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That might be because the WRC seems to have his opinions from Occidentalis polemics against the Western Orthodox (common amongst certain vagantes, pro'Western rite' in theory - that is, if it follows their own opinions, anti-Western Orthodox as they have no love for our clergy or people.) So far, the little answers he has been given there are from those either not involved with Western rite at all but admittedly 'enthusiastic', neophytes, or have an outside agenda towards dismantling the Western Rite in the Orthodox Church in favor of their own 'perfect rite' (meaning, their own experimental ideas and opinions.) Most telling is that it is immediately adversarial - Satan means 'adversary'. It isn't 'come let us reason together' for them, but demands to give them attention to reacting to their attacks (did I mention..again... that it gets old and soul-wearying?)

Real understanding won't happen online with such sectarian parties - they have preconceived notions that they have projected onto us Western Orthodox (some claim to be us - asking our bishops shows they are not, nor have ever been considered Orthodox.) I'm about to give up on any attempts at online communication with such myself: I don't think they can change unless they meet us face to face, or write physical letters. Even then, without the face to face, and praying with us - they aren't likely to get it, and might not even then if they continue to project their own demons onto the Western rite's angels. I've been around long enough that I know - those who haven't listened in the past aren't likely to listen in the future: and they'll twist any answer given into whatever mockery they choose to advance their selves.

Of course, there are some in the Church also opposed to the Western Orthodox (even that claim to be pro-Western rite - as long as it is their own Western rite experimental liturgy - and, please, don't think I mean yourself Fr. Aidan - though you have often marketed your own liturgical projects as 'correctives' or 'traditional' vs. the Western rite as practiced in the Russian Church. I do mean some very few Byzantine hieromonks who are busy-bodies about the Western rite, but don't serve it themselves and like to issue missives contra the WRO clergy/laity and our rites, praxis - at least as they imagine it to be.) The sadness of that hyper-correctness not only comes with their attempts at being 'experts' claiming a monopoly on traditions almost all of us hold (ie, claims to solely represent the tradition handed down by St. John of San Francisco), but in their automatic assumption that our Western rite must be defective and needs a whole host of changes (again, without being aware of how the rite is actually practiced, and with total disregard for our actual living praxis as Western Orthodox.) That all comes down to just more fault-finding meddling witch hunts - the same thing similar folk do to our Old Rite communities, Julian calendar communities, those following Great Church typikon, or whatever is the favored Orthodox target of the 'Critics' and hopeful Reformers.

Personally - I get tired of the pretend friendships, people claiming: "I'm for traditional Western rite Orthodoxy", "I'm for Church Unity", etc. All the while they back-bite and slander those holy WRITE clergy actually labouring in the field, then have the gall to call it 'parochial differences' or claim our Western rite clergy are 'liars'. Frankly - I'm scandalised. I'm not interested in the kind of 'Orthodoxy' these critics (whether they consider themselves pro or anti Western rite) are selling - and I'm tired of them expecting us at every challenge (new blog, yahoo board, recent rumor, or forum posting) to come out and battle them for the 'heart and soul' of the Western rite and Orthodoxy. (Misconceptions by Roman Catholics or Anglicans are another matter - not for the matter of proselytization, but for the matter of understanding where we do stand.) We Western Orthodox (and, by that I mean those actually doing the Western rite in our brotherhood of charity in the Russian church) have enough battle in our own 'cells': fighting our own sin, a culture that is increasingly hostile, and the pain, misery and poverty of humanity around us. We don't need 'cocked up' wars with opponents who want to blab on and on about liturgical minutiae but don't seem to know a single thing about Christian friendship, overcoming doubt about God and the Church. On they blab as other Orthodox Christians lose faith and become Atheists, Muslims, Jewish, or fall into horrible sins of murder, adultery, etc. That's my message in simple to those wanting to 'discuss' the Western rite rather than simply understand it, explore it, or practice it in the unity of brethren: quit talking about rites and ceremonies for others, and get to work on saving your own soul.

"Now the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy and having their conscience seared, forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by them that have known the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained unto. But avoid foolish and old wives fables: and exercise thyself unto godliness. For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we labour and are reviled, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful. These things command and teach: Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity. Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation and to doctrine. Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all. Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." - 1 Timothy 4 (Douay-Rheims)

I've made no such statement on this forum or any other.