Marriage between RC and Greek orthodox descent

[Bossilla]

How did your husband come to be baptized in the Catholic Church? Is his mother a Catholic?

My mother-in-law was fallen away Catholic when she met my father-in-law, a non-practicing Greek Orthodox. She found her faith again sometime in their marriage and went through RCIA to become Roman Catholic again. It was around that time that my husband was baptized Roman Catholic, with no objections by his father. He was around 5 years old.

My husband was in high school when his father left (non-religious reasons) and shortly after died of cancer complications. I only met my father-in-law once.

My mother-in-law swears that her husband was baptized in the Greek Orthodox church and even met his godparents. I have this small fear that she will raise too much fuss about it and somehow force someone to make our marriage declared invalid by a bishop somewhere. It’s not that she doesn’t like me; it’s that she fears her husband’s salvation is at stake as an ‘unbaptized’.

 

[Peter_J]

My mother-in-law was fallen away Catholic when she met my father-in-law, a non-practicing Greek Orthodox. She found her faith again sometime in their marriage and went through RCIA to become Roman Catholic again. It was around that time that my husband was baptized Roman Catholic, with no objections by his father. He was around 5 years old.

It seems to me, quite simply, that there shouldn’t have been any issue, given that one parent was Catholic.

 

[Vico]

It seems to me, quite simply, that there shouldn’t have been any issue, given that one parent was Catholic.

That makes sense. Seems that she was a Latin Catholic.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I thought Greek Orthodox were not in communion with Rome, so I don’t understand why you’re husband would be pushed to remain a member of that faith. Do you mean Greek Catholic?

 

[Peter_J]

I thought Greek Orthodox were not in communion with Rome,

You thought correctly.

so I don’t understand why you’re husband would be pushed to remain a member of that faith.

Rome doesn’t seek to proselytize among the Eastern Orthodox.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

You thought correctly.

Rome doesn’t seek to proselytize among the Eastern Orthodox.

Is this because they view Greek Orthodox as having the truth faith-wise, and the main issue is that they don’t recognize Papal authority?

 

[Peter_J]

Is this because they view Greek Orthodox as having the truth faith-wise, and the main issue is that they don’t recognize Papal authority?

I would see papal authority as a question of truth too.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time tonight to write much of an explanation about not proselytizing among the Orthodox, but I would refer you to the Balamand Statement, “Uniatism, method of union of the past, and the present search for full communion”.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balamand_declaration

 

[Vico]

WingsOfEagles,

Papal jurisdiction and teaching authority are a matter of faith.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

WingsOfEagles,

Papal jurisdiction and teaching authority are a matter of faith.

It is the main sticking point between us and the Orthodox.

 

[Vico]

It is the main sticking point between us and the Orthodox.

Sad to say we seem to be making no progress on the issue either, since in 2007 the Russian Orthodox refused to participate in such discussions while the matter of the eastern Catholic Churches in the traditional Orthodox jurisdictions is unresolved.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Sad to say we seem to be making no progress on the issue either, since in 2007 the Russian Orthodox refused to participate in such discussions while the matter of the eastern Catholic Churches in the traditional Orthodox jurisdictions is unresolved.

Let’s give His Beatitude Sviatoslav a chance to work that issue, which he could likely do more effectively than anyone dispatched from Rome.

Let’s also not forget that Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Kirill actually have met prior to assuming their current posts and reportedly have a fair degree of respect for each other from their prior interactions.

Here’s a recent update (13 Aug 2012): catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15225

 

[Vico]

Let’s give His Beatitude Sviatoslav a chance to work that issue, which he could likely do more effectively than anyone dispatched from Rome.

Let’s also not forget that Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Kirill actually have met prior to assuming their current posts and reportedly have a fair degree of respect for each other from their prior interactions.

Here’s a recent update (13 Aug 2012): catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15225

The news there is that His Beatitude the Most Reverend Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland is confident the His Holiness Kyrill Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will accept the invitation of an** official visit** to Finland.

The speculation is that Finland could be an appropriate site for a “summit meeting” with the Pope.