Can a Roman Rite catholic become a member of an Eastern Catholic Church

[WildCatholic]

I’ve always wondered this. I’ve always thought that Eastern Catholics have cool liturgies and traditions and while I love being in the Roman rite and will probably stay in a roman rite church, could I or any other roman rite catholic join an Eastern Catholic church

 

[Loving_disciple]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

 

[porthos11]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

Any Roman Catholic can always attend and receive Communion at an Eastern Catholic (not Orthodox) church. Formally changing churches is more involved.

Yes, he can receive the Eucharist at an Eastern Catholic church.

 

[robert7685]

I’ve always wondered this. I’ve always thought that Eastern Catholics have cool liturgies and traditions and while I love being in the Roman rite and will probably stay in a roman rite church, could I or any other roman rite catholic join an Eastern Catholic church

Yes, it is possible. Itis also possible for Eastern Catholics to become Roman Rite. That being said, it is a process that can take some time. First, one must attend a parish of the Rite they wish to join for at least one year. This is to help the person become acquainted with the sacramental life of that rite. Then, one must write the bishop under whose jurisdiction that parish operates under to ask to be able to join. It is highly recommended that one has assistance from the priest he knows in writing the letter. Please note: expressing a dislike for your current rite will result in the permission to switch rites being denied.
Once the letter is written, the bishop of the rite one is joining writes the current bishop the person in question is under (if he approves). At that point, the bishop of one’s current rite may commend the person to the care of the bishop of the rite which that person seeks to join. Bear in mind, this is from my meomory, so you may want to do some research.

Very important point: This switch can usually only be made once in a person’s life, so do not treat it lightly. It is perfectly licit for a Roman Rite Catholic to assist at an Eastern Rite Catholic Church, and vice versa. You can even receive Holy communion there, provided you are properly disposed.

 

[bzkoss236]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

I think you are confused with the Eastern Orthodox, but even then, the Eastern Orthodox have valid Sacraments, and we are permitted to take them if we do not have access to a Catholic Church.

Eastern Catholics are in Communion with the Holy Catholic Church. They are fully Catholic.

 

[WetCatechumen]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

Yes. A Roman Catholic can register as a parishioner of an Eastern Catholic parish of any particular church, attend liturgy, receive sacraments, and participate in parish life.

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

It would not be turning your back on the Roman Church.

You can attend liturgy and you can receive communion at Eastern Catholic parishes. At Eastern ORTHODOX parishes you cannot receive Holy Communion and their liturgy does not fulfill your Sunday obligation.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

The Eastern Catholic churches are in communion with Rome. The Eastern churches along with the Latin Church make up the (Roman) Catholic Church, even though the Eastern churches practice different rites than the Latin/Western Church. I believe this terminology is correct. Anyone?

 

[WildCatholic]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

How do you figure that? I always thought since Eastern Catholics were in union with rome that it was okay for all Catholics to attend their masses and go to communion. I’m not thinking of becoming an Orthodox Christian

 

[WildCatholic]

Yes. A Roman Catholic can register as a parishioner of an Eastern Catholic parish of any particular church, attend liturgy, receive sacraments, and participate in parish life.

It would not be turning your back on the Roman Church.

You can attend liturgy and you can receive communion at Eastern Catholic parishes. At Eastern ORTHODOX parishes you cannot receive Holy Communion and their liturgy does not fulfill your Sunday obligation.

Thanks, I’ve just wondered about this. I’m definitely not becoming a member of an Orthodox Church. Eastern Catholicism though interests me somewhat. Granted here on the plains there are few Eastern Catholics so i haven’t experiences much of it, but i’d like to see an Eastern Mass

 

[SyroMalankara]

Youtube can be a great advantage.

Here is a channel that posts the Malankara Syriac Catholic Liturgy weekly:

https://www.youtube.com/user/HolyQurbono/videos

There are also Syro-Malabar Catholics, Byzantine Catholics, Coptic Catholics, Armenian Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, Syrian Catholics, Maronite Catholics, and more all united in the Catholic Communion.

 

[jcld]

I’ve always wondered this. I’ve always thought that Eastern Catholics have cool liturgies and traditions and while I love being in the Roman rite and will probably stay in a roman rite church, could I or any other roman rite catholic join an Eastern Catholic church

You are already a member! You are already a Catholic Christian. East or West does not matter anymore. You can join them in the worship instantaneously. Of course, this is what I believe and this is what Blessed Pope John Paul II also believed. Maybe this link can provide the necessary information you require. newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02ol.htm

 

[jcld]

Well that would mean turning your back on the Roman Church. However you can attend their mass and follows hip with Eastren rite Catholic as long as you don’t take the Eucharist

I believe that attending Eastern Catholic rite does not mean “turning your back on the Western Catholic rite”… That is what Blessed Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter is all about… newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02ol.htm

 

[Vico]

New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, By John P. Beal, James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green, p. 32:Membership in the Catholic Church is never “at large”; instead, a person is enrolled in a specific church sui iuris, determined according to law. Whether it is a case of reception of baptism or entrance into full communion, membership is determined by the law as a consequence of the act whether or not the baptism or entrance actually occurs in the church sui iuris as stipulated by the law (see c. 111.2).
CIC (Latin Canon Law)

Can. 112
§1 After the reception of baptism, the following become members of another autonomous ritual Church:
1° those who have obtained permission from the Apostolic See;
2° a spouse who, on entering marriage or during its course, has declared that he or she is transferring to the autonomous ritual
Church of the other spouse; on the dissolution of the marriage, however, that person may freely return to the latin Church;
3° the children of those mentioned in nn. 1 and 2 who have not completed their fourteenth year, and likewise in a mixed marriage the children of a catholic party who has lawfully transferred to another ritual Church; on completion of their fourteenth year, however, they may return to the latin Church.
§2 The practice, however long standing, of receiving the sacraments according to the rite of an autonomous ritual Church, does not bring with it membership of that Church.

CIC 1248.1
The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.

 

[jcld]

New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, By John P. Beal, James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green, p. 32:Membership in the Catholic Church is never “at large”; instead, a person is enrolled in a specific church sui iuris, determined according to law. Whether it is a case of reception of baptism or entrance into full communion, membership is determined by the law as a consequence of the act whether or not the baptism or entrance actually occurs in the church sui iuris as stipulated by the law (see c. 111.2).
CIC (Latin Canon Law)

Can. 112
§1 After the reception of baptism, the following become members of another autonomous ritual Church:
1° those who have obtained permission from the Apostolic See;
2° a spouse who, on entering marriage or during its course, has declared that he or she is transferring to the autonomous ritual
Church of the other spouse; on the dissolution of the marriage, however, that person may freely return to the latin Church;
3° the children of those mentioned in nn. 1 and 2 who have not completed their fourteenth year, and likewise in a mixed marriage the children of a catholic party who has lawfully transferred to another ritual Church; on completion of their fourteenth year, however, they may return to the latin Church.
§2 The practice, however long standing, of receiving the sacraments according to the rite of an autonomous ritual Church, does not bring with it membership of that Church.

CIC 1248.1
The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.

No offense meant Vico… But…

This Canon Law thing should be ok for those who prefer following the rules to the letter.

If you’ve observed closely, the majority cannot really follow these rules to the letter.
This is a fact that you must learn to accept.

Try asking ANYONE, if they follow the Canon Law. Chances are, most might say… What is the Canon Law anyway ? I know this, because in my life, I tried asking around. Most will die without even knowing a Canon Law existed.

This Canon Law was formulated by the Church as a tool for the political organization that it has become, in order to support the Church in the government of it’s members ( be it East or West ).

But remember this, God did not give these rules in the first place. From Moses to Jews, He gave 10 commandments. From Jesus Christ to the Jews, Jesus gave only 2 commandments. Secondly, the most important thing in our life, I believe, is nurturing our relationship with God, AND nurturing our apostolate ( which is part of showing our love for our neighbor). In the end, I believe that God will judge one as a fig tree. These important things in our lives represent the fruit that we bear before God. No fruit, means dead fig tree. Period. No such thing about Canon Law there. Let the bishops worry about how to govern the sheep, I need not be concerned about those political rules for as long as I love God, I love my neighbor, & I fulfill my work for God.

 

[JamesCaruso]

No offense meant Vico… But…

This Canon Law thing should be ok for those who prefer following the rules to the letter.

If you’ve observed closely, the majority cannot really follow these rules to the letter.
This is a fact that you must learn to accept.

Try asking ANYONE, if they follow the Canon Law. Chances are, most might say… What is the Canon Law anyway ? I know this, because in my life, I tried asking around. Most will die without even knowing a Canon Law existed.

This Canon Law was formulated by the Church as a tool for the political organization that it has become, in order to support the Church in the government of it’s members ( be it East or West ).

But remember this, God did not give these rules in the first place. From Moses to Jews, He gave 10 commandments. From Jesus Christ to the Jews, Jesus gave only 2 commandments. Secondly, the most important thing in our life, I believe, is nurturing our relationship with God, AND nurturing our apostolate ( which is part of showing our love for our neighbor). In the end, I believe that God will judge one as a fig tree. These important things in our lives represent the fruit that we bear before God. No fruit, means dead fig tree. Period. No such thing about Canon Law there. Let the bishops worry about how to govern the sheep, I need not be concerned about those political rules for as long as I love God, I love my neighbor, & I fulfill my work for God.

The following from Catholic Answers puts forth the authority of the Church to make laws::

“Binding and loosing” is a phrase which comes from the rabbis. It refers to the authority to make decisions binding on the people of God.

…In Matthew 16:19 Jesus gives this authority over his Church to Peter: “Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

In Matthew 18:18, he gives the power to all the apostles: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-does-the-phrase-binding-and-loosing-as-mentioned-in-matthew-1619-and-matthew-181

 

[Vico]

No offense meant Vico… But…

This Canon Law thing should be ok for those who prefer following the rules to the letter.

If you’ve observed closely, the majority cannot really follow these rules to the letter.
This is a fact that you must learn to accept.

Try asking ANYONE, if they follow the Canon Law. Chances are, most might say… What is the Canon Law anyway ? I know this, because in my life, I tried asking around. Most will die without even knowing a Canon Law existed.

This Canon Law was formulated by the Church as a tool for the political organization that it has become, in order to support the Church in the government of it’s members ( be it East or West ).

But remember this, God did not give these rules in the first place. From Moses to Jews, He gave 10 commandments. From Jesus Christ to the Jews, Jesus gave only 2 commandments. Secondly, the most important thing in our life, I believe, is nurturing our relationship with God, AND nurturing our apostolate ( which is part of showing our love for our neighbor). In the end, I believe that God will judge one as a fig tree. These important things in our lives represent the fruit that we bear before God. No fruit, means dead fig tree. Period. No such thing about Canon Law there. Let the bishops worry about how to govern the sheep, I need not be concerned about those political rules for as long as I love God, I love my neighbor, & I fulfill my work for God.

Of course. It does show what the laws that the clergy are bound to as a norm, and exceptions are made, but must be requested by the clergy per the appropriate jurisdiction. It is (bishop) recommended that the faithful know some canon law when dealing with ascription to a church sui iuris and for sacramental issues.

 

[peace2u2]

The Eastern Catholic churches are in communion with Rome. The Eastern churches along with the Latin Church make up the (Roman) Catholic Church, even though the Eastern churches practice different rites than the Latin/Western Church. I believe this terminology is correct. Anyone?

Yes, the Eastern Catholic Church has a validated ordained priesthood. At least that is what I have heard.

 

[jcld]

The following from Catholic Answers puts forth the authority of the Church to make laws::

“Binding and loosing” is a phrase which comes from the rabbis. It refers to the authority to make decisions binding on the people of God.

…In Matthew 16:19 Jesus gives this authority over his Church to Peter: “Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

In Matthew 18:18, he gives the power to all the apostles: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-does-the-phrase-binding-and-loosing-as-mentioned-in-matthew-1619-and-matthew-181

But you have two sets of different rites ( Eastern & Western )… These were put forth by the Early Church fathers of the East and of the West… Which one is correct?.. You see ? You are trying to separate what God wishes to unite…

What would you say now ? Both rites were bound by Apostolic Fathers… What now ? Does this mean that you have to choose ONLY ONE ??? God wished that we understand & experience BOTH… understand & experience… This is what the late Blessed Pope John Paul II said… God speaks through him…

You see…

I think that depends… The bishops can implement what they want… But ULTIMATELY… God will have the last say… example… Do we really know that people who commit suicide are really in hell ? How do we REALLY know that ? Of course, we can only give our reason for it… But we can NEVER KNOW YET (as we are still on earth) what God really did to the person… Right ?

That is why, it DOES NOT MEAN that if we become a member of God’s true church, then we will receive salvation… Rather, it ONLY DEPENDS upon our relationship/love with God, and upon our love for neighbor ( through apostolate and true concern ) .

 

[SyroMalankara]

I don’t understand your statement. Who says anyone has to choose anything? There were more than two Rites by the Apostolic Fathers, there were 6-8. Each evolved to their culture and people organically.

One doesn’t have to choose to worship in any single one. But you cannot be a Catholic without belonging to one of the Catholic Churches. You can’t belong to any without being baptized.

 

[jcld]

I don’t understand your statement. Who says anyone has to choose anything? There were more than two Rites by the Apostolic Fathers, there were 6-8. Each evolved to their culture and people organically.

One doesn’t have to choose to worship in any single one. But you cannot be a Catholic without belonging to one of the Catholic Churches. You can’t belong to any without being baptized.

In a VERY SPECIFIC sense, there are more than just one Eastern rite… But I prefer to make my discussions simple… Eastern Rite & Western Rite

Let me try to understand your post… Are you telling me… That as a baptized Catholic, if I choose to worship at a nearby Eastern Catholic Church, do I need to be re-baptized again ?