Orthodoxy and Rod
Speaking of Rod Dreher, he and his family are apparently considering leaving the Church for one of the flavors of Eastern Orthodoxy.
I like Rod. He seems to be a genuinely nice guy. And we seem to have a lot in common (we're both Southerners, we're both Catholic converts from Evangelicalism, he lives in Dallas and I grew up down there, we're both conservative - "crunchy" or otherwise, we both have made moves across the country for the sake of our families, etc.). I sorta know what Rod is going through. Several months ago, we had a conversation via the comboxes at Amy Welborn's blog, wherein we discussed some of the disappointments we, as converts, felt upon entering the Church only to find that it is NOT necessarily the Church we fell in love with reading about in books. So, I am fully aware that there are serious shortcomings today in the Church, and somewhat aware of what Rod's thought processes are.
But converting to Orthodoxy seems to me to be a rather extreme response. Rod's flirtation with Eastern Orthodoxy (and I don't mean to belittle the seriousness of Rod's discernment process on this), coupled with his need to carve out a niche within conservatism with the whole "Crunchy Con" thing, leaves me wondering whether Rod is, well, perhaps a little flaky. I know that sounds horribly judgmental. And I apologize now to Rod if he reads this and takes offense.
Which isn't to say I haven't gone through the same thought processes he's going through right now. Oh, believe me, when I first began my journey to the Church, Rome was NOT where I was looking. I was headed straight towards Constantinople and the East.
I read all the books by all the Evangelical converts to Eastern Orthodoxy. I read Becoming Orthodox by Fr. Peter Gillquist (a former Campus Crusade for Christ leader); I read Dancing Alone by Frank Schaeffer (the son of a famous Presbyterian theologian); I read The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way by Bishop Timothy Kallistos Ware (an English convert); and more. And although this helped me to grow in my love for and desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament, as well as a yearning to be deep in the Mysteries of the ancient Church, there just seemed to be a disconnect for me. Something was missing.
It was a "mistake" - which the Holy Spirit seems to delight in turning to our benefit - that led my gaze back Westward. While looking for additional Orthodox reading at the bookstore, I came across a book titled Orthodoxy by someone whose name seemed vaguely familiar to me. Thinking this was another book by a famous convert to Eastern Orthodoxy, I purchased it. I soon discovered that Gilbert K. Chesterton, although a famous convert, was NOT a convert to Eastern Orthodoxy, but a convert to Roman Catholicism. And he made a LOT of sense.
I began to read other books by converts to Roman Catholicism. Everything written by Scott Hahn; Crossing the Tiber by Stephen K. Ray (particularly helpful to me since it was written by a former Baptist); Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid; On Being Catholic by Thomas Howard; and more. And it was something that Howard wrote near the end of his book that finally convinced me that Rome was where I should go. For better or for worse, I am a Western Christian, born into the Western Church tradition. And, in the end, we have to ask ourselves whether the claims that Rome makes for herself are True. If they are, then how can we separate ourselves from that Truth. Where else are we to go? Christ's Church holds the keys to Eternal Life.
I firmly believe that THE Church is whereever Peter is. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. I would be attending Divine Liturgies that are much more rich and meaningful than the dreck we often get at Mass. But I would be missing out on the fullness of Christ's Truth - the Church built on the Rock of Peter, against which the gates of Hell shall not prevail.
I pray for Rod and his family, that the Holy Spirit will guide them and give them peace. And I fervently hope and pray that Rod and his family will choose to remain firmly on board the Barque of Peter.
UPDATE
I would be remiss if I didn't also give credit to the leadership and example provided by the late Holy Father John Paul II, which played a significant role in my decision to become Roman Catholic.
UPDATE # 2
SiliconValleySteve, commenting over at Rod's blog, offered what I consider to be an interesting insight:
What I observe in Rod's very public hand wringing is something I see often among converts from protestantism. The need for some kind of metaphysical purity. When parish life is found wanting, move on to another parish and then perhaps another faith. The schism temptation dies hard so why not revisit the first great schism. Of course, after a while in that reality, he may need to schism again. There are many divisions in the Orthodox world. So much room to divide.
***
Rod seems intent on a withdrawal from everything he finds less than ideal. Homeschooling, perfect little church etc. [ED.: And isn't this, after all, what Rod has done with "Crunchy Conservatism - create a "pure" enclave of conservativism uncorrupted by the conservatism as actually practiced in the halls of government or on the pages of National Review?] There is wisdom in the idea of a geographical parish. These are the believers I live with and I must learn to serve God here in their presence. It is a very practical exercise in humility and once you do it, amazing how much you can learn from others when you start to listen.
UPDATE # 3
Just as a side note, my family came into the Church shortly after the height of The Scandal. Truth is Truth, even when it's often hidden by the actions and tickling words of perverts and liars. Again, if what Rome claims for herself is true, then there is no choice but union with her.
UPDATE # 4
One of the things about the Orthodox Churches that never really "fit" our family (and which I think Rod - who I believe has described himself as having Zionist sympathies - will likely have trouble with) is that there seems to be a strong current of hostility towards Jews running through the Eastern Churches. That probably wasn't going to work out too well for us, given that my wife and children, although Catholic, are ethnically Jewish.
posted by Pro Ecclesia 10:59 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Thanks for the story of your journey across the Tiber, Jay. If it's any consolation to either you or Rod, know that many cradle Catholics are often disappointed or even outraged by some of the shenanigans perpetrated by some ecclesiastics, yes, even the Pope himself sometimes.
Yet it always gets back to the reality that historically, this Church is THE Church, and only this Church has Peter and the apostolic succession. The Orthodox, alas, have been proving what happens when you come untied from the secure mooring of Peter: denial of the Immaculate Conception, going squishy on contraception, and permitting divorce and remarriage in far broader contexts than the Catholic Church does (i.e., only grounds that nullify the marriage ab initio).
Despite the consternation we feel about the mess the Church is in, no other "church" has Peter and the assurances given to him by our Lord.
I pray that no others may "bail" to false and schismatic/heretical sects. It's too easy to confuse our self-will and desire for the easy road with "God's will." Any discernment leading one from the Church is not being prompted by God, but by the enemy of man.
I came back to the Church a few years ago, and while the abuse crisis was raging, I realized that I couldn't look at the indiviuals in the church to be the deciding factory, nor the history of the Church to be either. It's all about the Magisterium, guys, the adamant insistance that there is an absolute Truth, that is Christ, and His presence in the Body of Christ that is the Church.
Yes, there are priests that surrender to sin, there are bishops who fear confrontation and scandal to the point of paralysis, Masses that trivialize the Real Presence of our Lord,and there are many dissidents screaming for the Church to be other than what it is.
But, in the silence of adoration before a monstrance bearing the Eucharist, I know the holiness of the Church exists inspite of us sinners who darken her doors.
Is there an Eastern Orthodox church? Yes, several. Russian, Serbian, Greek, Antiochian, Ukranian churches, with the unity of their contempt for Rome. I'm sure their masses are more reverent than most N.O. masses, but that's not the point.
What stands in the way of being one? Peter? The Petrine Charism? How can that be, if Jesus truly built His church upon that Rock?
Too many questions. Leaving the Church is definitely not something to do on an emotional decision.
I, too, thought that Rod was looking for Camelot, and mentioned it to him in the combox.
It's sad to hear that Rod's considering leaving, though it isn't really surprising given his comments in the past.
I wonder if part of the reason Orthodoxy seems like such an attractive option for those jumping ship is because it is so miniscule in the English-speaking world that its warts, both present and historic, aren't well-known.
That tidbit about you picking up Chesterton's Orthodoxy thinking it was a book about the Orthodox church is priceless, Jay! That's serendipity for you.
Jay--just discovered your blog. It rocks!
Would love to correspond with you by e-mail about this Crunchy Con thing, about which I know little but which I also find a tad strange (insofar as I understand it, which isn't very far).
I'm at diane_kamer@yahoo.com.
God bless,
Diane
It is a good idea to become Orthodox if you believe in God. Manifestly, the promises made to Peter are void if the Petrine office is vacant as it has been since Rome went into schism by inserting the filioque into the creed of Nicaea and Constantinople. Then it became the Germano-Carolingian Church. Once the Carolingian Popes took over the Papacy died. This was lamented by all Roman Orthodox. What you call Greek or Russian Orthodox is more properly called Roman Orthodox since Constantinople was New Rome, the official center of the Church. The office of the Roman pontiff held the respect it did because it never wavered in its Orhodoxy until the Germanic tribes of Europe got the upper hand. They trashed the old celtic churches of Ireland and Britain which were Orthodox. This is all well known. But no Pope, no communion. Orthodox commemorate all the Saints amongst the Roman Popes. Orthodox are the original Sede Vacantists. As for remarriage of penitents after divorce, this was in place even whilst the Bishops of Rome and Constantinople were in union. It is witness to the wordly status of the marital state. The Roman church despite its rejection of divorce, has lowered the staus of marriage until now, many non-practicing Roman Catholics are leaving marriage altogether. This is especially true in Northern Europe. By the way, it is incorrect to call the Orthodox heretical or even schismatic since Pope John Paul II lifted the bans of excommunication from the Orthodox, although those against the SSPX still stand. You see how your Pope pulls the carpet from under you. Catholics should face up to the fact that the ideology surrounding the Petrine office and the supposed unity it brings is in shambles. It did not stand up to the greatest challenge it could face, namley the modern world. The rush to embrace the modern world in Vatican II has brought in its wake a great division amongst Catholics. There are now high church, broad church and low church Catholics whose theologies differ widely. Where's the unity here? They are being kept together by lip service to Rome. With the ever evolving Roman doctrine it is likely the Rome itself will embrace the Orthodox view of herself as she has embraced the Protestant view of the litrugy, abandoning her ancient rite for the very image of the rite Trent rejected. On top of this, Orthodoxy has kept the spirituality of the Chirstianity. First it has kept the ancient practice of each individual Xtian embracing a rule of life from a saint as a spiritual father or mother, rigorous preparation for communion in connection with ones spiritual father or mother. It has not settled for the Catholic machine like confession, a practice that Vatican II sought to reform. Instead, it pretty much did in confession forever. It goes on and on. People need to bail out of the barque before it sinks entirely. Wake up! Your salvation is in peril. Christianity is not reducible to a moral law. Otherwise, the Jewish law would have been adequate. Try to learn about the Orthodox spiritual tradition based on the Church Fathers,and I don't mean St Augustine. And then judge. This is what attracts people to orthodoxy: St Gregory Palamas and heyychast prayer, etc. You catholics sit worrying about the window dressing, your war-torn liturgies, your sex craved priests, etc. Some people want a life lived with Christ. Respect that. They can't raise a family on principles that are in controversy in the very church it which they originated. Children need a foundation. For the time being, the foundation of Roman Catholicism is wobbly.
LOL! OK, O courageous Anonymous One, you've convined me. I'll rush right out and sign up at one of the 16--or is it 17?--"autocephalous" Orthodox churches, complete with overlapping, competing jurisdictions; scandals galore among prominent hierarchs, from sex abuse to drug dealing to antiquities fencing (now *that's* a first!); a relentlessly off-putting "anti" mnetality toward Rome and everyone else (what's love got to do with it, eh? ;))...and that's just for starters.
Oh boy. I can't wait.
God bless,
Diane
Well said Anonymous. One has to sympathize with RCs though. It must be a great penance and hardship to be constantly subjected to the perverse clerisy of Fathers Hugh FitzPatrick and Patrick FitzHugh.
"...there seems to be a strong current of hostility towards Jews running through the Eastern Churches..."
I'm sorry, is this some kind of a joke ? If you chose Catholic church over Orthodox over this point then you are not aware of what you are saying.
The pope "forgave" the Jews officially for Jesus' murder only in 1975.
Read about the "rat line", a way for the catholic clergy that helped to move away the Nazis after the WWII out of the Europe to Latin America.
And personally when I hear about institutional anti semitism, the first think I think of is the catholic church. Could be something to do with its attitude and those of its belivers. One very graphic example would be Mel Gibson.
During the WWII Hitler met up with the pope, no Orthodox patriarch met or approved of Hitlers doing.
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