Am I Catholic?

[yian027]

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.

 

[Hesychios]

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.

Being not something else does not make a person a Papal Catholic.

To be a Papal Catholic one would have to believe what they believe. If you do, then approach their priest, if you don’t (and yet believe what the Orthodox teach) then go back to your spiritual father (or another) and work it out. Either way it may take a while, be patient and open minded.

 

[YoungTradCath]

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.

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.

Whatever your Greek Orthodox priest told you, I suppose, is the rules of the church he represents. You need to make a decision as to what affiliation you want to have, either Greek Orthodox or Catholic. You cannot be both, and they are not reconcilable.

 

[LoyalViews]

Remember, you could always join the Greek Melkites, they’re “Papal Catholics” as Heyschios put it They’re a sui iuris particular church within the Universal Church. The Eastern Catholics are knows as “Orthodox in Communion with Rome”, as they have their own distinct identity, traditions, etcetera, yet are still just as Catholic as Roman Catholics, as they are in full communion with the Successor of St Peter, the Holy Father.

But, that’s not your question. Yes, technically you are “catholic”, by virtue of your baptism yes, but even more so than Protestants since you are Greek Orthodox, and the GO Church has valid orders, a valid eucharist, and valid sacraments (obviously), though we still see them as in schism, since we believe they lack the fullness of the truth which can only be found in the Catholic Church (Roman or Eastern).

If you want to convert, I’d suggest you speak to the Priest who married you and your wife, and also to your Greek Orthodox Priest.

Hope I’ve helped
God Bless :byzsoc:

 

[JRKH]

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.

I’m not sure how the OP can have “fallen away”. It sounds more like a matter of jurisdictional confusion.

Whatever your Greek Orthodox priest told you, I suppose, is the rules of the church he represents.{/quote]
I agree that this is the problem. It may be that the OP did not “go through channels” in the matter - I don’t know how the GO is set up in this…

You need to make a decision as to what affiliation you want to have, either Greek Orthodox or Catholic. You cannot be both, and they are not reconcilable.

As a suggestion too the Catholic Church has “Eastern Rites” that the OP might find more comfortable than the Latin Rite. I’m not familiar enough with them to make any suggestion but it might be something for him (and his bride) to consider.

OOPS - I see that “loyalviews” has has already suggested an Eastern Rite Church…

Peace
James

 

[friendster324]

A few have commented about the possibility of joining an Eastern Catholic Church and that isn’t exactly right.

If an Orthodox decides to be in communion with Rome, he is automatically under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Catholic counterpart (whether Melkite, Bulgarian, Byzantine, etc.). If he later wants to join the Roman Church, he MUST get canonical permission from his Eastern bishop.

 

[JRKH]

A few have commented about the possibility of joining an Eastern Catholic Church and that isn’t exactly right.

If an Orthodox decides to be in communion with Rome, he is automatically under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Catholic counterpart (whether Melkite, Bulgarian, Byzantine, etc.). If he later wants to join the Roman Church, he MUST get canonical permission from his Eastern bishop.

This is where things start to get confusing (at least to me).
If a person wishes to be in communion with “Rome” and joins an Eastern Rite Catholic Church then they are already a part of the “Roman Church” but not part of the Latin Rite Church…

Maybe I’m saying this wrong - but can you see how the terminology can be confusing?

:hypno:

Peace
James

 

[AveChriste11]

Remember, you could always join the Greek Melkites, they’re “Papal Catholics” as Heyschios put it They’re a sui iuris particular church within the Universal Church. The Eastern Catholics are knows as “Orthodox in Communion with Rome”, as they have their own distinct identity, traditions, etcetera, yet are still just as Catholic as Roman Catholics, as they are in full communion with the Successor of St Peter, the Holy Father.

But, that’s not your question. Yes, technically you are “catholic”, by virtue of your baptism yes, but even more so than Protestants since you are Greek Orthodox, and the GO Church has valid orders, a valid eucharist, and valid sacraments (obviously), though we still see them as in schism, since we believe they lack the fullness of the truth which can only be found in the Catholic Church (Roman or Eastern).

If you want to convert, I’d suggest you speak to the Priest who married you and your wife, and also to your Greek Orthodox Priest.

Hope I’ve helped
God Bless :byzsoc:

A Greek Orthodox Christian’s counterpart would probably be the Byzantine Catholic Church. However, if one is an Antiochian or part of the “Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch” as it is called elsewhere under the jurisdiction of Patriarch Ignatius IV – then his counterpart would be the Melkite Greek Catholic Church if my understanding serves me correct.

 

[AveChriste11]

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.

By all means… please work out this situation with your priest. If you are Greek especially, you may not so easily find a celebration of your culture in the Eastern Catholic or Roman Catholic church.

As Hesychios above said, just use a little patience – it may take awhile to resolve your state of excommunication. Just pray about it, and have hope and faith that things will work out.

 

[friendster324]

If a person wishes to be in communion with “Rome” and joins an Eastern Rite Catholic Church then they are already a part of the “Roman Church” but not part of the Latin Rite Church.

The confusion arises because most think that “Roman” and “Catholic” are synonymous. They are not. “Latin” and “Roman” can be used interchangeably but Eastern Catholics are in communion with the Pope but are definitely NOT Roman Catholics. They are distinct from us westerners.

Hope that helps.

 

[Cavaradossi]

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.

I would say that you are probably in limbo right now. Your priest, because you were married outside of the Orthodox Church has forbidden you from the chalice, as all marriages involving Orthodox Christians, even when one of the spouses is from another Christan community must be performed in the Orthodox Church. You have three options now, I suppose. The first is that you do nothing and essentially remain unchurched, but you seem concerned about this situation, so this one would probably be unsatisfactory to you; the second is that you join the Catholic Church as an Eastern Catholic; and the third choice is that you seek some sort of reconciliation with the Orthodox Church.

If you truly believe the claims that the Catholic Church is the true Church, then by all means you should join it, but if you believe that the Orthodox Church is true, then you should seek reconciliation with the Orthodox Church from your priest.

 

[5Loaves]

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.

I’m very sorry for your situation. I cannot understand how you went through marriage prep in a Latin Church and they did not have you did seek permission from your Orthodox priest to be married the a Catholic Church. It appears the marriage prep team in that Catholic parish dropped the ball. This is precisely why it is so important for those doing such ministries in the Latin Church to contact their chancery whenever an Eastern Catholic or an Orthodox Christian comes in for marriage, or sometimes for reception into the Church from Orthodoxy. They are not familiar with our Churches and when they don’t get correct information lives are affected in serious ways. Also, makes for unneeded added stress between the Catholic Church and Orthodox…

If you wish to be Catholic you need only make that known to the Catholic priest and make a profession of faith, then you would be recorded in the records of that Latin parish as being canonically Eastern, probably Melkite.

Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches, Orientalium Ecclesiarum #25.

If any separated Eastern Christian should, under the guidance of the grace of the Holy Spirit, join himself to the unity of Catholics, no more should be required of him than what a bare profession of the Catholic faith demands…

#474 page 275 of the Ritual text:

#474 In the case of Eastern Christians who enter into the fullness of Catholic communion, no liturgical rite is required, but simply a profession of Catholic faith, even if such persons are permitted, in virtue of recourse to the Apostolic See, to transfer to the Latin Rite.

If you want to return to Orthodoxy you need go to your priest and speak with him about your desire to return to communion with Holy Orthodoxy. I’m sure he will be sensitive to your ignorance and that of the parish which married you, in not understanding how you came to be in the position you are in and can direct you back into communion there. (This does reflect not only a problem in the Catholic Church but I would say also in the Orthodox Church since neither you nor your father, both good practicing Orthodox, knew of the implications of getting married in a Catholic Church without the permission of your Orthodox priest.) He may be able to point you to other couples he knows where one spouse is Catholic and the other Orthodox so you can get insight about a successful marriage under those circumstances.

(Orthodox Christians are always free to receive Holy Eucharist in any Catholic Church if they have received appropriate confession, like any Catholic. However this is not acceptable from the Orthodox point of view and typically excommunicates the Orthodox from his Church at least here in the US.)

You are in my prayers.

Off topic… were you in St. Elias in Santa Cruz? I’ve met several wonderful parishioners from that parish when we’ve gone to the PSALM workshops.

 

[JRKH]

The confusion arises because most think that “Roman” and “Catholic” are synonymous. They are not. “Latin” and “Roman” can be used interchangeably but Eastern Catholics are in communion with the Pope but are definitely NOT Roman Catholics. They are distinct from us westerners.

Hope that helps.

Yea - I see that. It was just that in the post that I was commenting on you said (Bolding to show the confusion)
If an Orthodox decides to be in communion with Rome, he is automatically under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Catholic counterpart (whether Melkite, Bulgarian, Byzantine, etc.). If he later wants to join the Roman Church, he MUST get canonical permission from his Eastern bishop.
I can easily see someone, not a Catholic - such as the OP, asking the question - If I’m in communion with Rome am I not in the Roman Church???

Anyway - I won’t pursue this any further because I don’t want to further confuse the OP. I thank you for the clarification.

Peace
James

 

[malphono]

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.

I’m not at all conversant with Greek (or, for that matter, any) Orthodox canon law, but it would seem very strange to me if there weren’t some canonical way of “correcting” things. Did the GO priest not suggest how it might be done? If not, or if he’s being rigid (or obstructionist), I’d suggest contacting the diocese.

Just my :twocents:

 

[Vico]

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.

Yian, so you were baptised in the Orthodox Church or the Catholic Church?

When married in the Catholic Church, did they do the pre-marriage interviews and instructions, and check for any needed dispensations and permissions?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

This is where things start to get confusing (at least to me).
If a person wishes to be in communion with “Rome” and joins an Eastern Rite Catholic Church then they are already a part of the “Roman Church” but not part of the Latin Rite Church…

Maybe I’m saying this wrong - but can you see how the terminology can be confusing?

:hypno:

Peace
James

It is a bit confusing until one understand’s it. The first thing to note is that churches and rites are separate things.

The Roman Catholic Church so-called is more correctly called the Latin Catholic Church. We need to remember that not all Catholics are Latin (a.k.a. Roman). There are twenty-three sui iuris (self-governing) churches that make up the Catholic Church: there are Eastern, Latin (a.k.a. Roman), and Oriental Catholic churches.

 

[yian027]

I am currently attending Prophet Elias in Santa Cruz and the priest wanted to perform a ceremony kind of like a re-marriage but not regardless of what it is my wife did not like the idea of it because she thought it would be saying that our first marriage didn’t count. My wife has a problem with orthodox because though before me she never new that we existed now every church we have attended they have told her she does not have the true faith and should convert blah blah. Her son who I adopted is also Roman Catholic. Its tough being a different religion and us going 2 different places on Sunday.

As far as converting that sounds good I like how easy the fast is in her church, Lol just kidding. If I became a Greek Melkite (never heard of this?) do they use greek in the liturgy? I probably still can’t take communion in my church if I did huh? Part of the problem is I’m originally from Detroit and always had the same Priest since I moved here to California I have never really settled in to any church. I was going back to Detroit to get married but it caused a financial problem and my father told me not to worry because he married my italian mother in a Roman catholic church. His religion is more Olympiakos than Orthodoxy though so I should have known better (for any Greeks here lol).

All I had to do was to be married was show my baptismal certificate. The pre-marriage interview was done in Spanish (with him and my wife speaking mostly) so I did not understand what was going on at the time(working on my spanish). The class was one day at St. Joseph in San Jose and was pretty ridiculous. Everyone talked about how when they get married they cant wait to have a dog or 3 LOL it was funny.

 

[malphono]

Ah, so the priest was accommodating. I really don’t understand the spouse’s objection to the convalidation, but that’s not my business and I won’t go there. Anyway, if you intend to remain GO, it looks like you have a big problem on your hands.

BTW, the Melkite Church is the counterpart of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, both having their origin in the Middle East.

 

[yian027]

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?

 

[ConstantineTG]

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 want to become Catholic, there is a process. Speak with a priest.