Relations between the Orthodox and Catholic Church
Some of the issues between what JPII called the "two lungs" of the Church

Did Rome add the line in about “proceeds from the father and the son” to the Nicene Creed?

One of the biggest issues in Catholic Orthodox relations is the "Filioque" part of the Nicene Creed. The Creed was originally confirmed at the Nicene COuncil of 381.

The Creed originally read:

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father,
with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified."

The Church of Rome added "...who proceeds from the Father AND THE SON ..." The clause "and the Son," which is one word ("Filioque") in Latin was first added to the Creed locally in A.D. 589 at the Spanish Council of Toledo to end Arianism in Visigoth-ruled Spain. But this was removed soon after so as not to alienate the Greeks.

The theology of the Filioque was approved by Rome, but the Filioque clause was not added to the Creed as it was recited in Rome itself until the 1000's, because Rome did not want to alienate the Greeks. The real bone of contention here has to do with what the Creed refers to. In the original reading of the Creed (in Greek), "proceeds" referred to the Spirit's ultimate causes and source, which both Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believe is the Father alone. Yet, that meaning was never carried over into the Latin translation, where the word "proceeds" has a much broader meaning.

So, in the Latin tradition, when Catholics say that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, it means that the Son has to be there for the Spirit to proceed from the Father to someone else...because the Spirit is the Spirit of Sonship (see Romans 8:15-17), making the Son's presence intrinsically necessary. But, the Greeks assumed that Rome was saying that there are two "ultimate causes" or sources of the Spirit -- that both the Father and the Son "breath" the Spirit together and equally. But, that is not the Catholic position and never was.

That is a brief synopsis of one of the greatest issues dividing the Orthodox and Catholic Churches based on my friend Mark Bonocore's explanation.

Written by Mark Bonocore who has written a ten page full history of the issue here:

http://www.catholic-legate.com/articles/filioque.html

Lord Jesus, let Your prayer of unity for Christians
become a reality, in Your way, we have absolute confidence
that you can bring your people together,
we give you absolute permission to move, Amen

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