EMMITSBURG, Md. — Orthodox and Catholic leaders ended a summit in western Maryland on July 19 without agreement on theological issues that have divided the two churches for almost 1,000 years.
While failing to reach agreement, both sides said they left with a better understanding of the issues that have divided the two churches since the Great Schism of 1054.
Orthodox and Catholics make up the bulk of world Christians, with 1 billion Roman Catholics and 228 million Orthodox around the globe. The churches share similar theologies but have different hierarchies.
The central issue at the meeting was the role of Roman Catholics living in formerly communist countries. Under communism, Catholics were forced into the Orthodox Church, but 10 years after the fall of communism, a turf battle still rages between Orthodox and Catholic leaders over who owns churches that had been Catholic before the post-war Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe.
Orthodox leaders have accused the Vatican of encouraging dissension within the Orthodox communion by raising questions of church ownership.
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