Irene,
Your friend is a schismatic, and can also be called a heretic.
At some point he is rejecting one or more of the Catholic teachings and authority. It is not difficult to imagine how attractive the constancy and tradition of the Orthodox faith is right now, particularly under this current Papacy which is causing terrible confusion and even scandal among Catholics and others. In some measure I get it, but he is simply wrong.
We Catholics:
- have the biggest sinners and saints
- a messed up Novus Ordo liturgy in most places
- a questionable Pontiff, and
- enough scandals to drive anyone away
but this is still the Church that Christ founded, built on St. Peter, with His successors carrying the keys.
Orthodox Christians are even more adamant about spouses converting to their faith. If you pursue a relationship with him, he will likely try to take you with him. That would tempt you to become a schismatic too. Don't do it. Leaving the Church, with full knowledge that it is Christ's Church, is tantamount to denying Him, hence is a mortal sin which deprives the soul of sanctifying grace. Yes, it is damnable.
Christ prayed for unity so, we need to pull others in, not let them pull us out. If you want to try and pull him in, bring him to a Latin Mass (which will be void of the abuses of the Novus Ordo that may be part of the reason he left). Do some homework on the errors of the Orthodox in theology and ecclesiology (so you can give a sound reason for your Catholicism), and you may be able to have a fighting chance; short of that, I wouldn't pursue it — There are other Catholic men who would keep your family together.
Look up Dr. Taylor Marshall and the new St. Thomas Institute for Apologetic resources on some of those issues.
Peace,
Bob Kirby
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