Regarding: "This is not good news for ecumenists. It shows that although theologians may issue consensus papers and bishops may issue joint statements, Catholic-Orthodox relations at the ground level are pretty weak, especially among the Orthodox."
- No doubt several factors are at play such as: holding onto faith and onto orthodox church during the Soviet era even at risk of death makes ceding any aspect of the faith / church seem like a weakness.
- No doubt decades of absorbing propaganda about the west generally, and papacy as a tool of the west specifically is still part of the ethos of orthodox christians in those parts.
- No doubt the business of the ArchbofRome being 1st among equals is cause for suspicion especially when orthodox look at the way other major archbishops, primates, and especially patriarchs who are in union and communion with the ArcbofRome are actually treated.