The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-02
REUNION OF CHURCHES.

| One OF the most mOmentOus events in
ecclesiastical history is probably about to
occur. and no one is paying any attention
to it. Pope Leo XIII is working Zealously
upOn plan for the reconciliation of the
Roman Catholic church with the Greek
church. and it is affirmed that the En-
peror of Russia lately sent one of his
brothers to Rome in order to assure the
Pope of his approval of the project. 1t is
understood that Italy and France have
both signi6ed their assent.
The Eastern or Greek church is really
the parent stock; the Catholic church
seeded from it when the Eastern patri-
archs refused to acknowledge the suprem-
acy of Rome. Some small conflicts OF
doctrine precipitated the division; but the
main reason why the Christian church
split in two in 1864 was the claiE of the
Eastern patriarchs for absolute independ-
ence. and the contention of the Pope that
be was the paramount authority in mat
tiers ecclesastic. During the four centu-
ries which followed the breach successive
Popes endeavored in vain to heal it.
When Constantinople fell into the hands
of the Turks, and the Greek church was
penned In between the Moslem in Turkey
and the Catholic in Austria, the motive for
reunion became less potent, and each
church pursued its separate path without
interfering with the other.
In the main the doctrines of both were
the same. In ferns and rites differences
crept in and wide gulf between the two
was opened by the final settlement of the
controversy over the marriage Of priests
Before the eleventh century celibacy or
marriage were open questions which each
Bishop regulated in his own diocese
according to his judgment of the best in
terests of the church. Some time after
that date the church of Rome adopted the
law Of priestly celibacy and made it
obligatory. The patriarchs Of Alexandria.
Antioch and Constantinople took diff
ferent view. They not only allowed
priests to marry, but unmarried priests
could not be ordained: though. if their
first wives died, they could not marry
again. But it was established as a rule
of the church that Bishop must be a
monk sworn to celibacy. Bothlrules are
in force to-day.
The effect OF reunion OF the two
churches would be TO add about 90. 500, 600
mem bers to the Catholic church and to
cause the Greek church to pass out of
existence. Whether this would involve
political consequences is question for
statesmen. In the countries lying south
of Russia and east of Austria proper there
are about 20. 100000 members of the Greek
church, and 1T IS probable that
the religious differences between them
and the Catholic people have something to
do with the Pansiavist movement. II. as
is stated, the Emperor Of Russia Is con-
senting party 10 the proposed fusion he
must calculate that the weakening Of Pam
slavsm would com pensate him for the risk
he would run by antagoniZing the robust
devotion of his peasantry Of Northern and
Central Russia to their church. He must
feel confident of his power TO persuade the
people Of the Danu blan provinces to ex-
change their faith for one to which they
have always been opposed. But, perhaps,
he reckons that the step would reconcile
to his sway the Poles, who are determined
| Catholics.
1t seems difficult subject. but its FEAST
bility is indicated by many straws. The
Government at ST. Petersburg has just or
dered all priests of the Catholic faith now
imprisoned in Siberia TO be liberated. Or
ders have been given to stop all interior.
ence with the Cath olic churches in Poland.
At Athens, Belgrade and Bucharest,
which are headquarters of the Greek
church, the scheme is noticed approvingly.
On the other hand the Pope has endow ed
Greek church seminary in Italy with a
large annual sum. Leo has also endowed
The Armenian and Greek colleges at Rome
and the Greek church seminary of St.
Anne's at Jerusalem. Cardinal Vanutelli,
one of the most eminent prelates of the
Papal court, has just published book
going to show that reunion, far from weak
ening either church, would strengthen
them both.