On the Fence Between Catholic & Orthodoxy w/ Erick Ybarra

In this clip, Matt talks about a desire many people have to move toward tradition, and how that draws a lot of people away from the Catholic Church and to the Orthodox Church. Erick shares about why he also felt that draw, but ultimately couldn't leave.
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[AquinasAssociate]

I’m stuck in the cycle Mr. Ybarra described right now. His story is quite inspiring

[vbitar]

I can relate. I was on the edge of asking for acceptance to the Orthodox Church mainly because my Catholic Church choices were limited to NO where I was living. Things did not click at the time being the beginning of coronavirus. I found a great online Catholic Mass and community that kept me going. I now do both the online and in Church to receive the sacraments. This is not perfect but better than leaving the Church. I feel blessed.

[jordand]

Ok Ybarra, I’m an instant fan and haven’t heard of you before. Total honesty and openness on the subject. Super glad I clicked on this video. Thanks Matt for having the conversation.

[thecorbern]

Thanks for this. I also thought of Orthodoxy and truly respect them. But then I think of Our Lady, Mary Magdalen, and St John at the Cross til the bitter end. I’m staying with Christ’s Bride until the end. 🙏. With God’s mercy, of course. I cannot do it on my own.

[guesswhopeekaboo]

3:46 based imo. I'm currently on the journey of rediscovery of my faith. Raised catholic and interested in orthodox. But I love this idea that we can never be so self-assured. I've found assurance "this is the fullness of faith/truth, " to be a sin of hubris. We have faith that we're on the best path to seek Truth. We do NOT know what is ultimately best but we pray to be alogned with God's will. That sounds a lot more like humility to me.

[Kralperri]

The difference between orthodoxy and catholicism, frankly put, is that tradition is more of a concept than a reality in the catholic church in comparison to the orthodox church. In the orthodox church, tradition is the life of the church. Without it, orthodoxy doesn't exist anymore. No other denomination in the whole world has a place like Mount Athos. This speaks volumes.

[SuperIliad]

Over many years I have read and listened to volumes of histories and arguments from and against Catholicism and Orthodoxy. I came away with a sad certitude that at least most if not all of the Orthodox reasons are not in accord with facts. It is apparent that in many crises, the Eastern Fathers appealed to Rome to rid the East of prevailing heresies, and when even the heretics ceased their false teachings and persecutions against those holding fast to the teachings of the Church in Rome. Jesus gave us a church structure taken from the Mosaic model, with a single and final arbiter. I love and respect our Orthodox sisters and await their return home as the did one father of a disaffected son.

[joaol.galdino]

I'm in a similar situation. I live in Portugal. On one side, most of the Catholic churches near me are Novus Ordo and it seems like there is very little youth interest in tradition. On the other side I can't understand a single word in the Orthodox Churches services here, there is a minuscule attendance from young people, who are mostly also uninterested in tradition, and the community is mostly ethnocentric and tightly knit.

[luisgerardoluevanosmedina]

Catholic Faith Forever and Ever. Viva Cristo Rey ! Viva Santa Maria de Guadalupe y San Jose !

[Thomasrice]

I am stuck in a different cycle. I am Catholic (and Christian) primarily because of Thomas Aquinas. It was his understanding of God that drew me back. I revere Scripture, but only in context of the God found in Scripture by Aquinas.

[Seraphim]

I was Catholic 50 years. 15 years ago I became Orthodox and found my true hme. I love being Orthodox and will remain here.

[mertonhirsch]

The Apostolic Constitutions quotes Peter in stating that Linus was ordained by PAUL, and Linus is listied by the Roman Catholic Church as the second Pope of Rome. In the Apostolic Constitutions, Peter is quoted as saying that Linus was the FIRST bishop of Rome. Even if we somehow go back and insert Peter before him, as he was Apostle to Rome, Linus was not in the line or Peter, so that means the Pope does not have to be Apostolic from Peter. It is an internal inconsistency of Roman Catholic stance.

The Ecumenical Council of Constantinople was presided by the Patriarch of Constantinople, even though the Pope of Rome was living in Constantinople at the time. The Pope of Rome refused to attend, and stated that the Council should not take place, and he was put in prison for not attending, and the rulings of the council are considered ecumenical doctrine of the Church. The Emperor sent a letter to the Pope "informing" him of the determinations of the council (not asking for his approval). Clearly, there was NOT a generally held belief in Papal SUPREMACY by the time of the Ecumenical councils.

[conancpa]

Still on the fence / in that cycle myself. it's not so much evidence as trust.

[IrishEddie]

I have had the exact opposite experience of Erick. I entered the Catholic Church in 2001 through the Byzantine Rite. At that time, I was told that to be Byzantine was to be "Orthodox in Communion with Rome." Being a Protestant with very limited knowledge of the Early Church, the Early Fathers, and the history of Christianity (in other words, a theological moron thanks to Protestant pastors) I accepted this. I was very interested in Orthodoxy but didn't care for the Novus Ordo at all. Being "Orthodox in Communion with Rome." seemed to solve my problem.

I have since found out that this is an Oxymoron. You cannot be "Orthodox in Communion with Rome." I saw a number of Byzantine parishes in which the praxis of the people was more Roman Catholic than Orthodox - praying the Rosary instead of the Jesus Prayer, believing in the Immaculate Conception, which is not Orthodox, along with believing in other Roman Catholic dogmas that the Orthodox reject. In short, this is like trying to mix oil and water - it doesn't work. As Pope Francis said, Uniatism is a non-workable and passe issue. Either be Roman Catholic or Orthodox, but don't try to mix the two.

The final straw for me was understanding what it means to be "in communion." There was a reason that heretics were not allowed to receive communion in the Early Church - they didn't have unity with the Church. Communion means that we have unity of faith and dogma. This cannot be until Rome rejects all that she has invented since the schism of 1054 AD. This is why neither Orthodox nor Catholic allow Protestants to the Holy Table to receive the Eucharist - because they are not in union (communion) with us in dogmatic matters.

So, this Pascha, I hope to be chrismated into the Holy Orthodox faith, the faith which, as James says in the Scriptures, is the faith "once delivered to the saints." Once. No such thing as "development of doctrine, " especially when it means inventing things that would have the Early Fathers running for the hills screaming "heresy!" at the top of their lungs. The Roman Catholic Church is in error and has left the faith of the Fathers. Let us pray that unity in truth is achieved and the two bodies will become one Church again.

[TaehunGrammar]

His analogies are the best. Against Protestantism it’s a first round knock out. Not the church that started at Pentecost, Jesus clearly entrusted the sacraments to the apostles, etcetera etcetera. If you seriously consider Orthodoxy, you are going the full distance.

[lamb]

Thank you. I struggle& that was helpful🙂

[jaemarquiz]

Orthodox churches are more divided and fractured than the Catholic Church. Historically it’s just one Church with a unifying visible head. Heard every argument. To me it’s just logical that the church is hierarchical (denotes too) with one by a visible head, (doesn’t matter if the head is not being faithful) it just makes sense if we look at God and angel’s hierarchy in Heaven. Orthodoxy’s premise of Synodality and total autonomy just isn’t compatible with God’s nature and plan

[matheusmotta]

Look at what is happening at the Vatican Council of Sinodality, and the New Catholic Mass, then look at the Orthodox Divine Liturgy. It's pretty clear.

[EmmanuelLambertCanada]

I left the Church and returned after a mystical experience/ personal revelation. I have a tremendous respect for my Orthodox brothers and sisters and I fund their rites and traditions very attractive and reverential. I have found my path through the Traditional Latin Mass. My solution when in doubt seek a Benedictine. Grateful for St Benedict and his guidance

[cafep]

For me, it was an easy choice. If orthodoxy is the true Church, why can't I find a single Orthodox parish within 500 miles of where I live? Does God not care about Brazil? Of course, He does. That's why Brazil was founded by Catholics, and now we have Catholic parishes in every city in Brazil, no matter how remote or isolated. Thank God for the gift of His True Catholic Apostolic Church.