Converting from Orthodox: is a confession really necessary

[nightrider009]

If someone is converting from Orthodox, ordinarily three things are required: confession of faith, confession, and Communion. However the Catholic Church allows Orthodox to take Communion even without converting. So my question is: how necessary is confession of faith. It seems it has no sacramental value. And since the Catholic Church is allowing sacraments to orthadox, it seems this requirement has now been loosed. And since: whatever they loose on earth is loosed in heaven, any Orthodox therefore becomes Catholic by the sacrament of confession alone. No confession of faith is needed. Therefore it makes sense to me that merely confession and Communion are necessary for an Orthodox person to become Catholic. Am I right?

The reason this issue is so complex to me is because there are some who suggest that an Orthodox convert ought not to receive sacraments until the conversion is completed. Indeed, I have read writings of fathers which say that a schismatic/heretic cannot benefit from the sacrament. It may even be damning.

Please help. All answers will be greatly appreciated as I am deeply troubled at this issue.

If any of you have made a confession of faith, please share your experience. Did you feel it had any significant impact.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Not exactly. Some bishops ask the convert to affirm certain jurisdictional Truths about the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome.

 

[sw85]

If someone is converting from Orthodox, ordinarily three things are required: confession of faith, confession, and Communion. However the Catholic Church allows Orthodox to take Communion even without converting. So my question is: how necessary is confession of faith. It seems it has no sacramental value. And since the Catholic Church is allowing sacraments to orthadox, it seems this requirement has now been loosed. And since: whatever they loose on earth is loosed in heaven, any Orthodox therefore becomes Catholic by the sacrament of confession alone. No confession of faith is needed. Therefore it makes sense to me that merely confession and Communion are necessary for an Orthodox person to become Catholic. Am I right?

The reason this issue is so complex to me is because there are some who suggest that an Orthodox convert ought not to receive sacraments until the conversion is completed. Indeed, I have read writings of fathers which say that a schismatic/heretic cannot benefit from the sacrament. It may even be damning.

Please help. All answers will be greatly appreciated as I am deeply troubled at this issue.

If any of you have made a confession of faith, please share your experience. Did you feel it had any significant impact.

If I recall, Pope Benedict said that the Orthodox are so close to the Catholics in so many things that they can hardly be considered even materially schismatic. That said, I think the profession of faith is a good idea for simple prudential reasons, as the Church has enough ill-formed Catholics on its hands without needing to import them from other churches!

Confession would at a minimum be necessary, though likely only since your last confession, since Orthodox priests absolve validly.

 

[YoungTradCath]

It should be very easy for you to convert. If you have received all the Sacraments, which you probably have, the rest is quite simple.

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

My advice would be to go to the top of the page where it says “More” and go “into Ask Apologist” for a proper answer. One thing is for sure the sign of the Cross is done different.

Good luck.

 

[SonCatcher]

Confession of faith is required for every Catholic at every Mass (or DL). It’s why we always have either the creed or a renewal of our baptismal promises. If it is being asked aside from that, it may be to assure the bishop that the person entering the Catholic faith is definitely from one of the Orthodox churches (or, as SyroMalankara suggested, to confirm assent to Catholic jurisdictional authority).

The sacrament of Reconciliation is only necessary for those who have committed mortal sin since their last participation in either that sacrament or baptism, though encouraged for everyone who has committed any venial sin. (That said, many of those entering into full communion with the Catholic Church have not recently received Reconciliation, so if the bishop or canon law requires it, it is out of prudential judgement.)

All that remains is Communion.

 

[Aramis]

Having seen several Orthodox being received…

If you’re being received via the Roman Church, they will expect you to attend RCIA anyway, to learn the few differences dogmatically, and the praxis differences. If they are knowledgable, you’ll make your profession of faith during lent, and be formally received then, treated as a full fledged Catholic from then on. You may switch to the Roman Church or request to remain whichever flavor of Eastern you happen to come from, but most laity and not a few priests and deacons are woefully ignorant.

If you’re coming in via an Eastern Catholic Parish, it’s a non-issue unless you’re planning on marriage, ordination, baptism of the children, or the religious life, or have a strong desire to formally come into communion. In my parish, it’s usually done either right at the start of liturgy (after the incensation, but before the doors are opened), or after the ambon prayer at the end of liturgy. It is a recitation of the creed, and the affirmation of the validity of the Papacy, and acceptance of the authority of the magisterium and its teachings. DOne verbally by reading aloud from the written version, then the written is signed. No big deal, no hoopla. Angie, one of the babushki in the parish, had been attending for 40 years before she finally signed the paperwork…

 

[SonCatcher]

Having seen several Orthodox being received…

If you’re being received via the Roman Church, they will expect you to attend RCIA anyway, to learn the few differences dogmatically, and the praxis differences. If they are knowledgable, you’ll make your profession of faith during lent, and be formally received then, treated as a full fledged Catholic from then on. You may switch to the Roman Church or request to remain whichever flavor of Eastern you happen to come from, but most laity and not a few priests and deacons are woefully ignorant.

If you’re coming in via an Eastern Catholic Parish, it’s a non-issue unless you’re planning on marriage, ordination, baptism of the children, or the religious life, or have a strong desire to formally come into communion. In my parish, it’s usually done either right at the start of liturgy (after the incensation, but before the doors are opened), or after the ambon prayer at the end of liturgy. It is a recitation of the creed, and the affirmation of the validity of the Papacy, and acceptance of the authority of the magisterium and its teachings. DOne verbally by reading aloud from the written version, then the written is signed. No big deal, no hoopla. Angie, one of the babushki in the parish, had been attending for 40 years before she finally signed the paperwork…

My Latin parish received someone from Orthodoxy a few years ago. IIRC, he did not attend RCIA and was simply greeted at the door prior to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. I don’t know what prior meetings entailed, however. Thus, I couldn’t say whether he received the Sacrament of Reconciliation or made a Confession of faith prior to then.

 

[Aramis]

My Latin parish received someone from Orthodoxy a few years ago. IIRC, he did not attend RCIA and was simply greeted at the door prior to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. I don’t know what prior meetings entailed, however. Thus, I couldn’t say whether he received the Sacrament of Reconciliation or made a Confession of faith prior to then.

The sacrament of reconciliation is requisite for communion. Even tho’ many don’t feel compelled to use it often enough.

But it can be done either side of the formal statements requisite for formal enrollement in the Catholic Church for the Orthodox who is translating over.

 

[SonCatcher]

The sacrament of reconciliation is requisite for communion. Even tho’ many don’t feel compelled to use it often enough.

I discussed that in my previous post.

 

[nightrider009]

At least answer this guys:

Is there any doubt as to whether or not it would be beneficial for the Orthodox convert to receive confession and Communion (from the Catholic church) while he is awaiting the chance to state his confession of faith? Many early church fathers said a schismatic should not receive Communion. And there are even some priests who advise converts to wait. This is what I am concerned about. The convert will not be receiving the Holy Communion even though his soul may need it.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

One thing is for sure the sign of the Cross is done different.

Good luck.

The sign of the cross is done the exact same by Eastern Catholics & Eastern Orthodox.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

If I recall, Pope Benedict said that the Orthodox are so close to the Catholics in so many things that they can hardly be considered even materially schismatic. That said, I think the profession of faith is a good idea for simple prudential reasons, as the Church has enough ill-formed Catholics on its hands without needing to import them from other churches!

Confession would at a minimum be necessary, though likely only since your last confession, since Orthodox priests absolve validly.

The profession of faith/the Creed is the same in Eastern Catholic Churches as it is in Eastern Orthodoxy in other words without the 2 additional phrases added in by Roman Catholics centuries after it’s formulation. I don’t get how professing the same Creed they’d already been professing as Orthodox would help prevent ill-formation of the individual as a new Catholic? Please explain further help me understand. Thanks

 

[Zekariya]

Here is an answer from EWTN: ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur192.htm

Remember that even before you are formally received into Communion with Rome, you are allowed to partake of the Catholic Sacraments of Confession, the Eucharist, and the Anointing of the Sick.

 

[nightrider009]

But Zekariya, does the convert indeed receive the full benefit of the sacrament before he has completed the profession of faith? If so, then perhaps the profession is not necessary for salvation.

The fathers are saying that the heretic cannot benefit from the sacraments. So when the Orthodox decides to become Catholic and goes to receive Communion before making a profession of faith…is he not still a heretic? Is it not unbeneficial for him to receive?

 

[Zekariya]

But Zekariya, does the convert indeed receive the full benefit of the sacrament before he has completed the profession of faith? If so, then perhaps the profession is not necessary for salvation.

The fathers are saying that the heretic cannot benefit from the sacraments. So when the Orthodox decides to become Catholic and goes to receive Communion before making a profession of faith…is he not still a heretic? Is it not unbeneficial for him to receive?

Why does the Catholic Church permit them to Commune if it is not beneficial? EWTN is a good source of information. What you are saying is incorrect. Not to mention, the Eastern Orthodox has not been called heretics, maybe schismatics but not heretics.

 

[SonCatcher]

At least answer this guys:

Is there any doubt as to whether or not it would be beneficial for the Orthodox convert to receive confession and Communion (from the Catholic church) while he is awaiting the chance to state his confession of faith? Many early church fathers said a schismatic should not receive Communion. And there are even some priests who advise converts to wait. This is what I am concerned about. The convert will not be receiving the Holy Communion even though his soul may need it.

Orthodox may freely avail themselves of these sacraments. They are only expected to follow the rules of their own particular church regarding reception. (this is roughly distilled from Zekariya’s link and is printed on the inside cover of most missalettes used in U.S. parishes)

But Zekariya, does the convert indeed receive the full benefit of the sacrament before he has completed the profession of faith? If so, then perhaps the profession is not necessary for salvation.

The fathers are saying that the heretic cannot benefit from the sacraments. So when the Orthodox decides to become Catholic and goes to receive Communion before making a profession of faith…is he not still a heretic? Is it not unbeneficial for him to receive?

The Catholic discernment is that our Orthodox bretheren are not heretics at all (thus, not under the proscription handed down from the Fathers). They are merely our of communion with the See in Rome.