With the unthinkable being announced for a planned meeting of the Pope and Greek Patriarch in Jerusalem, it has to be more than exciting for the Christian community. The hope is that each faith leader would like to bridge the casam that exists between their respective expressions of our Christian faith.

I want to believe that this is or it will be a major cause for rejoicing. But one central point was either missed or ignored in the reporting about the present faith division that began in 1054 A.D. and continues to today. It is an issue which divided the One (catholic…meaning universal) and still divides the Christian body of faith today.

It is called the "Iconoclastic Controversy," which is about Icons, or carved (graven) images that are specifically prohibited by the Ten Commandments. The issue then facing Christian was and is, "are graven images allowed in places of worship?" Greek Orthodox and Protestant Churches do not have "graven images" per the Ten Commandments, as do Roman Catholic in their places of worship.

This central item was not mentioned in the Associated Press story. It centers in the question if whether it is Scripture or if it is Council and Pope which have final authority as to the true beliefs and doctrine of the Christian Faith.