Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy?

I am curious what do Catholics personally think about Eastern Orthodoxy. The Catholic Church seems to be in favor of Ecumenism while the Orthodox isn't. I am aware of the differences, but I was just wondering how people see this issue.

Eastern Orthodox and Catholics accept the heresy that Christ combines two separate natures into one, a mixture of oil and water within Christ, rather than the co-mingled human and divine nature which Christ was composed of.

I'm catholic. and my best friend is orthodox. so obviously i don't have issues with her or her church. ha ha. i mean ya there are parts of the orthodox religion that are different than the catholic religion...but hey the point of any christian religion is to worship God and be a better person...they've got that down as far as I know. So i dint worry too much about the differences!

As far as I know..the 2 churches are amiable and communicate with each other. They share a lot of the same principles, beliefs, and practices...so Roman Catholics don't have a problem.

The official Catholic teaching was recently clarified to state that the Catholic church realizes that there are other beliefs out there. While these beliefs are not in "full communion" with the Catholic church, this does not mean that their paths do not result in salvation of their members. -- That's the best paraphrase I can do. The key was the statement "in full communion with the Catholic church" this means they realize that they are in "Partial" communion....or unity.

Anotherwards the Catholic church was not saying that you don't have to be Catholic...as it is still best...but that you aren't automatically and categorically dammed to hell, in their opinion if you aren't. So it opens the door a crack.

This is consistent with the Catholic church's stance that we can never know for sure the state of a person's soul because that is God's decision. So if we can't be SURE..then we can't say for sure that another Christian denomination doesn't go to heaven.

I found this re-assuring as a Catholic, because my wife is Baptist. I don't agree with all their teachings..but I don't think Baptist's are 180 degrees off base.

SO.. if that's their stance toward Protestant faiths..then SUREDLY the Orthodox faiths are even closer in alignment or in communion...RIGHT?.

a great many catholics would be overjoyed to welcome back there eastern brother and sister.

I for one would be very very pleased.

Pope John Paul II said of the Orthodox Churches in Orientale Lumen, "A particularly close link already binds us. We have almost everything in common."

For the entire document, see: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html

The Orthodox and Catholic Churches were one and the same until they separated from one another in 1054 mainly over the role of the Pope.

There are very few theological differences. The main difference is that the Orthodox Churches (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11329a.htm) use the Byzantine Rite (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04312d.htm) and the Catholic Church use the Roman or Latin Rite.

With love in Christ.