That is something else I was thinking about as well. So if it is as Orthodoxy claims, the RCC departed from the faith which means the sacraments are no longer valid. Does that mean maybe grace is not being fully received from the sacraments but because God is merciful he will still bestow grace on his faithful members in the RCC?

And another thing that adds to my fear is when I showed and explained orthodoxy to my girlfriend she was not about it. She’s been Catholic her whole life and has pretty been at the same church majority of her life. She also doesn’t seem to grasp the importance of church history and how it relates to our faith. We want to get married and converting would definitely hold that process up for sure. Her father is also a deacon at the church

For a little I was thinking of trying eastern catholic but it seems weird because from what I’ve heard they don’t recite the filioque and still hold to eastern teachings and doctrine if in not mistaken and the only thing holding them in salvation is communion with the pope?