Melkite member of a Roman parish - is infant Confirmation allowed?

[Vico]

These two books elaborate:

Inter-Ecclesial Relations Between Eastern and Latin Catholics: A Canonical-Pastoral Handbook by Dimitri Salachas & Krzysztof Nitkiewicz, English Edition by George Dmitry Gallaro, 2009, 157 pp., ISBN 1-932208-23-2 ($17)

Comparative Sacramental Discipline in the CCEO and CIC, edited by Francis J. Marini, 272 pp., ISBN 1-932208-01-01 ($35)

clsa.site-ym.com/store/view_product.asp?id=315681

 

[Archpriest]

Not quite. Baptism and Chrismation, as well as Crowning (marriage) and Holy Orders require proper jurisdiction. Any Melkite in the United States is within the jurisdiction of the Melkite Greek-Catholic Bishop of Newton (which territorially encompasses all Melkites in the United States and its territories) just as any Melkite in Canada is within the jurisdiction of the Melkite Greek-Cathoic Bishop of Montreal, or any Roman Catholic in Rhode Island is within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence. Can a Roman Catholic priest merely confirm someone who is not within his jurisdiction? Obviously not, unless he is canonically delegated to do so by the person who has the authority to do so according to the canons, the particular law, and the Holy Synod of that Church “sui juris;” To do otherwise could conceivably even place the priest under canonical penalty (although this is highly unlikely).
However, even more than the canonical issues is the simple fact that to do so would be highly insulting, arrogant, and disrespectful of another Church which, although smaller in comparison to the much larger “sui juris” Roman Church, is still its “equal in all things” and, historically, its “elder sister deserving of the respect due to an apostolic see founded by Peter, the first among the Apostles, and where ‘the disciples of Christ were first called Christian’,”
Again, the bottom line is simply to contact the closest Melkite pastor (after all, he has the canonical jurisdiction) or, failing that, the proper hierarch (the Melkite Greek-Catholic Bishop of Newton).

 

[Brendan]

FYI, I was perusing the Vatican II document on the Eastern Churches and found this

1. All Eastern Rite priests, either in conjunction with Baptism or separately from it, can confer this sacrament validly on all the faithful of any rite including the Latin; licitly, however, only if the regulations both of the common and the particular law are observed.(15) Priests, also, of Latin Rite, in accordance with the faculties they enjoy in respect of the administration of this sacrament, validly administer it also to the faithful of Eastern Churches; without prejudice to the rite, observing in regard to licitness the regulations both of the common and of the particular law.(16)

-ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM

 

[Vico]

FYI, I was perusing the Vatican II document on the Eastern Churches and found this

1. All Eastern Rite priests, either in conjunction with Baptism or separately from it, can confer this sacrament validly on all the faithful of any rite including the Latin; licitly, however, only if the regulations both of the common and the particular law are observed.(15) Priests, also, of Latin Rite, in accordance with the faculties they enjoy in respect of the administration of this sacrament, validly administer it also to the faithful of Eastern Churches; without prejudice to the rite, observing in regard to licitness the regulations both of the common and of the particular law.(16)

-ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM

That became:

CCEO Canon 696

1. All presbyters of the Eastern Churches can validly administer this sacrament either along with baptism or separately to all the Christian faithful of any Church sui iuris including the Latin Church.
2. The Christian faithful of Eastern Churches validly receive this sacrament also from presbyters of the Latin Church, according to the faculties with which these are endowed.
3. Any presbyter licitly administers this sacrament only to the Christian faithful of his own Church sui iuris; when it is a case of Christian faithful of other Churches sui iuris, he lawfully acts if they are his subjects, or those whom he lawfully baptizes in virtue of another title, or those who are in danger of death, and always with due regard for the agreements entered between the Churches sui iuris in this matter.

 

[Zekariya]

Thank you, Brendan and Vico! I appreciate the time you have put into this.

From this thread, I have come to understand that a western priest (with faculties to confirm) may baptize and confirm/chrismate an eastern infant if the family belongs to his parish and lives over 100 miles away from an eastern parish.

Am I understanding this correctly?

Thanks again!

 

[Archpriest]

As a Melkite priest, let me reiterate that it is important that the priest involved seek delegated jurisdiction from the Melkite bishop. This is simple to do, The address and telephone number are in the Catholic directory. The baptism register is annotated accordingly and a copy of the certificate is then forwarded to the Melkite chancery in Newton, MA.
Failing to follow this procedure could cause serious complications and problems at some later date when the then grown adult is preparing for marriage etc.

 

[Brendan]

As a Melkite priest, let me reiterate that it is important that the priest involved seek delegated jurisdiction from the Melkite bishop. This is simple to do, The address and telephone number are in the Catholic directory. The baptism register is annotated accordingly and a copy of the certificate is then forwarded to the Melkite chancery in Newton, MA.
Failing to follow this procedure could cause serious complications and problems at some later date when the then grown adult is preparing for marriage etc.

I would agree wholeheartily with you Father.

Here is the general contact information for the Chancellory offices

melkite.org/chancery

3 VFW Parkway
West Roxbury, MA 02132-7722
Phone 617/323-9922
Fax 617/323-0188

 

[Zekariya]

As a Melkite priest, let me reiterate that it is important that the priest involved seek delegated jurisdiction from the Melkite bishop. This is simple to do, The address and telephone number are in the Catholic directory. The baptism register is annotated accordingly and a copy of the certificate is then forwarded to the Melkite chancery in Newton, MA.
Failing to follow this procedure could cause serious complications and problems at some later date when the then grown adult is preparing for marriage etc.

Father bless!

Thank you, Father! I appreciate this information.

I would agree wholeheartily with you Father.

Here is the general contact information for the Chancellory offices

melkite.org/chancery

3 VFW Parkway
West Roxbury, MA 02132-7722
Phone 617/323-9922
Fax 617/323-0188

Thanks!

 

[MaryIrene]

to Zekariya: stay close to Jesus He will provide for the infant. He will baptize(not talking about water baptism) the baby with the Holy Spirit when this child grows up and puts their trust and belief in His saving blood sacrifice. By the blood of Jesus He will pour blessings upon this child when he/she puts their faith and trust in Jesus, He will guide this child as each day goes by. Dont worry about the church if it can save this child. Jesus will provide.

 

[5Loaves]

As a Melkite priest, let me reiterate that it is important that the priest involved seek delegated jurisdiction from the Melkite bishop. This is simple to do, The address and telephone number are in the Catholic directory. The baptism register is annotated accordingly and a copy of the certificate is then forwarded to the Melkite chancery in Newton, MA.
Failing to follow this procedure could cause serious complications and problems at some later date when the then grown adult is preparing for marriage etc.

Father, bless.

I haven’t been on-line much and missed out on these posts until just now. Thank you for posting and for persisting. The topic of proper jurisdiction, in addition to proper faculties, came up not that long ago here as I recall on the topic of marriage. At that time I was pushing for faculties and jurisdiction, and I thought Vico was among those saying the same. My mantra has always been when someone from a different Church sui juris approaches seeking baptism or marriage (or chrismation) the parish should contact their chancery and get counsel. I hope I can remember in the future to say also as you have said to contact the ordinary of the Church whose member is seeking these sacraments. (This is hopefully what the chancery should tell the pastor to do.)

Problems go both directions. This also comes up with Latin Church Catholic adults and Protestants seeking chrismation in an Eastern Catholic Church. I know there are those who have been Chrismated in an Eastern Catholic Church and believe therefore they are Eastern Catholics of that Church sui juris when canonically they are Catholic of the Latin Church.

 

[Nicea325]

I am a Melkite Catholic who lives in the USA. I am a member of a Latin/Roman Catholic parish. I do not have access to an Eastern Catholic parish.

Suppose I get married… If my wife gave birth to a child, would the infant be allowed to be baptized and then immediately confirmed (i.e. chrismated) as long as the priest has the faculties to preform the sacrament of confirmation? If the priest does not have the faculties to confirm my infant, could the local bishop do the confirmation?

I would greatly appreciate it if you could shed some light on this. Perhaps you could show me something from the two Codes Canon Law or some other authoritative document on this issue that I have yet to find.

Any help with this would be welcomed! I hope that you have a spiritually satisfying Pascha.

In Christ,
Zechariah

To be honest,call your local Diocese (Latin Rite) and speak to the Office of Canonical Services and they will give you the answer you seek.

 

[Zekariya]

Thanks, everyone! I have found an Eastern parish close enough to me. I appreciate all your (name removed by moderator)ut.