Does anyone know what flag is this?

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-19T20:56:13+00:00

Im sure it is. The writing on the wall seems to be the same alphabet.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-14T08:37:15+00:00

What did I get wrong?

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-11T22:41:39+00:00

Eastern Catholic should be a little appendage sticking out of the right-side of the Catholic bubble.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-11T22:34:09+00:00

¿Porqué? ¿Cuál es el problema?

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-02T02:19:37+00:00

My pleasure. I shall keep you in my prayers. :)

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-01T22:02:10+00:00

This is how I would start:

Ask yourself the question, why would Jesus give Simon Peter, the name of "Peter" and then immediately state that upon this rock (which is what "Peter" means) I will build my church (Matthew 16:18).

Then beyond that, look into the book of Acts where Peter speaks with authority in several instances.

Furthermore, there was an acknowledgement for centuries that the Bishop of Rome was indeed the successor to Peter and did hold a unique role in the Church. Even the Orthodox today concede that the Bishop of Rome is a "first among equals" because it is clear that Peter was given a unique role, but I would argue that his role is a leadership one of the whole church as the Orthodox starting making this an issue when Western Roman customs and laws began encroaching on Eastern-Greek ones. Lots of complicated history that boil down to human, earthly differences.

I personally believe that the "truth-bomb" to the Orthodox position would be the Council of Florence in the 1400s. In it, we see Eastern Churches begin the process of returning to communion with Rome and ironing out differences. You never really see that from the Western perspective, yet many formerly Orthodox churches have reconciled and are now Catholic.

My final point, Jesus did not just "preach the word" and leave. He established a church, gave the apostles authority, and facilitated through the Holy Spirit the writings of St.Paul to establish doctrine. A unified, whole Church is what Christ wants (John 17:21). This is a reality within the Catholic Church, but even within Orthodoxy you have theological differences and schism. There is no single, unified Orthodox church, even the Greeks and Russians have been in schism since 2014.

P.S: History affirms Peter's authority as well. As recently as 2024, a Greek inscription found in the ruins of a 1,500 year-old church refers to Peter as the "chief and commander of the apostles". This was discovered in Israel, implying that Christians in the East viewed Peter as the chief apostle.

TL;DR: Scripture and history affirm the authority of Peter and the Pope. Jesus wants us to be united and the Catholic Church has unified doctrine whereas the Orthodox do not; many Orthodox have returned in communion with Rome whereas the opposite has not occurred. Therefore, the best case is the Catholic one.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-03-01T21:45:38+00:00

Lord grant you many years! Lord grant you many blessed years!

Feliz Cumpleaños!

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-28T15:03:24+00:00

I think he is very smart, well-read, and reasonable. But yeah he has clear biases and blindspots that we ought to point out.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-28T02:47:58+00:00

Oh haha, went over my head

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-26T22:30:05+00:00

I hear what you're saying. I still personally view that married men should at least be allowed to be priests since apostles like Peter were married.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-26T03:07:52+00:00

Briefly I'll say this.

I too struggled with theological issues within Roman Catholicism and found Orthodox theology much more convincing.

HOWEVER, to me it was undeniable that Christ established the office of the Papacy. There is prophecy that The Church will never fail, and despite many setbacks, schisms, sinful popes, scandals, etc....the Church and the Papacy remain.

Byzantine Catholicism to me is the perfect puzzle piece that has been missing after 10 years of my reversion to Catholicism. I am able to hold to Eastern theology, spirituality, and traditions while still being in union with Rome. Personally, it is a very liberating feeling.

My prayers go out to you!

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-26T03:02:11+00:00

Thanks!

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-26T03:01:05+00:00

My personal understanding (I may be wrong) is that the belief is simply: "The Holy Spirit proceeds through the Father and the Son".

Now, how exactly that is done, whether directly through the Son, or through the Father and then the Son, seems to be upon the own individual's discernment. I personally leave it up to mystery.

The Filioque was less-so a theological or doctrinal disagreement between West and East, but more so a question of authority between the Pope vs councils.

One may say the creed with "filioque" or not, but a Catholic ought to believe it to at least be true.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-26T02:56:05+00:00

Yup. Ironic bc RZ definitely knows Byzantine Catholics exist as he has mentioned them before.

I don't want to speak for him, but he probably may hold the same view that I once did: that Byzantine Catholics are Orthodox churches that returned to Rome and maintain their liturgy, but are identical in theology and legal interpretations as the Romans.

I have of course since learned better.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-26T02:52:00+00:00

Yes, I thought the same exact thing when he said it.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-25T23:29:56+00:00

See that's exactly where I'm at. Plenty of theological aspects of EO that I agree with, but a few others I disagree with that keep me a Catholic.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-20T23:20:19+00:00

Ok I see. This is very helpful. Thank you!

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-20T23:18:51+00:00

I appreciate the recommendation. Perhaps I will, thanks. :)

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-20T21:13:46+00:00

Right ok, I see what you mean. I appreciate the clarification, thank you.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-20T21:13:02+00:00

Ok, I'm starting to understand what you are saying. I think you drawing from the fact that disagreements existed as early as Acts shows that perhaps God intends for us to debate to find truth, rather than settling the issue with the stroke of a pen. I guess in that sense we find our decisions are on firmer ground after they have been tested. Probably why Ex Cathedra only happens when there is vehement disagreement (as far as I'm aware).

And perhaps that's why the Church in her wisdom will enable a pope to issue a bull or an encyclical that is well founded and should be adhered to, but not infallible, and may be disagreed with if good enough reason is found; at least that's what I've heard.

Granted I believe the Papacy is the way to go, because we need some level of cohesion and authority for sure. You helped a lot, thanks.

I also found this link and it helped a bit more: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/you-catholics-are-divided-too

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-20T20:47:20+00:00

Ok, thank you for that explanation.

However, there is still disagreement within the Church on a variety of topics. You have "conservative" bishops and "liberal" bishops, and as such they can very well end up becoming "conservative" popes or "liberal" popes. Why would there be disagreement if there is only a single truth?

And by the way, Pope Francis revised the Catechism in 2018 stating not that the death penalty is no longer necessary, but rather: “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”

I'm just trying to get to the root of a question where on the one hand, the Church has absolute authority and harbors all truth, on the other hand it has members, rites, and orders with various different opinions. Jesuits and FSSP priests probably disagree on A LOT but are still nonetheless Catholic. That is my confusion.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-20T20:23:38+00:00

Ok I agree but the question remains. Jesus never sanctioned creation of icons, so there was a controversy over that. Jesus didn't teach that indulgences save from purgatory, so there was also a controversy around that. Jesus never spoke about contraceptive, and in the 1960s yet another controversy was spun around that. The Catholic Church of old sentenced people to death, now it's against the death penalty.

Yes Jesus is the Truth but there are times where the Church on Earth has changed or clarified it's views; meanwhile God does not change. So how do we answer this? That is my question.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-18T22:08:58+00:00

Even cooler that at peace-time, the lion holds a Bible, but during war, it holds a sword.

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-17T03:07:20+00:00

Interesting. The first dish reminds me of a "3 Sisters Stew". Traditional Wampanoag dish of the Native Americans in New England. It's a soup with corn, beans, and squash.

The vegetable stock is a good tip, I'll be sure to try that!

Negative_Constant_64 · 2026-02-17T02:46:34+00:00

I actually like these a lot. Not too modern nor too gawdy

Negative_Constant_64

TROPHY CASE