Am I 'Roman' Catholic?

[PMV]

I was baptized Roman Catholic while my father was in the Latin rite as well. I had first confession and communion in the RC Church. However, I was confirmed Byzantine as an infant. Not only was I raised in the Latin Rite, but also this is something that annoys me and I wish to be confirmed in the Latin rite. Am I Roman Catholic or Byzantine Catholic?

Unfortunately, when I asked my mother why she did this she said it was so that I could be confirmed earlier, and wouldn’t have to go to CCD longer.

Although the sacrament cannot be repeated, is there any kind of practice or official solution that the bishop could arrange which would make me officially Roman Catholic?

Also, because I was confirmed in the Eastern rite does this make me any less of the Latin rite?

I would like to be able to carry the title ‘Roman Catholic’ but am still unsure of what I am.

 

[Christy_Beth]

You will need to talk with a priest about this. If there IS anything that needs to be done, then he can arrange it.

 

[threej_lc]

You’re a Roman Catholic. Canon law defines your Rite of Catholocism is the one held by your father at the time of your birth.

No further procedures are necessary.

Josh

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

PMV:

I was baptized Roman Catholic while my father was in the Latin rite as well. I had first confession and communion in the RC Church. However, I was confirmed Byzantine as an infant. Not only was I raised in the Latin Rite, but also this is something that annoys me and I wish to be confirmed in the Latin rite. Am I Roman Catholic or Byzantine Catholic?

Unfortunately, when I asked my mother why she did this she said it was so that I could be confirmed earlier, and wouldn’t have to go to CCD longer.

Although the sacrament cannot be repeated, is there any kind of practice or official solution that the bishop could arrange which would make me officially Roman Catholic?

Also, because I was confirmed in the Eastern rite does this make me any less of the Latin rite?

I would like to be able to carry the title ‘Roman Catholic’ but am still unsure of what I am.

Maybe you would get a properly informed answer from one of the boards at ewtn.com ?​

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

PMV:

I was baptized Roman Catholic while my father was in the Latin rite as well. I had first confession and communion in the RC Church. However, I was confirmed Byzantine as an infant. Not only was I raised in the Latin Rite, but also this is something that annoys me and I wish to be confirmed in the Latin rite. Am I Roman Catholic or Byzantine Catholic?

Unfortunately, when I asked my mother why she did this she said it was so that I could be confirmed earlier, and wouldn’t have to go to CCD longer.

Although the sacrament cannot be repeated, is there any kind of practice or official solution that the bishop could arrange which would make me officially Roman Catholic?

Also, because I was confirmed in the Eastern rite does this make me any less of the Latin rite?

I would like to be able to carry the title ‘Roman Catholic’ but am still unsure of what I am.

How could you be baptized in a Roman Catholic Church and then be Chrismated in a Byzantine Church as an infant?

These three Mysteries of Initiation are administered at the same Divine Liturgy.

That being said, it doesn’t matter where you received the Mysteries (Sacraments) as an infant. If your father is a Latin (Roman) Catholic and you were initiated as an infant then so are you.

It doesn’t matter where you received them as they are all Catholic. I am a Byzantine Catholic yet I was baptized in a Roman Church, was confirmed and reiceve First Eucharist in a Roman Church, yet I am still Catholic but I am Byzantine because my father is.

 

[threej_lc]

More accurately stated, here is the actual Canon on the matter:

Canon 111—1. A child of parents who belong to the Latin Church is ascribed to it by reception of baptism, or, if one or the other parent does not belong to the Latin Church and both parents agree in choosing that the child be baptized in the Latin Church, the child is ascribed to it by reception of baptism; but, if the agreement is lacking, the child is ascribed to the Ritual Church to which the father belongs.

1. Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely choose to be baptized in the Latin Church or in another Ritual Church sui iuris, and in this case the person belongs to that Church which is chosen.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

threej_lc:

You’re a Roman Catholic. Canon law defines your Rite of Catholocism is the one held by your father at the time of your birth.

No further procedures are necessary.

Josh

Actually this is only true if you are initiated as an infant, that is baptized. If it is not done as an infant and you later come to the Church for baptism after the age of reason (I think its something like 14) then you may choose which Rite.

 

[threej_lc]

ByzCath:

Actually this is only true if you are initiated as an infant, that is baptized. If it is not done as an infant and you later come to the Church for baptism after the age of reason (I think its something like 14) then you may choose which Rite.

Right you are! But I already corrected myself :-D.
Josh

 

[ncjohn]

This all brings up a related question–What if one wishes to change as an adult? I’m sure I could go look this up, but I’m equally sure that someone here will know the answer off the top of their head and be able to enlighten me.

 

[threej_lc]

ncjohn:

This all brings up a related question–What if one wishes to change as an adult? I’m sure I could go look this up, but I’m equally sure that someone here will know the answer off the top of their head and be able to enlighten me.

Canon 112—1. After the reception of baptism, the following are enrolled in another Ritual Church sui iuris:

(1) one who has obtained permission from the Apostolic See;

(2) a spouse who declares at the time of marriage or during marriage that he or she is transferring to the Ritual Church sui iuris of the other spouse; but when the marriage has ended, that person can freely return to the Latin Church;

(3) children of those in nn. 1 and 2 under fourteen complete years of age; and similarly children of a Catholic party in a mixed marriage who legitimately transferred to another Ritual Church. But, when such persons reach fourteen complete years of age, they may return to the Latin Church.

1. The custom, however prolonged, of receiving the sacraments according to the rite of another Ritual Church sui iuris, does not carry with it enrollment in that Church.

…That’s from Latin to another Rite. The other Rites have slightly different rules to switch to the Latin rite.

Basically, you petition the pope, and he says okay

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

threej_lc:

…That’s from Latin to another Rite. The other Rites have slightly different rules to switch to the Latin rite.

Basically, you petition the pope, and he says okay

Actually I believe that this has been changed a bit.

A friend of mine who is a Latin Catholic is changing to be Melkite.

What you need to do is call your chancery office. The bishops office. They will tell you what you need ot do. But what it amount to is writing a letter to your current bishop telling him why you wish to change and write to the bishop of the Church you wish to change to asking him to accept you. If both say yes then the change happens. If one says no then no change.

Another way to change is to marry someone from that Church and then there is some paper work you can sign when you get married that carries a change with it.

 

[ncjohn]

Thanks to both of you. Not something I’m actually contemplating doing, at least not at this time, but it came up in discussion about the differences between the rites and whether people were allowed to switch.

In my limited experience, I’ve found beautiful parts of liturgy in each of the few non-Latin rite churches I’ve attended, and met some wonderful, devoted people. It’s refreshing to me just as a reminder that there can be different ways of looking at and doing things that don’t make them “wrong.”

Peace,
John

 

[cameron_lansing]

“a spouse who declares at the time of marriage or during marriage that he or she is transferring to the Ritual Church sui iuris of the other spouse; but when the marriage has ended, that person can freely return to the Latin Church;”

Canon 33 of the code of Canons of of the Eastern Churches has an interesting twist, though, compared to the provision of the Latin canon 112, §1, 2º cited in quote earlier. Concession of law is not made to the man.

Thus, CCEO canon 33: “A wife is at liberty to transfer to the Church of the husband at the celebration of or during the marriage; when the marriage has ended, she can freely return to the original Church sui iuris.”