Maronite and all Eastern Catholics , since when wernt we part of the church?

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HolyRosario

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I have been expressing my faith with Roman Rite Catholics , and they tell me that since I’m not " Roman Rite " I’m not a Catholic at all but just a Christian and not part of the church? This dosent make any sence to me what so ever , because the Maronite Catholic Church has never split from the Holy See.

Can I get any ideas of why they might think I’m not a " Catholic " ??
 
HolyRosario said:
I have been expressing my faith with Roman Rite Catholics , and they tell me that since I’m not " Roman Rite " I’m not a Catholic at all but just a Christian and not part of the church? This dosent make any sence to me what so ever , because the Maronite Catholic Church has never split from the Holy See.

Can I get any ideas of why they might think I’m not a " Catholic " ??
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Their deplorable ignorance is the reason - nothing more. I don’t know if you can convince them of the truth - because I don’t know them personally - but if not, it would certainly be selfless of you to pray for them. Hopefully, though, their pastor or some other Latin Catholic priest with whom they’re familiar knows better, and perhaps you could enlist his help in correcting them.

If they mean you’re not a part of the Latin Church, then obviously they’re right, but if they were trying to tell you that you’re “not a Catholic at all” then it’s just ugly triumphalist ignorance. Unfortunately, my brother, some Latin Catholics are either unaware of the existence of the eastern Catholic churches, or are unaware of or suspicious of their equal dignity with and autonomy from the Latin Church.
 
HolyRosario said:
Can I get any ideas of why they might think I’m not a “Catholic”?
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Ignorance, perhaps. I think they hear “Eastern,” and automatically think “Eastern Orthodox,” which is not a part of the Catholic Church, I’m pretty sure. I never knew about the Eastern Catholic Churches until my mother went to a Maronite funeral and had me look it up.
 
I’ve told certain Catholics that I attend the Latin Mass and they’ve replied “Is that allowed” ? I’ve told other Catholics that the church doesn’t allow contraception and I got laughed at and told that 95 pct of Catholics believe otherwise.
 
HolyRosario said:
I have been expressing my faith with Roman Rite Catholics , and they tell me that since I’m not " Roman Rite " I’m not a Catholic at all but just a Christian and not part of the church? This dosent make any sence to me what so ever , because the Maronite Catholic Church has never split from the Holy See.

Can I get any ideas of why they might think I’m not a " Catholic " ??
Click to expand...
Unfortunately many Latin Catholics are ignorant of the existence of the Eastern and Oriental Catholic churches. They believe there is only one Catholic Church: the Latin one. They can be educated so that they know there are 23 Catholic churches. It is, however, a painfully slow process. Where I live there are three UGCC churches within a 30 minute drive. I can safely say that the majority of my fellow Latin parishioners would be surprised to learn that there are Catholic churches that are not “Roman” Catholic.
 
HolyRosario said:
I have been expressing my faith with Roman Rite Catholics , and they tell me that since I’m not " Roman Rite " I’m not a Catholic at all but just a Christian and not part of the church? This dosent make any sence to me what so ever , because the Maronite Catholic Church has never split from the Holy See.

Can I get any ideas of why they might think I’m not a " Catholic " ??
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refer them to EWTN speaking of Eastern rites of the Catholic Church,

I quote from EWTN, emphasis mine]

“1. WEST SYRIAC
• Maronite – Never separated from Rome. Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. The liturgical language is Aramaic. The 3 million Maronites are found in Lebanon (origin), Cyprus, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Canada, US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.”

I’m so sorry you ran into this. Now you can educate THEM, and hopefully they give you a sincere apology 😉
 
Rosario,

Your best bet is to talk with the local pastor (I presume you’re practicing in the Roman CHurch due to lack of a parish of your own church of enrollment), and see if hes willing to educate his faithful.

Failing that, it’s a matter for the bishop to be made aware of, as well, as hes responsible under canon law for supporting the needs of all his faithful, including those of other churches who are under his care for lack of a parish of their own rite.

There is no excuse for them to be so ignorant, but there are plenty of reaasons…
… poor Roman education
… traditionally hostile bishops in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
… lack of parishes of Eastern Churches in most places
… arrogance
… denial of the Church’s teachings on a lot of elements of the faith creating the cafeteria mode of thought about the faith
 
Some years back I had two Maronite women study with our parish to be confirmed. [Somehow they were not confirmed at baptism and one wanted to be confirmed before her approaching marriage.I think they had attended the Latin Rite for most of their life.]

The nearby Maronite was glad to have us prepare them, since he had no adult program for this. [However it was made clear that the wedding would be in the Maronite Rite unless they got permission from the Pope to do otherwise.] I have a copy of the letter from the Maronite bishop thanking us for our efforts and delegating our pastor to confirm them for him. Our Pastor con-celebrated at the Maronite wedding.
 
Very true! And no , this has not taken place in church but outside of it , I was having a conversation with " Roman Rite " Catholics. They believe Peter only established there church but he has also established the Syriac Church , Maronite , and Melkite Catholic Church.
 
Aramis said:
Rosario,

Your best bet is to talk with the local pastor (I presume you’re practicing in the Roman CHurch due to lack of a parish of your own church of enrollment), and see if hes willing to educate his faithful.

Failing that, it’s a matter for the bishop to be made aware of, as well, as hes responsible under canon law for supporting the needs of all his faithful, including those of other churches who are under his care for lack of a parish of their own rite.

There is no excuse for them to be so ignorant, but there are plenty of reaasons…
… poor Roman education
… traditionally hostile bishops in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
… lack of parishes of Eastern Churches in most places
… arrogance
… denial of the Church’s teachings on a lot of elements of the faith creating the cafeteria mode of thought about the faith
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Very true! And no , this has not taken place in church but outside of it , I was having a conversation with " Roman Rite " Catholics. They believe Peter only established there church but he has also established the Syriac Church , Maronite , and Melkite Catholic Church.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
Where I live there are three UGCC churches within a 30 minute drive. I can safely say that the majority of my fellow Latin parishioners would be surprised to learn that there are Catholic churches that are not “Roman” Catholic.
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Wow, even though there are three UGCC churches in their vicinity? That’s sad.
 
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