Can an Eastern Catholic go to a Latin priest for confession?

[JimmyS900]

I’m a US SyroMalabar Catholic (falling under the SyroMalabar Diocese of Chicago). My local parish is just 15 minutes from home. I attend Qurbana (Mass) regularly at my Syro parish. However, I always go to the nearby Latin churches for confession. I just feel more comfortable that way. That got me thinking. Am I supposed to go to my parish vicar for this sacrament? Or Is it OK if I go to a Latin/Roman priest?

 

[edward_george1]

You may go to any validly ordained Catholic priest with faculties. If they’re in a parish, they have faculties.

In short, yes, you may. There’s no reason you have to go to your own parish or your own particular church.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[commenter]

I know it’s the same sacrament, but is the format(?) the same for the East as in the Latin?

 

[adamhovey1988]

I’ve gone to a Melkite priest for confession, and I am a Latin, so I would imagine the other way around is fine

 

[babochka]

I know it’s the same sacrament, but is the format(?) the same for the East as in the Latin?

More or less. I don’t know about Syro-Malabar Catholics, but we don’t use, “Bless me father, for I have sinned…”, This is more of an English-speaking phrase, anyway, or at least not universal across cultures. And the absolution formula will be different. But the basics are the same.

I am speaking from a Byzantine perspective, though. The East is quite diverse.