How does one change rites to the Byzantine Catholic Church?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AZ42
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AZ42

Guest
I feel drawn to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I am currently a Latin rite catholic. How can you change rites?
 
Last edited:
Do you belong to the Latin church that uses the Roman rite? For some reason, people confuse rite with Sui Iuris. I’d write to my Latin bishop and to the Byzantine bishop about why.
 
It is a difficult and complicated process, and not just anyone can do it.
 
Actually most people have no problems transferring Churches (you don’t transfer rites). My husband, kids and I did 4.5 yrs ago. We wrote to both bishops…it took about a month total.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
For some reason, people confuse rite with Sui Iuris.
Click to expand...
Mostly it is because they have been used interchangeably for decades or even centuries. It is only since the 1990s that the distinction has been emphasized.
 
Last edited:
You would need written permission from both bishops to do so. The Byzantines are generally glad to receive new members due to their relative small numbers to start with, the numbers they lose due to people leaving the area for employment and a lack of new folks immigrating from the Byzantine homelands to America in recent decades.

However, you should know that you don’t have to officially change sui juris churches in order to attend, receive sacraments, give or volunteer at your local Greek Catholic parish.
 
Also note that you generally need to be involved with a parish for a while.

Contrary to what is often stated in these posts, it is quite easy, as described by @Angel_Gabriel

hawk
 
AZ42 said:
I feel drawn to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I am currently a Latin rite catholic. How can you change rites?
Click to expand...
If you live in a jurisdiction covered by both the Latin sui iuris church and another eastern sui iuris church, then you can request approval from the bishops, which will not involve making the request directly to the Holy See. The request starts with the receiving bishop.

CCEO TITLE 2 Churches Sui Iuris and Rites
  • Canon 27 A group of Christian faithful united by a hierarchy according to the norm of law which the supreme authority of the Church expressly or tacitly recognizes as sui iuris is called in this Code a Church sui iuris.
  • Canon 28
  1. A rite is the liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony, culture and circumstances of history of a distinct people, by which its own manner of living the faith is manifested in each Church sui iuris.
  2. The rites treated in this code, unless otherwise stated, are those which arise from the Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean and Constantinopolitan traditions.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top