Cousin's son's baptism (they are ECs)

[Alexandria2020]

My cousin and wife are ECs - SyroMalabar. They are currently based in Iowa and not nearby any SyroMalabar Rite parishes. Due to the Covid situation- they want to baptize their just born son ASAP and don’t want to travel off far.

If they baptized their child at the closest Latin Rite church, would the child still be a SyroMalabar Rite?

The SyroMalabar Church has been heavily Latinized but since the last 13-15 years they started conferring confirmation together with baptism as that was the tradition in the East Syriac Rite. So how would the situation of confirmation work if the child gets baptized in a Latin church?

 

[1ke]

Due to the Covid situation- they want to baptize their just born son ASAP and don’t want to travel off far.

They should contact their pastor by phone and discuss baptism options.

If they baptized their child at the closest Latin Rite church, would the child still be a SyroMalabar Rite?

Yes.

The Syro-Malabar pastor should talk to the Latin pastor because typically the child should receive all sacraments of initiation from the priest.

So how would the situation of confirmation work if the child gets baptized in a Latin church?

The two pastors need to discuss it.

 

[OrbisNonSufficit]

If they baptized their child at the closest Latin Rite church, would the child still be a SyroMalabar Rite?

Yes. Rite of Baptism does not determine Rite of Baptized. My Godfather was baptized during communism by his grandfather from mother’s side who was Byzantine Priest. So he also received confirmation during Baptism. However he is Latin Catholic (because his father is Latin Catholic) and though he got Baptized and Confirmed in Byzantine style, he is still Latin Catholic

The SyroMalabar Church has been heavily Latinized but since the last 13-15 years they started conferring confirmation together with baptism as that was the tradition in the East Syriac Rite. So how would the situation of confirmation work if the child gets baptized in a Latin church?

Latin Priests can be authorized to do this. It would be better to speak to Priest but afaik our Priest would be able to confer baptism and Chrismation (Confirmation) at the same time to baby of Eastern Rite if that was required of him. However maybe Priest needs to ask Bishop and maybe there are things (such as with Marriage) where Priest needs permission from Sui Iuris Church of recipient (in this case, SyroMalabar Church). So speak to Priest but I am quite sure this is possible… I am just not sure what administrative things need to be done first though.

Also congratulations on new member of your family! And pre-congratulations on the baptism

 

[Alexandria2020]

They should contact their pastor by phone and discuss baptism options.

what about many people of the Eastern rites who get accustomed to their local Latin parishes? just because their local EC churches aren’t near by or they just don’t want to join their EC parish. (I know many relatives and friends like that who immigrated over to the US in the 70s, 80s, 90s… at that time there was no Syro-Malabar Eparchy in the US. Many of them eventually became like Latin Rite Catholics).

 

[InThePew]

If they baptized their child at the closest Latin Rite church, would the child still be a SyroMalabar Rite?

Yes but they should contact their nearest Syro-Malabar priest/parish first - a Latin rite priest can only do it if the priest of their own Rite can’t. Being baptised by a Latin-rite priest doesn’t alter the child’s belonging to the Syro-Malabar Rite

The SyroMalabar Church has been heavily Latinized but since the last 13-15 years they started conferring confirmation together with baptism as that was the tradition in the East Syriac Rite. So how would the situation of confirmation work if the child gets baptized in a Latin church?

This can’t be done by the Latin-rite priest; a Syro-Malabar priest needs to do it (when possible).

what about many people of the Eastern rites who get accustomed to their local Latin parishes? just because their local EC churches aren’t near by or they just don’t want to join their EC parish.

That doesn’t alter their legal status as Eastern Catholics. I’ve known Eastern Catholics who move between their own parish and a Latin parish depending on what their doing that Sunday! Where this causes problems though is when Eastern Rite children are enrolled in the sacramental program at a latin Rite church and accidentally end up being confirmed again because nobody picked up on the fact that they’re Eastern.