Am I Catholic?

[JimmytheButcher]

It’s is nearly amusing to read this thread.

Back east my Latin bishop and his Greek counter-part regularly celebrate the Divine Liturgy. They have even done so with the Patriarch of Constantinople in cathedra. I wonder what the Patriarch of Alexandria says about all of this. You know him being demoted from the #2 position an all.

I guess some know-it-all curmuggeons should run-over the ‘True Religion’ headquarters and excommunicate them all. No Eucharist for anybody!! It is sooo ridiculous.

Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for your children for we are a bunch of pride-filled meatheads. It’s amazing we have stayed as close to each other as we have!

You know I am an Italian-American with Greek hazel eyes hailing not far from Benevento where everything is in Latin and Greek alternatively. My mother’s ancestral village has a street named ‘Via Antonio Abate’ for crying out loud. I was fattened on spaghetti, hot peppers, baklava, lamb, oregano, and spinach-pie. In my experience it is the regular fella on the street that is confounded by all this malarchy. The smarter the fella, the more smarty-pants someone is, the more he seems he reeks of foolishness. We need to stay out of the holy Spirit’s way. He’s trying to fix us.

+ad Iesu per Mariam.

 

[Hesychios]

Hi Jimmy,

It’s is nearly amusing to read this thread.

Back east my Latin bishop and his Greek counter-part regularly celebrate the Divine Liturgy. They have even done so with the Patriarch of Constantinople in cathedra…

Don’t take this wrong … I think you are mistaken.

By what you state, the Greek prelate would be Orthodox (otherwise you would not be connecting the Patriarch of Constantinople with him). If what you are referring to is a Greek Catholic bishop, he is not Orthodox and it would be no surprise that he was concelebrating.

If you are referring to Orthodox prelates, and if the Orthodox prelates are in the Latin Catholic cathedral, they are not vested and not concelebrating. They would be wearing their ‘street clothes’, which for Orthodox bishops would be basically the monastic garb all in black.

You will notice that when the Supreme Pontiff of Rome visited the Patriarch at the Phanar he did not vest, and was not invited to concelebrate.

Likewise if your Latin bishop were visiting an Orthodox cathedral. Visits are ok, it happens all the time, concelebration is not done.

 

[Vico]

That seems a bit unusual. All of the Orthodox parishes where I live will perform mixed marriages so long as the betrothed is a baptized Christian.

Are you in USA? If so, how many Orthodox parishes are there within a circle with radius of 15 miles?

orthodoxyinamerica.org/

 

[5Loaves]

If you are referring to Orthodox prelates, and if the Orthodox prelates are in the Latin Catholic cathedral, they are not vested and not concelebrating. They would be wearing their ‘street clothes’, which for Orthodox bishops would be basically the monastic garb all in black.

I’ve been at the Cathedral of the Archdiocese in SF a number of times when Met Gerasimos was seated near the Archbishop in the sanctuary. Vested? Concelebrating? No way.

 

[dochawk]

. Also the Catholic and Greek Orthodox do not generally allow reception of the Holy Mysteries in each others churches.

Catholic canon law is quite clear that orthodox with proper spiritual disposition are entitled to receive catholic sacraments–but cautions them to observe the teachings of their own church (generally, excommunication is the result off receiving Mysteries from an out of communion church).

hawk

 

[Aramis]

Are you in USA? If so, how many Orthodox parishes are there within a circle with radius of 15 miles?

orthodoxyinamerica.org/

Of me? Let’s see, 2 Russian Orthodox, 1 Antiochian Orthodox. And one Russian Old Believer parish somewhere within a couple miles, but I’m not certain where exactly, as it’s not publicized.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi I am Greek Orthodox. My father told me it was okay so I got married in a Catholic Church to my Catholic wife. When I told my priest he has denied me communion. He told me that technically I left the church. So my question is am I a Catholic now or in limbo? Thank you.

If you were baptized Catholic you are Catholic unless you formally defected to join the Orthodox faith. You don’t give enough info to answer. Ask your own priest who is the only one who can give you an answer.

Technically you’re Catholic by virtue of your baptism, just as baptized Protestants are Catholic by the same thing, but you’re a “fallen away” Catholic.

.

no, this is not true, a person baptized into a non-Catholic denomination is a member of that denomination and does not become Catholic until he is received into full communion with Catholic Church in the rite for that purpose, through a profession of faith and confirmation, followed by first communion (and preceded by first confession).

if OP was baptized Greek Orthodox he remains Orthodox unless and until he formally defects, as defined by the law of that Church. If he married a CAtholic in a Catholic rite, with permission of the CAtholic Church, he may very well have done that, if that is what the Orthodox priest told him. He is not however, Catholic until he is received through profession of faith (since chrismation is recognized that is all that is necessary) but he has to formally ask for this. Does not sound like he has chosen deliberately one way or the other. But if his Orthodox priest has refused to give him communion he is not in good standing with them, and will have to decide where he wants to be.

 

[Aramis]

To become formally a Catholic, you need to “publicly” make the profession of the faith.

Other than that, you’re a practical Catholic already… you may receive the sacraments of reconciliation/pennance/absolution, communion, and annointing of the sick, you’ve already received the sacrament of Marriage.

You’ve been validly baptized and confirmed if you were a communicant in the Greek Orthodox Church.

 

[Mickey]

I have been to an Antiochian Orthodox church but it looked like protestants trying to be Orthodox.

That is offensive.

The Antiochian Orthodox Church is thoroughly Orthodox.

 

[ChristGirl]

There was a girl who converted in order to marry in the Orthodox Church…her husband is studying to become a priest…she said since she was not Orthodox she had to convert. It’s harder for a Catholic to get married in an Orthodox Church than an Orthodox to get married in a Catholic Church. Even the EC priest that married us told us this.

At one point they were accepting them without converting as I said I don’t know what happened.

And the Greek Patriarch is not followed by all Orthodox branches. Some are not even in communion with each other. For instance the OCA is not in communion with a lot of the Orthodox Churches.

 

[5Loaves]

There was a girl who converted in order to marry in the Orthodox Church…her husband is studying to become a priest…she said since she was not Orthodox she had to convert.

Surely would be unexpected for a Matushka/Presbytera in an Orthodox Church to be herself Catholic.

It’s harder for a Catholic to get married in an Orthodox Church than an Orthodox to get married in a Catholic Church. Even the EC priest that married us told us this.

Is that because as in the case of OP the Catholic Church would ignore the fact the Orthodox person would need his/her Orthodox priest’s permission to marry outside his/her Church, resulting in grave consequences for the person from the “other” Church? His Church doesn’t recognize the marriage as valid and he is considered excommunicated by his Church. I have understood that it is easier for a Catholic to get permission from the Catholic Church to be married in an Orthodox Church than for an Orthodox to get permission from the Orthodox to be married in a Catholic Church.

 

[ChristGirl]

Well if the Catholic can get permission to marry in an Orthodox Church that’s another thing. But will the Orthodox Priest give permission for the Catholic to remain Catholic in order to get married in the OC? That is not the case.

Haven’t you all learned anything from My Big Fat Greek Wedding

My good Greek friend growing up had a mom that was Jehovah’s Witness and she had to convert to Orthodoxy. This goes for any non-Orthodox trying to get married in the Orthodox Church. This has happened personally to my husband so I know this firsthand even.

Another example, I knew another girl where she was Orthodox but not “Greek” Orthodox. One church told her she has to convert to Greek OC in order to get married in the Greek OC church. She thought that was silly and absurd, so they found another Greek Church to marry them without her having to convert to “Greek” Orthodoxy.

 

[Hesychios]

Hi ChristGirl,

Well if the Catholic can get permission to marry in an Orthodox Church that’s another thing. But will the Orthodox Priest give permission for the Catholic to remain Catholic in order to get married in the OC? That is not the case.

I can think of at least five examples in my own parish that contradict what you say here. One is a deacon in the Roman Catholic church, he remained a Roman Catholic at marriage and later decided he wanted to be a deacon in his church. As you might know the wife of a deacon candidate for the Roman Catholic church has to agree and she did! The wife is our principle catechist, director of our Orthodox school.

Haven’t you all learned anything from My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Does the movie specifically state that the groom was a Roman Catholic?

Another example, I knew another girl where she was Orthodox but not “Greek” Orthodox. One church told her she has to convert to Greek OC in order to get married in the Greek OC church. She thought that was silly and absurd, so they found another Greek Church to marry them without her having to convert to “Greek” Orthodoxy.

What kind of ‘orthodoxy’ was it, exactly? If you don’t know, the story has no merit. Find out and come back with the information.

 

[Cavaradossi]

I have been to an Antiochian Orthodox church but it looked like protestants trying to be Orthodox. Is the Melkite church in the United states Arabic or very Americanized also?

I don’t mean to be offensive (as I attend Greek Orthodox parish myself), but the Greek Orthodox in America are probably the furthest away from traditional Orthodox worship of all of the jurisdictions present here in America. The presence of pews, the allowance for organs, the kneeling on Sundays, and the lack of regular vespers are all things which plague the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese here in America. The Antiochians, believe it or not, tend to be more disciplined when it comes to holding regular vespers and not using organs or pews. The Antiochians in America also seem to be better catechized in general, because a good many of them are converts.

 

[Mickey]

I don’t mean to be offensive (as I attend Greek Orthodox parish myself), but the Greek Orthodox in America are probably the furthest away from traditional Orthodox worship of all of the jurisdictions present here in America. The presence of pews, the allowance for organs, the kneeling on Sundays, and the lack of regular vespers are all things which plague the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese here in America.

This can vary from parish to parish but they are making great efforts to return to a more Orthodox style of worship. Elder Ephrem’s Monasteries in the US are wonderful examples of an adherence to a Mt Athos type of praxis.

The Antiochians, believe it or not, tend to be more disciplined when it comes to holding regular vespers and not using organs or pews. The Antiochians in America also seem to be better catechized in general, because a good many of them are converts.

Yes.

 

[Cavaradossi]

This can vary from parish to parish but they are making great efforts to return to a more Orthodox style of worship. Elder Ephrem’s Monasteries in the US are wonderful examples of an adherence to a Mt Athos type of praxis.

Lol, I’d like to see them try to remove the pews at my parish. The Yiayias would kill them first, holy or not. That being said, I’ve heard plenty of positive things about Elder Ephraim’s monasteries here. I’ve been told by some people in my parish that there’s one near San Antonio, Texas (what an appropriate city to be near) that I should check out some day.

 

[Mickey]

Lol, I’d like to see them try to remove the pews at my parish.

Well…pews are an issue unto themselves. The Greeks are not the only ones who would fight to keep their pews.

That being said, I’ve heard plenty of positive things about Elder Ephraim’s monasteries here. I’ve been told by some people in my parish that there’s one near San Antonio, Texas (what an appropriate city to be near) that I should check out some day.

I highly recommend it!

Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Monastery
6855 Little York Lane
Washington, TX 77880 USA
Tel: (936) 878-2390
Fax: (936) 878-2630

 

[dcointin]

I’m Orthodox and engaged to a Roman Catholic, so I can give you my personal experience in the matter. My jurisdiction is Antiochian, and my experience may not be the same as others. My fiancee’s uncle is a Catholic priest and he baptized and I believe confirmed her as well, and she wanted him to marry her. I agreed to this, and told my priest about our arrangement. He told me that I would have to repeat the marriage in an Orthodox wedding, but only part of the ceremony. In the time between my Catholic and Orthodox wedding I would be excommunicated for partaking in a non Orthodox sacrament. There is also an obligation for either the best man or maid of honor to be Orthodox. There was no insistence that she become Orthodox. My fiancee’s priest had no problem with our arrangement and said that it could be a mass or not, and if it was I could commune if I chose to, and if not he could bless me.

 

[Wesley7]

Are you in USA? If so, how many Orthodox parishes are there within a circle with radius of 15 miles?

orthodoxyinamerica.org/

From Granbury to Ft. Worth TX is about a 40 minute drive both ways.

I’ve attended St. Peter’s Western Rite Antiochian Vicariate and St. Barbara’s Eastern Orthodox in the Cityview area of Benbroook & Ft. Worth.

• saintpeterorthodox.org/
• saintbarbarafw.org/

I’ve also located the Ft. Worth Catholic diocesan center -

fwdioc.org/Pages/default.aspx . . .

 

[Vico]

I’m Orthodox and engaged to a Roman Catholic, so I can give you my personal experience in the matter. My jurisdiction is Antiochian, and my experience may not be the same as others. My fiancee’s uncle is a Catholic priest and he baptized and I believe confirmed her as well, and she wanted him to marry her. I agreed to this, and told my priest about our arrangement. He told me that I would have to repeat the marriage in an Orthodox wedding, but only part of the ceremony. In the time between my Catholic and Orthodox wedding I would be excommunicated for partaking in a non Orthodox sacrament. There is also an obligation for either the best man or maid of honor to be Orthodox. There was no insistence that she become Orthodox. My fiancee’s priest had no problem with our arrangement and said that it could be a mass or not, and if it was I could commune if I chose to, and if not he could bless me.

Must one be contrite for the Catholic marriage?

1. marriage in a Catholic Church, bringing Orthodox excommunication
2. reconciliation for marriage in Catholic Church?
3. Orthodox marriage