Any Converts from Orthodoxy?

[Reuben_J]

Well, though I may disagree regarding part of your earlier post, I do agree with your Catholic-Orthodox comparison. (I don’t know if you’ve read the same threads that I have, but if you have then you’ve undoubtedly seen numerous Catholic posters express confusion that Orthodox would follow their bishops directives regarding e.g. inter-communion, but simultaneously insisting that Catholics should follow our own bishops directives.)

I am not sure about the thread you mentioned. I can look that up. Normally I post randomly in threads where I could contribute my knowledge and experience, which is actually very little. And Orthodox is actually the least of them.

The principle that I take about not going to another churches is based on the fact that I do not believe in them. It will certainly not help me spiritually and there would be a danger that I may veer away from my own faith in doing so.

As for going to Orthodox churches when there is no Catholic church around, as Catholics, we are permitted to do so. I am fine with what my Church says. In practice I have never set foot in a Orthodox church except for one time when I was young, and that was not for mass. I have not had a chance to experience that depravity since there is always a Catholic church to be found. In places where there is none, I travel extensively to foreign countries, I would not, say, go to a Protestant church. I can never imagine myself doing that.

As for Orthodox, I am not too sure. What I heard from some Orthodox posters here, they may not go to Catholic church for mass. If that is the case, obviously then their members should not. But then again, this is all personal opinion of mine. I can speak for myself and my view derives from what I think personally.

 

[EIF5A]

The principle that I take about not going to another churches is based on the fact that I do not believe in them.

What exactly do you mean by that? The Catholic Church has said the Orthodox sacraments are valid, so something’s there.

 

[Reuben_J]

What exactly do you mean by that? The Catholic Church has said the Orthodox sacraments are valid, so something’s there.

A little reading would help, my friend. Please read my post. They are usually a bit long, but I do try to make them readable.

 

[EIF5A]

A little reading would help, my friend. Please read my post. They are usually a bit long, but I do try to make them readable.

I went back and read your posts in this thread. Still, I do not fully understand what you mean by you don’t “believe in” the Orthodox Church/Divine Liturgy. As in they do not have the fullness of truth, do not exist, do not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, insufficient in some manner, do not fulfill Catholic obligation, or goes against personal conscience?

 

[Reuben_J]

I went back and read your posts in this thread. Still, I do not fully understand what you mean by you don’t “believe in” the Orthodox Church/Divine Liturgy. As in they do not have the fullness of truth, do not exist, do not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, insufficient in some manner, do not fulfill Catholic obligation, or goes against personal conscience?

Alright, here it is. Catholic and Orthodox are in schism not separated. Catholics can receive the Orthodox Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. In some Orthodox churches, Catholics may not be permitted by their priests to do so but some Orthodox churches as far as I have heard do allow for Catholics to have communion in their services. On the other hand, afaik, Orthodox are not allowed to receive communion in the Catholic church.

If you have actually read my posts, you would find out that was exactly was I said or close to that. Thus Catholics, including myself, can go to Orthodox church and receive communion provided their priests allow it, we being Catholics and not Orthodox. On the other hand, afaik, Orthodox are prohibited to receive communion in the Catholic church, unless I am wrong in that.

Thus what I was saying, you go to the church you believe in. In reality what your church teaches. If Orthodox church teaches that an Orthodox cannot receive communion in a Catholic church, then why would an Orthodox go there? As I would not go to a Protestant church. Please read my earlier post again. I think it was quite clear.

 

[Reuben_J]

I went back and read your posts in this thread. Still, I do not fully understand what you mean by you don’t “believe in” the Orthodox Church/Divine Liturgy. As in they do not have the fullness of truth, do not exist, do not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, insufficient in some manner, do not fulfill Catholic obligation, or goes against personal conscience?

As I search myself, I could not remember when I said I do not believe in the Orthodox Church/Divine Liturgy. Please show me where I said that, if really that I did.

All I know, I said that if there is no Catholic church around, a Catholic is permitted to attend an Orthodox church. I have not attended an Orthodox church simply because I have not experience a situation where there was no Catholic church but an Orthodox church around. But where there is no Catholic church and a Protestant church available, I will not go to the Protestant church as I do not believe in it and my Church teaches that I should not receive their communion.

 

[andrewstx]

During one of my hospital stays I received Holy Communion from a Catholic chaplain who was a sister as well.

I made it clear to Sister that I am Orthodox and there was no Orthodox priest or church and she did not hesitate to give me the sacred Host. I don’t understand the big deal .

 

[Peter_J]

EIF5A and Reuben J, just my opinion fwiw: I find Reuben’s view a bit extreme, but at the same time a bit refreshing because I get a little tired of always hearing from people on the opposite extreme. (I’m thinking particularly of people with a “no fault divorce” type of attitude regarding conversion. Granted, now I’m off-topic since nobody’s been talking about converting.)

 

[Reuben_J]

During one of my hospital stays I received Holy Communion from a Catholic chaplain who was a sister as well.

I made it clear to Sister that I am Orthodox and there was no Orthodox priest or church and she did not hesitate to give me the sacred Host. I don’t understand the big deal .

We are schistic my bro. You are always welcome in the Catholic churches, anytime. And our priests will give you communion if you want to. But afaik, your Orthodox church do not allow for you as an Orthodox to receive communion in the Catholic Church. You do that on your own accord, not your church. Unless you tell me or your Orthodox friends tell me that Orthodox can receive communion in the Catholic church, then my advice to the OP as I would do myself, you follow your church teaching. It is as simple as that.

 

[EIF5A]

As I search myself, I could not remember when I said I do not believe in the Orthodox Church/Divine Liturgy. Please show me where I said that, if really that I did.

All I know, I said that if there is no Catholic church around, a Catholic is permitted to attend an Orthodox church. I have not attended an Orthodox church simply because I have not experience a situation where there was no Catholic church but an Orthodox church around. But where there is no Catholic church and a Protestant church available, I will not go to the Protestant church as I do not believe in it and my Church teaches that I should not receive their communion.

You said “believe in” in your earlier post. It’s a very ambiguous term when you say you don’t “believe in” non-Catholic churches. Churches have Mass/Divine Liturgy/worship services.

All I wanted was clarification of the term.

 

[Peter_J]

During one of my hospital stays I received Holy Communion from a Catholic chaplain who was a sister as well.

I made it clear to Sister that I am Orthodox and there was no Orthodox priest or church and she did not hesitate to give me the sacred Host. I don’t understand the big deal .

That’s entirely what I would expect her to do. I assume Reuben meant that the Orthodox Church doesn’t (generally) say that you can receive from Catholic ministers.

Edit: I see he’s responded already.

 

[Reuben_J]

EIF5A and Reuben J, just my opinion fwiw: I find Reuben’s view a bit extreme, but at the same time a bit refreshing because a get a little tired of always hearing from people on the opposite extreme. (I’m thinking particularly of people with a “no fault divorce” type of attitude regarding conversion. Granted, now I’m off-topic since nobody’s been talking about conversion.)

It should be “extreme” if it is what the Church/Jesus teaches. It makes no point to water down your faith and be relativistic. The apostles and the saints were willing to die for their belief and It was as extreme as it should be. Anyway, you are right. That’s it for me, there is no compromise in my belief. Maybe I can say that I am willing to give my life for it as far as I am capable. Like driving one or two hours to partake in the Eucharist would be a pleasure for me as I would be able to exercise my effort to practice my faith for the love of it. There is no point talking about belief if we are swayed by the wind wherever it takes us to.

 

[Reuben_J]

You said “believe in” in your earlier post. It’s a very ambiguous term when you say you don’t “believe in” non-Catholic churches. Churches have Mass/Divine Liturgy/worship services.

All I wanted was clarification of the term.

I hope my clarification helps then.

 

[Columba_Tom]

I live in England.
Old England.
I have several Orthodox friends who use Catholic churches and receive sacraments with permission from their bishop and of the local Catholic priest.

There is no sacrificial priesthood in the Anglican communion. They are protestants. Their priests have sworn that :
“… the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits.” (Article 31 of the 39 Articles.) Blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits, eh?

You might find an Anglican church that looks like the stage is set for the Mass. But it is not the Mass. You need a Catholic or Orthodox church.

btw, many Catholics use prayers from Orthodox traditions too. I use the Jesus Prayer and Orthodox Rosaries as well as Roman ones. I pray the Acathistos and the Matins of the Resurrection regularly. Orthodox icons stimulate devotion in almost every Catholic Church in my diocese. We seem to be growing … together.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Consider also what you can do in your community for your fellow man, as an act of worship. This is pleasing to God. Volunteer perhaps in some charity and unite it with your prayer and let this be your devotion to God, certainly this would bring you closer to Him. And I would encourage you to go to the Catholic parish! You may not be able to receive communion depending on the rules of your Church and depending on what your bishop says (there were some Orthodox who were allowed to receive communion at my old Catholic parish per some agreement between churches) but at the very least you could enjoy the benefits and blessings of the sacred liturgy.

 

[Cavaradossi]

During one of my hospital stays I received Holy Communion from a Catholic chaplain who was a sister as well.

I made it clear to Sister that I am Orthodox and there was no Orthodox priest or church and she did not hesitate to give me the sacred Host. I don’t understand the big deal .

Because intercommunion implies a unity of faith which does not exist, and contributes to religious indifferentism, which is already an enormous problem in America.

Edit: I would say that this is true also of joint prayer.

 

[Peter_J]

“**Members of the Orthodox churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own churches. **According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these churches (canon 844 § 3).”

• US Catholic missalette (emphasis added)

 

[andrewstx]

That’s entirely what I would expect her to do. I assume Reuben meant that the Orthodox Church doesn’t (generally) say that you can receive from Catholic ministers.

Edit: I see he’s responded already.

I understand that. But at the time I had had a stroke and my survival was in question. I did not want to take the risk of dying without not having received Holy Communion. I understand that in the old country things are not so strict and people receive in both churches if their original church is innacesible.

I am sure that bishop Basil in Witchita KA would have understood especially since I was hundreds of miles away from any Orthodox church.

 

[Peter_J]

I understand that. But at the time I had had a stroke and my survival was in question. I did not want to take the risk of dying without not having received Holy Communion. I understand that in the old country things are not so strict and people receive in both churches if their original church is innacesible.

I am sure that bishop Basil in Witchita KA would have understood especially since I was hundreds of miles away from any Orthodox church.

Good post. FWIW (I’m a life-long Catholic) that is the kind of intercommunion I support: cases where someone is unable to get to a minister of his/her own church.