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This topic is really very nuanced and difficult to navigate. The theology, culture, and mentalities of Byzantine Catholics -- Ruthenians especially come to mind -- is nearly identical to their schismatic Orthodox counterparts, and will sometimes identify as Orthodox in communion with the Papacy. The treaties of Brest and Uzghorod by which several Orthodox Churches entered into communion with the Papacy guaranteed their Orthodox identity, whilst the eastern Churches would acknowledge the primacy of the Bishop of Rome and refrain from accusing the Latin Church of heresy for sundry reasons (filioque, use of unleavened bread, purgatory and indulgences, clean-shaven clergy, etc.). Also, whilst the Byzantine Catholics do not practice the divorce policies of the schismatics and accept (or at least tolerate) the recent Marian dogmas, Latins need to be careful in what they condemn or attack in the Orthodox because it can often be an equal attack on the Byzantine Catholics.

This topic is really very nuanced and difficult to navigate. The theology, culture, and mentalities of Byzantine Catholics -- Ruthenians especially come to mind -- is nearly identical to their schismatic Orthodox counterparts, and will sometimes identify as Orthodox in communion with the Papacy. The treaties of Brest and Uzghorod by which several Orthodox Churches entered into communion with the Papacy guaranteed their Orthodox identity, whilst the eastern Churches would acknowledge the primacy of the Bishop of Rome and refrain from accusing the Latin Church of heresy for sundry reasons (filioque, use of unleavened bread, purgatory and indulgences, clean-shaven clergy, etc.). Also, whilst the Byzantine Catholics do not practice the divorce policies of the schismatics and accept (or at least tolerate) the recent Marian dogmas, Latins need to be careful in what they condemn or attack in the Orthodox because it can often be an equal attack on the Byzantine Catholics.

Why would someone down vote this comment when I am simply laying out an ecclesiological fact?

Eastern Orthodoxy is a religious system shot through with inconsistencies and nationalisms. A Latin Catholic would be rash and foolish to defect to Orthodoxy because he would have to abandon his culture and he would always be suspect as a foreigner amongst the Orthodox. And, of course, Orthodoxy is cut off from the true Church. Even to go to the Western Orthodox vicariates with the Russians or Antiochians is senseless since most Orthodox hold that only the Byzantine liturgy is acceptable worship.

What I stated in my comment is simply a presentation of facts and a counsel against rash judgments since the distance between Byzantine Catholics and Eastern Orthodox is much shorter than thd distance between Byzantine Catholics and Roman Catholics, yet the Byzantine Catholics are own brothers in ecclesial communion.

I wasn't the one to downvote you, but it might be because if the "Byzantine Catholics'" mentality is "nearly identical" to the Orthodox in the ways you mentioned and identify as "Orthodox", then are they really Catholic? 

The theology, culture, and mentalities of Byzantine Catholics -- Ruthenians especially come to mind -- is nearly identical to their schismatic Orthodox counterparts, and will sometimes identify as Orthodox in communion with the Papacy.

Yes, the Byzantine Catholics are Catholic. They share the one Apostolic Faith, possess Apostolic succession (unlike the Novus Ordo where this is an open question), celebrate the seven sacraments (mysteries in their terminology), in communion with the See of Rome.

Is there anything else needed?

Do you have a different definition of Catholic, perhaps "only Roman" equals Catholic?

Have you ever met or interacted with Byzantine Catholics? I live amongst a large population of Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox -- one of the largest concentrations outside Eastern Europe and the Near East. Although as I wrote earlier, the Byzantines are closer to the Orthodox than to Latins, I also pointed out that some Byzantines call themselves "Orthodox in communion with the Papacy."

THAT makes all the difference.

Have you read the treaties of Brest or Uzghorod? Have you seen what little Rome required of the eastern Churches to enter into communion and be identified in the West as "Catholic"? Have you seen what Rome agreed to on her part?

In COMMUNION with the PAPACY!


I am reminded of a seminary professor at STAS, freshly ordained, who kept rdferring in speech and writing to the Syriac Maronite Catholic Church as the "Marianites". 🤦‍♂️