one way communion RC to Orthodox?

[Rdunbar123]

Just wondering, why does the Catholic Church allow communion to Orthodox, but the Orthodox do not allow communion to Catholics. Does the Catholic Church consider Orthodox sacraments valid? and not the other way around. I’m sure this has been asked before.

 

[SonCatcher]

I understand that Catholics communing in an Orthodox church happens more frequently in regions where the Orthodox are in the majority but is much less likely in areas where Catholics are the majority.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Just wondering, why does the Catholic Church allow communion to Orthodox, but the Orthodox do not allow communion to Catholics. Does the Catholic Church consider Orthodox sacraments valid? and not the other way around. I’m sure this has been asked before.

I think the biggest mistake here is that we expect the Orthodox to think like Catholics. Western legalism needs to define something in the absolute, yes and no. So the Western Church sought to define who has valid orders and valid Sacraments and have declared the Apostolic Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East) having valid Sacraments and a valid priesthood.

In the East there is a level of comfort in accepting that we do not know something. So they know that they possess the Orthodox faith, therefore their Sacraments are valid. They are not sure if the Catholics have valid Sacraments and thus would not risk profaning the Eucharist by giving it to someone who may not be baptized validly. Of course there are also Orthodox who think the Catholic Church is outright heretic.

 

[Madaglan]

From the Catholic perspective, Orthodox have valid orders and valid sacraments; and Catholics do not see any serious difference of faith between Catholic and Orthodox. The major issue for the Catholic is that the Orthodox are not in communion with Rome. It is for these reasons that Orthodox are allowed by Catholics to receive communion.

The Orthodox perspective is a bit different. Many Orthodox do not see the faith of the Western Church as the same faith as the Orthodox. Therefore, Catholics are seen in varying degrees to be in error, and they cannot receive the Eucharist because they do not hold everything that Orthodoxy teaches. Many Eastern Catholics on this forum take issue with this view, which is natural, since Eastern Catholics often believe that Orthodoxy and Latin Catholicism are only different expressions of the same Faith. They will point out incidences where they have seen an Orthodox priest give communion to a Catholic. However, of all the Orthodox priests I know, none will give communion to Catholics, but only Orthodox.

 

[Madaglan]

I think the biggest mistake here is that we expect the Orthodox to think like Catholics. Western legalism needs to define something in the absolute, yes and no. So the Western Church sought to define who has valid orders and valid Sacraments and have declared the Apostolic Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East) having valid Sacraments and a valid priesthood.

In the East there is a level of comfort in accepting that we do not know something. So they know that they possess the Orthodox faith, therefore their Sacraments are valid. They are not sure if the Catholics have valid Sacraments and thus would not risk profaning the Eucharist by giving it to someone who may not be baptized validly. Of course there are also Orthodox who think the Catholic Church is outright heretic.

This is a good overview. In my experience, it’s a matter of not profaning the Eucharist, but alongside with this, not contaminating the Faith. The Orthodox priest only gives communion to those who are living the life of the Church through prayer, fasting and regular confession. Even Orthodox Christians who have not prepared themselves, or who are living a worldly life of unrepentant sin, are denied the Chalice until they reconcile themselves with the Church. So, were a Catholic to approach the Chalice at an Orthodox church, it’s not only a matter of whether or not the Catholic was validly baptized, but whether the Catholic is in the bosom of the Church, living out her prayer and fasting cycles and acquiring the mind of the Fathers.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It is my understanding that the Catholic Church has no rule against Orthodox receiving. However, we strongly urge them to obey their own Church and not receive at our Church.

 

[Hesychios]

It is my understanding that the Catholic Church has no rule against Orthodox receiving.

This may be true, but I think it is a recent development. I am pretty sure that in the 1950’s this would not have been the case.

…However, we strongly urge them to obey their own Church and not receive at our Church.

More accurately, Orthodox are expected to have the permission of their own (Orthodox) bishop. It is not a discouragement as such, but considering that the permission from a corresponding Orthodox bishop is probably not forthcoming that about kills it.

Church-wide, the terms under which this can be done may vary from country to country. The USCCB has published guidelines for the USA only…

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).

Canon 844§3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.