The Orthodox Church, on the other hand, rejects a good amount of “Latin” theology, and would demand that Catholics reject those aspects before they could be in communion with the Orthodox. 

So in Catholicism, I could largely continue to embrace Orthodox theology/spirituality without being heretical (there are obvious limits to this assertion, but I am speaking in general here so please go easy on me!), while in Orthodoxy I would have to reject the Catholic Church, which I’ve come to love, as heretical. If I am wrong on any of these points, please correct me. It’s a very tough issue. 

Plus, as I’ve mentioned before, I feel like Catholicism has a solid framework for deciding moral issues that Orthodoxy lacks. If one Synod/Bishop/Priest tells me birth control is moral in my circumstance, yet another tells me it’s not, who is right? Not “who should I obey” but who is telling me the objective moral truth about this issue? 

These are many thoughts that are flying through my head at the moment! I’m sorry if I spoke wrongly; feel free to correct me!

♥ee