What do Catholics and Orthodox Think of Each Other?

00:00 Introduction
01:10 What Catholics Think of Orthodox
07:52 What Orthodox Think of Catholics

[UsefulCharts]

Super happy to have collabed with you today!

[michaelpeeler]

I’m a Catholic, studying in Greece; nearly every Orthodox parishioner I have met and spoken with has been extremely happy to have me at the liturgy, usually saying something along the lines of “we are brothers!” Out of respect for their bishops, I have of course declined to receive the Eucharist from their churches, but on many occasions they are incredibly eager to share the antidoron with me. It’s been lovely getting to meet many Orthodox parishioners here, and I pray that through Christ unity may one day return between the See of Peter and the Orthodox.

[puggrad]

As a Catholic priest, I can say that you both correctly express the official teaching of the Catholic Church and communicated my experience with Orthodoxy. I pray that we all may be one as Christ prayed at the Last Supper.

[iGamezRo]

I'm Romanian Orthodox (and very religious) and I have a very positive opinion of the Catholic Church. When I'm on a trip and I see a Catholic Church I go inside it, buy an Icon, have a talk with the Priest, whatever. I believe that our Churches should re-unite and leave petty differences aside. If we are to complete Christ's vision we need to be united and not divided.

[skimilym]

@readytoharvest Roman Catholic here. You continue to amaze me with your precision and charity with traditions that are not your own. This is an incredibly fraught conversation filled with nuance and you mastered it wonderfully. Bravo!!

[JaceyMitchell]

I'm a Roman Catholic. The man I was engaged to, before he died of cancer in 2019, was Greek Orthodox. We were life-long friends: born in the same year to parents who were close friends, grew up on the same block, went to the same schools. Through him and his family I have been blessed to this day with many Orthodox Christians who I count as family. I can honestly say all my real-life experiences with Eastern Orthodox people, whether they were with family or friends of my fiance or with complete strangers, have always been completely positive. Not a single negative experience ever. I have felt extremely welcome at every single Eastern Orthodox church I have ever been to. I love the Orthodox.
And I love the Orthodox Divine Liturgy for its beauty and deep reverence. And that in general is something I really admire in Eastern Orthodoxy: the very deep sense of revence. I have always felt like to the Orthodox the reason they go to church first and foremost is to worship and glorify God - and while that RESULTS in finding spiritual nourishment, finding that spiritual nourishment is not an important goal in itself to the Orthodox mindset from my experience as a Roman Catholic who has attended and obserbed many Orthodox Divine Liturgies. This is something I deeply admire in the Orthodox, and it has changed how I view Mass. That deep reverence is an expression of their love for Jesus, and the Orthodox really, REALLY love Jesus. In addition the Orthodox love of tradition has made them far better equipped to deal with the moral bankruptcy of "progressive Christianity". The Orthodox are holding the line. The Orthodox church in 2024 certainly has its own political challenges, but they do not appear to be caving in to progressist secular dogma, and they deserve praise for this, and we should follow their example.
So nothing but love and respect for the Orthodox: they are our closest brothers, from my perspective as a Catholic the Orthodox church is one of the two lungs of the church along with the Catholic church, and I pray the Holy Spirit guides us towards a path to unity between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Not a unity that is a watered down compromise and the product of a politically minded ecumenism of man, but one that is fully in accordance with God's will. I could think of few things that would make me happier than the mending of this deep and ancient wound in God's Church. God bless all our Orthodox brethren. ☦️✝️

[anthonyn.]

I’m part of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and I and my family have always had a positive view of Catholics. Before my parents moved from Lebanon to the US, they asked their local Orthodox priest where they should go if there isn’t an Orthodox Church nearby, and he said, “Oh, then just go to a Catholic Church!” After living in the US for several years, we soon moved to an area where the closest Orthodox Church was really far away, and we ended up attending a Catholic Church. All throughout the ten years there, neither the priest nor the Catholics there had any problem with us attending mass. I even asked my dad if he believes that Catholics are Christians, and he said “Of course they are!” He knew that the Eastern Orthodox officially believe that they’re the ‘One True Church, ’ but he said he personally doesn’t believe this.

[baldwinthefourth]

I am a Catholic and I have deep respect for the Orthodox Church.

[Kevnadian]

I was raised Jehovah Witness, then at the age of 15 I became agnostic. 10 years later thank God I am Orthodox

[Michael-heavenly]

My mom is Catholic and my dad is Orthodox- you can only imagine what my upbringing has been like 😂🙈💖

[ZZZELCH]

Remarkably well done.
-An Orthodox brother in Christ.

[knightshade]

I occasionally go to the club meetings for my university’s Orthodox club, and they are incredibly welcoming to a learning Catholic such as myself.

[LorenzoMasterConnector]

As a Catholic I have never heard another Catholic talk bad about Orthodox. I’ve heard many say “we love them and pray we can unite.”

However, when I attend Orthodox churches I hear many attacking the Catholics and many stating we will NEVER unite and how we’re demonic. But there are a few people in the Orthodox Church who have said the split is nonsense. It’s mostly the young zealous converts that are aggressive to Catholics.

[traceyedson]

Your nuance in summaries amazes me. You handle terms well & correctly, and know how to find broad yet mainstream opinion & conviction. I’m EO, and impressed with your work.

[MenwithHill]

So great to see the collaboration happened, wonderful work !

[St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs]

Wow, I am blown away about how well done this was! You are absolutely right about the differences in opinion among Catholics and Orthodox about one another. Very well done!

[Adam-fjpx]

Another excellent video Josh, and you're exactly right, many Catholics like myself have nothing but love for the orthodox, and many orthodox I know reciprocate that

[lukea.]

As a conservative Roman Catholic I must say that the way you presented the Church's positions on matters of faith and its relationship to the Orthadox and other communities was some of the most accurate one can hope to run into online. I've watched your other videos and I feel you are quite adept at presenting these complex and sometimes controversial matters.

[mournblade]

I mentioned this on another video on this channel, but it's worth repeating:

I used to work at a Franciscan university. I told one of the Franciscan priests that I was a lifelong Roman Catholic, but I admittedly did not know much about the Orthodox Churches. I asked him what the difference was, and he replied, "Well, the Catholics think they're right, and the Orthodox KNOW THEY'RE right."

I would love to see full reuinification within my lifetime.

[jimwalsh]

you give the best summaries of the Catholic teaches. I really appreciate that. Keep up the good work.