3 questions.

[ScarletJen]

Hi everyone!

I have 3 questions that I’m just a bit unsure about.

1. If you are Catholic, but you change religions (i.e. Christian-Protestant). Would the Catholic Church consider it a sin? What does the Church say about changing religions?
2. I know lying is a sin, which you must confess, but it is a venial one, right? When is lying a mortal sin?
3. If you are Catholic, can you marry someone at an Orthodox church and receive communion? They have told me that you can. If you can, are you allowed to attend masses at both churches?

EDIT: I just thought of another question. I have a friend who is a practicing Catholic and she plans to get a tattoo. Isn’t getting a tattoo a disrespect towards your body? Isn’t your body a temple? Tattoos can hurt, so you are hurting your body for your own fun and exibition. I’m confused about this. What about tattoos honouring someone?
Thanks everyone!

 

[Moscati]

1. If you are Catholic, and “change religions”–i.e. stop going to Mass, stop obeying the authority of the Pope and the bishops, etc, then those things are sins.
2. Any sin is a mortal sin when it is of grave matter and done with full knowledge and consent. Lying, I think, can sometimes be grave matter, depending on what you were lying about: covering up a murder is not the same as planning a surprise party. Your confessor can help you determine gravity by looking at the circumstances surrounding the sin.
3. I do know that the Vatican allows Catholics to receive Communion in Orthodox churches. I have heard that Orthodox generally don’t reciprocate, and don’t want any intercommunion, but I don’t know that for sure. The few time I attended Orthodox liturgy I didn’t try it.
4. Tattoos are not sinful. I’ve seen an apologist on here answer that one. Tattoos are decorative. High heels can hurt too, but they aren’t sinful (just pointless, IMHO ) Of course, you should be aware of how a tattoo might affect how other people view you, and it shouldn’t be vulgar or express something sinful (naked women, ‘born to kill’, whatever). I personally think tattoos honoring someone are nice, especially things like the names of children or crosses, rosaries, etc.

 

[Petergee]

1. Yes leaving the Church and joining another religion is a grave sin.

3)It’s possible for a Catholic to marry at an Eastern Orthodox church but you first need permission from your bishop, which he will usually only grant for grave reasons (e.g. that your fiance’s father is an EO priest or at least that he and his family are sincere practising EO).

The Church teaches that EO churches have real sacramental communion, but Catholics should NOT receive Communion from an EO priest except in very grave circumstances (e.g. if dying and no Catholic priest can be found in time). EO churches do not wish Catholics to receive communion there. Their Churches are not “in communion with” the Catholic Church which they regard as heretical. A Catholic receiving Communion at an EO church could thereby give offence to the EO priest and laity and give scandal to others of all faiths, as well as by his actions making a false statement that his Church is in communion with the EO church.

A Catholic may attend an EO Divine Liturgy (Mass) for grave reasons (e.g. to accompany relatives) but he is still bound to attend a Catholic Mass every Sunday and Holy Day.

1. Getting a tattoo is not sinful in itself, but your friend should think very long and hard about it beforehand no matter how innocent or even noble the tattoo seems. Especially if she is young. Remember you will be marking your body with something which will be there until death and beyond. Also excessive or unseemly tattoos can be a form of celebrating ugliness, dishonoring the beauty of the human body created by God.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Hi everyone!

I have 3 questions that I’m just a bit unsure about.

1. If you are Catholic, but you change religions (i.e. Christian-Protestant). Would the Catholic Church consider it a sin? What does the Church say about changing religions?
2. I know lying is a sin, which you must confess, but it is a venial one, right? When is lying a mortal sin?
3. If you are Catholic, can you marry someone at an Orthodox church and receive communion? They have told me that you can. If you can, are you allowed to attend masses at both churches?

EDIT: I just thought of another question. I have a friend who is a practicing Catholic and she plans to get a tattoo. Isn’t getting a tattoo a disrespect towards your body? Isn’t your body a temple? Tattoos can hurt, so you are hurting your body for your own fun and exibition. I’m confused about this. What about tattoos honouring someone?
Thanks everyone!

A tatto is not necessarily sinful, but your friend should carefully consider where she puts it, and the subject matter. My daughter had one put on her ankle when she was in college, but when she graduated and got a job in the business world, her employer’s rule was that no tattoos were to show. So if she wore a skirt, she always had to wear dark opaque stockings to cover it, or pants that were long enough to cover it when she sat down. Plus, 18 years later, the thing has faded and become somewhat distorted and ugly, and she is considering having it removed, which is not that easy of a process. But it really looks bad when she is wearing shorts and sandals or a dress, and she wishes she had not done it.

 

[bpbasilphx]

\3) If you are Catholic, can you marry someone at an Orthodox church and receive communion? They have told me that you can. If you can, are you allowed to attend masses at both churches?\

**Orthodox and Catholics marry each other all the time. Because of the different theologies about who confers the Mystery (Orthodoxy teaches that the Priest confers it on the couple), it is now prefered that the wedding take place in the Orthodox Church.

Who you marry has nothing to do with being allowed to receive Communion in the Orthodox Church. Only Orthodox may do so.

Who’s the “they” that told you this?

I believe that attending the Divine Liturgy in an Orthodox Church fulfills one’s requirement to attend mass.**

 

[NFrancis]

\3) If you are Catholic, can you marry someone at an Orthodox church and receive communion? They have told me that you can. If you can, are you allowed to attend masses at both churches?\

**Orthodox and Catholics marry each other all the time. Because of the different theologies about who confers the Mystery (Orthodoxy teaches that the Priest confers it on the couple), it is now prefered that the wedding take place in the Orthodox Church.

Who you marry has nothing to do with being allowed to receive Communion in the Orthodox Church. Only Orthodox may do so.

Who’s the “they” that told you this?

I believe that attending the Divine Liturgy in an Orthodox Church fulfills one’s requirement to attend mass.**

Actually, attending a Divine Liturgy in an Orthodox Church does not fulfill a Catholics obligation to attend mass.

catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/Orthodox%20churches

I wonder about an Orthodox going to a Catholic Mass though.

Also, I don’t think a practicing Catholic can marry a practicing Orthodox because both are required to raise their children in their own faith. Thus, since the Children cannot have both faiths, both parents cannot practice their faith in this marriage. Am I right about this? Or maybe the Bishops could give a dispensation.

Sorry if this is a little side tracked though.

To answer the OP. Lying can be a serious sin. An example would be fraud, as in lying to an insurance company about something. However, if the lie doesn’t really have much impact, then I don’t think it is serious.

Additionally, if someone changes faiths because they think that faith is the right faith then, I do not think it is a sin. That is because they are seeking what they believe to be the truth. Since God is the source of all truth, they are seeking God and trying to do his will. However, if someone changed religions for selfish reasons then it is certainly sinful. An example would be a Catholic marries a Lutheran and joins a Lutheran church just to make things easier.

 

[malphono]

Actually, attending a Divine Liturgy in an Orthodox Church does not fulfill a Catholics obligation to attend mass.

catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/Orthodox%20churches

I believe that bpbasilphx is correct.

I wonder about an Orthodox going to a Catholic Mass though.

That’s a non-issue since there is no such things as an “obligation” among the Orthodox.

Also, I don’t think a practicing Catholic can marry a practicing Orthodox because both are required to raise their children in their own faith. Thus, since the Children cannot have both faiths, both parents cannot practice their faith in this marriage. Am I right about this?

Intermarriage between Catholics and Orthodox happens regularly.

 

[bpbasilphx]

…

Intermarriage between Catholics and Orthodox happens regularly.

When Sophia of Greece married Prince Juan Carlos of Spain, while she did have to convert to Roman Catholicism, she was married in an Orthodox ceremony.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

Hi everyone!

EDIT: I just thought of another question. I have a friend who is a practicing Catholic and she plans to get a tattoo. Isn’t getting a tattoo a disrespect towards your body? Isn’t your body a temple? Tattoos can hurt, so you are hurting your body for your own fun and exibition. I’m confused about this. What about tattoos honouring someone?
Thanks everyone!

Tattoos are sinful and can be spiritually perilous in other ways. You don’t want to mark your body. It is especially dangerous to have certain things marked on your body, because it can be an opening for evil and demonic activity. Think of a branding of cows.

Douay Rheims Bible: Leviticus 19:28-You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord.

 

[NFrancis]

I believe that bpbasilphx is correct.

That’s a non-issue since there is no such things as an “obligation” among the Orthodox.

Intermarriage between Catholics and Orthodox happens regularly.

According to the site I listed a Catholic must go to a Catholic Mass to fulfill one’s obligation.

“In the case of Eastern Orthodox, these would also not fulfill one’s Sunday obligation since, though they have a valid Eucharist, their liturgies are not approved for use in the Catholic Church. The Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, which do fulfill one’s Sunday obligation, have slightly different liturgies, in which prayers for the pope have been inserted, for example, and which have been approved for use in the Catholic Church (CCC 1015-1016).”

So, the Orthodox don’t have to go to Mass on Sunday’s. Isn’t that against what is found in the Bible and the history of the Early Church.

Also, Orthodox/Catholic marriages happen all the time. However both Church’s say that you must raise your children in their faith. They cannot be raised in both. Therefore one of the spouses has to go against the teachings of their Church. That is what I was trying to say.

I’ve got to go to work now so I’ll check back later.

 

[Celtic_Catholic]

Hi everyone!

I have 3 questions that I’m just a bit unsure about.

1. If you are Catholic, but you change religions (i.e. Christian-Protestant). Would the Catholic Church consider it a sin? What does the Church say about changing religions?
2. I know lying is a sin, which you must confess, but it is a venial one, right? When is lying a mortal sin?
3. If you are Catholic, can you marry someone at an Orthodox church and receive communion? They have told me that you can. If you can, are you allowed to attend masses at both churches?

EDIT: I just thought of another question. I have a friend who is a practicing Catholic and she plans to get a tattoo. Isn’t getting a tattoo a disrespect towards your body? Isn’t your body a temple? Tattoos can hurt, so you are hurting your body for your own fun and exibition. I’m confused about this. What about tattoos honouring someone?
Thanks everyone!

1. The Catholic Church would say changing religions is a sin because you are no longer participating in sacraments and mass. However, personally, I don’t feel like non-Catholic Christians, who are devout and genuine, are in any way living in sin. That’s my personal opinion.
2. The Commandment was: Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor. That means that if you intentionally, malicious lie about someone, it’s a grave sin. White lies or lies not to hurt someone’s feelings would not be considered grave sins (in my opinion).
3. Catholics are permitted to receive Communion in the Orthodox Church. I believe (by I’m not sure) that we may fulfill our Sunday obligation by attending Mass in an Orthodox Church. However, the Orthodox are not permitted to receive Communion in the Catholic Church.
4. The tattoo. Personal opinion: I dislike them a great deal. No offense to anyone who has them. BUT they are NOT sinful.

Matthew 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

I think tattoos are covered under this.

 

[malphono]

According to the site I listed a Catholic must go to a Catholic Mass to fulfill one’s obligation.

“In the case of Eastern Orthodox, these would also not fulfill one’s Sunday obligation since, though they have a valid Eucharist, their liturgies are not approved for use in the Catholic Church. The Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, which do fulfill one’s Sunday obligation, have slightly different liturgies, in which prayers for the pope have been inserted, for example, and which have been approved for use in the Catholic Church (CCC 1015-1016).”

Well, now, that is a matter of interpretation. It can be argued that the prescriptions of Canon Law (which trump the catechism) do, in fact, allow it. I’ll leave any further elucidation on that point to others: frankly, I don’t have gumption for it.

So, the Orthodox don’t have to go to Mass on Sunday’s. Isn’t that against what is found in the Bible and the history of the Early Church.

No, there is no “obligation” (“go or else”) but rather there is a principle that one should actually want to attend in order to (among other things) fulfill the Biblical precept.

 

[malphono]

1. Catholics are permitted to receive Communion in the Orthodox Church. I believe (by I’m not sure) that we may fulfill our Sunday obligation by attending Mass in an Orthodox Church. However, the Orthodox are not permitted to receive Communion in the Catholic Church.

Actually, that is in reverse: Orthodox are welcome to partake of communion in Catholic churches. In general, (and there are exceptions to this), the Orthodox will normally refuse communion to anyone who is not Orthodox.

 

[gmcbroom]

Unless I’m mistaken, and I’m still just a catechumen, I thought the children traditionally fell into the church of the father. So If the mother was Orthodox and the father Catholic, the children would be raised Catholic. This doesn’t mean the mother has to change to the Catholic Church. She can still remain Orthodox. And if the father were Orthodox the children would be Orthodox and the mother Catholic. I hope I explained it right. It’s somewhat of a strange issue.

One other thing I find interesting is how the Jewish religion is passed down through the mothers line instead of the fathers. In the reverse way.

 

[bpbasilphx]

\Unless I’m mistaken, and I’m still just a catechumen, I thought the children traditionally fell into the church of the father.\

**You are.

The Catholic church requires that all the children be raised Catholic if either parent is Catholic.

The Orthodox church requires that all the children be raised Orthodox if either parent is Orthodox.

HOWEVER in a mixed-sui-juris-church marriage (such as Latin and Melkite), the children are to be baptized and raised in the sui juris church of the father.**

 

[mini_me640]

Tattoos are sinful and can be spiritually perilous in other ways. You don’t want to mark your body. It is especially dangerous to have certain things marked on your body, because it can be an opening for evil and demonic activity. Think of a branding of cows.

Douay Rheims Bible: Leviticus 19:28-You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord.

I’m no fan of tattoos, but according to Leviticus, we shouldn’t eat pork either (along with a host of other restrictions). I don’t think, as Catholics, we are bound by Old Testament prohibitions, as we are no longer under the Old Covenant.

 

[Moscati]

Tattoos are sinful and can be spiritually perilous in other ways. You don’t want to mark your body. It is especially dangerous to have certain things marked on your body, because it can be an opening for evil and demonic activity. Think of a branding of cows.

Douay Rheims Bible: Leviticus 19:28-You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19 is an interesting chapter . . .

19 "Do not mate different kinds of animals.
“Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.
“'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.
26 " 'Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.”
27 " 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

No mules? No sushi? No haircuts (or at least, no mullets)? And since when are cows portals for demonic activity? I live in Texas–we’ve got cows. Nice, wholesome, branded, non-demonic cows.

 

[Petergee]

Well, now, that is a matter of interpretation. It can be argued that the prescriptions of Canon Law (which trump the catechism) do, in fact, allow it. I’ll leave any further elucidation on that point to others: frankly, I don’t have gumption for it.

OK, but can you at least tell us where you got the idea that Canon Law trumps the Catechism?
And please quote the Canon Law which, as you claim, states that attending an EO Divine Liturgy (when one could easily attend a Catholic Mass) satisfies a Catholic’s Sunday Mass obligation? The Catechism states flat out that it doesn’t. No “interpretation” needed.

 

[Petergee]

The Catholic church requires that all the children be raised Catholic if either parent is Catholic.

Not quite. The Catholic Church requires only that the Catholic spouse must promise to do everything in his/her power to have the children raised as Catholics, and that the non-Catholic spouse must be informed of the Catholic spouse’s promise. The non-Catholic spouse is not required to make any promise concerning the children’s religion.

Not sure about what the EO churches require (this probably varies among different EO churches) but if it is something similar to the Catholic requirement, then there is no contradiction.

 

[Ed_Sorenson]

If I remember correctly, my protestant wife had to sign a paper saying the kids would be raised Catholic. Maybe I misinterpreted but she got the same idea.