Latest Possible Catholic/Orthodox Reunification

This is a simple question: When is the latest time that these two Churches could achieve full reunification. Not merely a partial unification like with the Byzantine Catholic church, but a fairly universally acknowledged unification.
 

Raymann

Banned
It’s a hard question to answer. When you try to predict when something will happen, it’s necessary to have some indicators that progress is moving toward the event. Technically I would say never, there is a future chance for full communion like what the Traditional Anglican Communion is trying to do but that’s not really unifying.

The churches are talking, have been for decades, but other than the leadership not hating each other anymore not much has happened. The problem is actually more on the Orthodox side, Catholics don’t have many theological problems with East, in fact it’s the Protestants who are considered heretical not the Orthodox. The ecclesiological issues they have problems with (mainly Papal supremacy) can be overcome.

The Orthodox have the previously mentioned ecclesiological issues on top of many theological issues with the Catholic Church. Most notably is the Filioque which deals with the relationship of the Trinity. Basically (very basically) Catholics believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equal and the same. Orthodox believe the power of the Holy Spirit comes just from the Father, not the Son. It’s all very confusing but there are other serious differences also.

When the Orthodox accept the supremacy of the Pope (there is no other way around it) and both sides are able to say the same Nicene Creed, then there MAY be a chance for reunification. Personally, I give the Romulans and Vulcans a better chance. :)
 

Cook

Banned
This place is getting to be a Seminary School!
Shall we debate the number of Angels that can dance on the head of a pin?
:p
 
Of course, it is worth pointing out that that canard about angels and pins never actually happened. The medaeval theologians used it as an example of a useless debate. (The answer, BTW, is as many as would want to!:D)
However, given the OTL results of the schism, it is an interesting topic. My guess is that it would have to be before the Venetians hijacked the Fourth Crusade. Many Greek Orthodox in particular have never forgiven the Latins for it.
 

Keenir

Banned
This is a simple question: When is the latest time that these two Churches could achieve full reunification. Not merely a partial unification like with the Byzantine Catholic church, but a fairly universally acknowledged unification.

under Pope John Paul II.
 

Philip

Donor
The ecclesiological issues they have problems with (mainly Papal supremacy) can be overcome.

I don't think these can be overcome easily. Orthodox ecclesiology is deeply tied to Orthodox Christology. They are very unlikely to change the latter, thus equally unlikely to change the former. Catholic ecclesiology likewise reaches into many other aspects of their theology, but the effect seems to be different. The Catholic Church seems to be more willing to overlook certain other theological differences as long as the Papacy is recognized.

The Orthodox have the previously mentioned ecclesiological issues on top of many theological issues with the Catholic Church. Most notably is the Filioque
Many Orthodox theologians consider the Filioque issue to be just a symptom of the greater problem of the Papacy. If the issue of Universal Jurisdiction is resolved either way, the the issue of the Filioque will be resolved by default.

which deals with the relationship of the Trinity. Basically (very basically) Catholics believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equal and the same. [emphasis mine]
Um, I can't think of any Catholic theologian who would agree with that last part. It's rather difficult to square that with the Athanasian Creed.

Orthodox believe the power of the Holy Spirit comes just from the Father, not the Son.
Um, not really. They believe that the person of the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone. The power of the Spirit is innately his own as he is God himself.
 

Philip

Donor
My guess is that it would have to be before the Venetians hijacked the Fourth Crusade. Many Greek Orthodox in particular have never forgiven the Latins for it.

Yes, absolutely before that. I would suggest that the any time after the official Schism is too late. The theological differences were already too great by then.
 
Actually, I'd say the answer to this question is
Shortly before the extinction of the human race.

They could still unite in a century or 2 or 3 (assuming the Human Race is still around; or more to the point, assuming both churches are).
 
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