Is there any Eastern Catholic Clergy Posting Here?

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CorAdCorLoquitur said:
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FatherSebastian:
It is clearly written by Roman Catholics with an attempt, and a very good one, at having a “universal” appeal. Let me give you one simple example. The section titled “Confirmation” is titled “Confirmation” for Latins. You wouldn’t have noticed this but we in the East do. The sacrament is called “Chrismation.” So why isn’t the section titled “Chrismation”? Or read through the section. The sacrament is referred to in every paragraph as “Confirmation.” Then the catechism throws a bone to the East by saying it is called “Chrismation” in the East. Then it goes right back to the word “Confirmation.”
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The text omits a detailed discussion on Chrismation in order to provide the Eastern Churches more latitude in teaching it. (Hence, the role of particular catechisms becomes clear, as underscored in the Catechism itself.) It was an act of deference, so the complaint is misguided.

But the omission of that discussion is no reason to exempt the faithful from what the text does declare. And by a definitive act of the Roman Pontiff - the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of the Church’s unity - the text applies universally.

Why, as a Melkite professing “communion with Rome,” may one declare the Catechism “their,” i.e., the Latins,’ and by clear implication, “not ours,” contrary to a definitive act of the Roman Pontiff?
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While you are free to disagree with @FatherSebastian, I suggest that it is unwise to do so with such a lack of willingness to listen to his explanations and with such confidence in your own position. Since he has been so kind as to reveal his actual identity to us, it is easy to determine his credentials. (You can find them [here.])(Rev. Sebastian A. Carnazzo, PhD – St. Paul Center) He has a PhD from the Catholic University of America. He has been entrusted, both before and after his ordination to the priesthood, with the formation of Roman Catholic seminarians. He teaches at the graduate level at one of the most conservative Roman Catholic colleges in the country. He has even taught at an FSSP seminary!

While you might not be able to match his education and experience, that doesn’t mean that he will always be right and you will always be wrong. It is just that a little bit of humility might be in order while considering his position, particularly when you accuse him of being opposed to the teachings of the Church.
 
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Father isn’t dismissing the Catechism nor declaring it heretical. Eastern Catholics accept that the Latin Church is orthodox, but are not bound to use, in their own spiritual lives, the particular theological constructs of the Latin tradition. I can’t speak for Father, but I think he would say that much of the Catechism is good and well and true…but not relevant to his own spiritual life as a Melkite.
 
The Catechism was meant as a reference (and “sure norm”) from which local Catechisms could be written. It would be useless in that role for an Eastern catechism because it contains so little of the Eastern theological perspective. While I am impressed with the references to the different practices and perspectives of the East, it makes no attempt to give them equal treatment because that is not it’s purpose. Where the Eastern perspective is mentioned, it is really just to familiarize the Latin reader with the difference, not to explore it in depth. This is the reason that it is a Roman catechism.
 
Yes, we have to understand that from a pastoral perspective this makes sense…98% of Catholics belong to the Latin Church, and Rome itself is Latin, so if Rome is going to develop a catechism, it will tend to favor the Latin perspective.
 
FatherSebastian said:
But he only posts here every now and then as he gets tired of being flagged by the Catholic Answers heavies for saying things that make the Latins uncomfortable, even though these are the very same things that are said in their catechism.
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I don’t think you are getting flagged by the Catholic Answers moderators. This system has a built in temporary flagging feature that happens if enough posters flag you.

I think you are typically flagged by people who don’t know the faith very well.
 
babochka said:
While you are free to disagree with @FatherSebastian, I suggest that it is unwise to do so with such a lack of willingness to listen to his explanations and with such confidence in your own position. Since he has been so kind as to reveal his actual identity to us, it is easy to determine his credentials. (You can find them [here.])(https://stpaulcenter.com/rev-sebastian-a-carnazzo-phd/ ) He has a PhD from the Catholic University of America. He has been entrusted, both before and after his ordination to the priesthood, with the formation of Roman Catholic seminarians. He teaches at the graduate level at one of the most conservative Roman Catholic colleges in the country. He has even taught at an FSSP seminary!

While you might not be able to match his education and experience, that doesn’t mean that he will always be right and you will always be wrong. It is just that a little bit of humility might be in order while considering his position, particularly when you accuse him of being opposed to the teachings of the Church.
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Yes! The fact that @FatherSebastian is a Catholic priest should be enough for most. But for those who need more, the fact that he’s a Senior Fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, taught at the FSSP Seminary, teaches at Christendom College, etc. should shut people down.

I’m a Latin Catholic and I stand by @FatherSebastian

@FatherSebastian, please do not leave us.
 
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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Father,

I am Ukrainian Greek Catholic and just joined CA. For everyone’s benefit, Christ Our Pascha is the definitive catechism of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Suggestion: One could do a side by side comparison of the Roman Catechism (republished by TAN Books some years ago), the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Christ Our Pascha.

I have two questions for you: 1) Does the Melkite Catholic Church have its own catechism? 2) Is Fr. Fred Saato still living? He was the editor of A Guide for the Domestic Church and the God With Us series for catechists.

Any information is much appreciated. Thank you!

Z nami Boh!

Regards,

Margaret Ann
 
Weclome to CAF, Margaret_Ann! Just so you’re not surprised by the lack of response, I wanted you to know that unfortunately @FatherSebastian left CAF recently. He posted a thread announcing that he was leaving (since deleted) and his account has since been suspended.
 
@Margaret_Ann,
I was just confirmed into the Melkite Catholic Church this year. The catechism that our church used was 'Our Faith A Byzantine Catechism for Adults by Casimir Kucharek.
 
Greetings @CoradCorLoquitur,

Father Sebastian is the best! A wonderful Melkite Greek Catholic priest who, along with his brother Father Hezekias, also a Melkite Greek Catholic priest, do a wonderful job of getting Roman Catholics ready for Mass with their Sunday Gospel Reflection at the Institute of Catholic Culture (ICC), which Father Hezekias is founder and executive director!

The ICC has great speakers like Dale Ahlquist, Mike Aquilina, Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Father Benedict Groeschel of blessed memory, Peter Kreeft, Father Paul Scalia, Tim Staples and so many more.

ZP
 
@ziapueblo I didn’t attack @FatherSebastian’s person, but his ideas. You (and he) must distinguish the two.

His merits do not exempt him from Truth and the obedience of faith owed God and the Church. Mt. 18:3, CCC 143, Eastern Canons.
 
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“[T]he measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Lk. 6:38.
 
Fr. Sebastian really didn’t merit the kind of questioning and chastisement you meted out to him.

It is at least uncharitable to suggest that a priest or even the entire Melkite Church (!!!) is in error or insubordinate or breeding division because they have their own Vatican approved church documents.

To the extent that he expressed his exasperation at such a charge, I think he was quite justified.
 
I read here regularly, and post from time to time.

Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski
Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Austin. TX
 
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