Orthodixie

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Patriarch Alexiy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, congratulated newly elected Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday and called for his help in uniting the two Christian Churches which have been split for a millennium.

“Our Churches, which have authority and influence, should unite their efforts to spread Christian values to modern humankind. The secular world is losing its spiritual way and needs our joint testimony as never before,” he said.

Benedict, who as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was a close aide to John Paul, is known for conservative views on matters such as women priests and homosexuality, which commentators said would play well with the Orthodox Church.

Read the article H E R E.

My New Testament Professor, no traditionalist by any stretch, when asked what should be done if a new, authentic, Gospel account were suddenly discovered, said, to the amazement of us all, that it should not be included in the Canon of Scripture because it had not helped to shape the Church.

Well folks — Dan Brown, you listening? — get ready. READ THIS. (Especially the last sentence of the article.)

Saints preserve us!

I’d just told our catechumen, a former Roman Catholic, that it would not be Ratzinger. Don’t get me wrong, (as if it matters) I approve the selection! Having studied Cardinal Ratzinger’s work in seminary, I’m a fan. Yet with the media weighing in so heavily as to his “front-runner status”, I had my doubts. For the Roman Catholic communion, I believe this is a very good day.

It’s still early yet, but here follows a couple e-reactions from Orthodox pals.

Fr Patrick Henry Reardon, pastor, author & senior editor of TOUCHSTONE:

This is one of the happiest events I can think of in a long time. Immediately after the Holy Father went back inside the basilica, I went over to church to give thanks and to pray for him.

Read more H E R E.

Fr John Whiteford, pastor, blogger, and author of SOLA SCRIPTURA:

We have a new Pope! But he doesn’t have us.

Go H E R E.

Dr John Mark Reynolds, Prof, speaker & blogger: Go to April 19th and scroll down.

Huw Raphael … This Side of Glory …

MORE …

While some American Catholics may be nervous about the new pope’s conservative positions, that very philosophy makes him popular among Eastern Orthodox church leaders, who in recent years forged a friendly relationship with the Vatican.

“I don’t like to use the word conservative,” said Metropolitan Nicholas, bishop of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of Johnstown, who has met Ratzinger several times, “but he very much follows the Orthodox tradition.”

Read more H E R E.

Having used a bit of this blog space in the past to diss HipHop and, from time to time, praise other genres of music (Country, classic Funk, etc), I am pleased to be able to enthusiastically endorse the latest from the Reverend Al Green.

Remember the 70s?

Remember Al Green?

“Let’s Stay Together”

“I’m Still in Love with You”

“Love & Happiness”

Here’s a song title refresher.

Okay, maybe you don’t. No matter. Go buy his latest “Everything’s OK”. It’s an album (well, CD) of real music, real background singers, real soul, and the unmistakable voice of the legendary Al Green. Good stuff. Really.

I had seven hours on the road last week. I must have played the Reverend’s CD that many times. Hence the title of this post.