Dear folks,
I have a question for both the Orthodox and the Catholic sides. It is, actually, on behalf of one of my very dear online friends, a young, 30-y.o. Ukrainian Eastern Rite Catholic priest from L'viv, Western Ukraine, called Father Oleh.
Fr. Oleh's question is this: if we deliberately disregard all political considerations and focus ONLY on theological considerations, would you say that it is GOOD if ONE of the bishops of the Orthodox Church (e.g., HAH Ecum. Patr. Bartholomew, or HH Patr. of Moscow and all Russia Alexiy) becomes THE primary earthly spiritual authority, the one arbiter who can, on his own, settle all the various disputes in the Church?
I understand that Fr. Oleh is wrestling with the idea of the "one earthly Primate of all Church" for quite a long time. He is one of those Eastern Rite Catholics who truly want to pay the due respect to both traditions of his jurisdiction, the Eastern (Byzantine) and the Latin. He would be grateful to hear your expert views on this isse.
Thank you,
G.