Orthodox friend w/ conversion question

[Aramis]

I’ve seen one parish ask. In general, however, if the EC’s are not familiar with the latin praxis, they will stand out, simply due to the different direction for the sign of the cross. (I had an EMHC refuse to commune me; the pastor noticed and corrected them immediately, they wound up off the roster over it.)

Besides, your canonical enrollment makes no difference in which parish you may enroll in. It really matters mostly for weddings, funerals, and ordinations, and whether or not your children get confirmed and communed at baptism. Note that children of ECC’s who are properly baptized are under the obligation to receive at least yearly; pastors may be uncomfortable with it, but it is part of canon law, and the vast majority, once made aware, should be willing to make that possible. (Use of a pipette tube or a spoon for communing is actually in Roman canon law as permitted when needed… that would be infants, and those unable to hold a cup…)

 

[Luvs2Learn]

Why would she want to convert to Roman Catholicism anyway?. Curious!. Tell her to read up on the Austrian Church, then decide if she wants to become Roman Catholic or stay Orthodox. Orthodox are “Catholics” to!. Valid sacraments and orders!.

I think you may have misunderstood something from my original post…
She is currently Eastern Orthodox(under Constantinople) but is strongly considering converting to the “Byzintine Catholic Church” the sui juis church(under the Pope). But do to location and logistics the only available Parish for her is mine, which is the "Roman (Latin Rite) Catholic church).

 

[Luvs2Learn]

Also Official intercommunion between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church (ignoring their recent move towards open communion).

Really, if you are in the US, a byzantine without access to a byzantine parish can simply write their bishop and request a dispensation to follow the Roman praxis, or, alternatively, request canonical transfer to the Latin Church.

And Russian Church Catholics are generally under the omophor of their local Roman bishop anyway, and can request that dispensation from the local Roman Ordinary.

Thank you Aramis for all your imput. We have a large Roman Catholic and a pretty large Orthodox community in our area but almost no "Eastern Catholic " presence. This forum has been a great help for both me and for my good friend.

 

[JohnVIII]

I suggest this—

Don’t convert from Orthodoxy.

Just go.

The schism can’t endure if the faithful don’t support it!

I’ll be posting more about this later.

It makes no sense for “the faithful” to support “schism”! Surely you must be speaking facetiously.

 

[Luvs2Learn]

Wow folks, this thread has taken a sharp turn. although it has been very informative it has also strayed way off topic. I am sincerely looking to help guide a good friend who has taken a real interest inconverting to the Catholic church. We are trying to learn about her options. If we could please vear back onto course that would be helpful.
Thank you,
Luvs2Learn

 

[Catherine_Grant]

**Moderator Note:

** A comment on the pope’s authority within the Eastern Catholic Churches was sufficiently off-topic to create a new thread from it. Please see here for that discussion.

Please keep this discussion on topic. Thank you.

May God Bless You Abundantly,
Catherine Grant
Eastern Catholicism Moderator

 

[Tradycja]

Yes, the Orthodox orders and sacraments are valid but those valid sacraments are not profitable unto salvation outside the unity of the Catholic Church, hence the need in the first place for the Orthodox to reunite to Rome (Eastern Catholic Churches).

Extraordinary Magisterium-

“There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

“With Faith urging us we are forced to believe and to hold the one, holy, Catholic Church and that, apostolic, and we firmly believe and simply confess this Church outside of which there is no salvation nor remission of sin… Furthermore, we declare, say, define, and proclaim to every human creature that they by absolute necessity for salvation are entirely subject to the Roman Pontiff.”
(Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, Nov. 18, 1302)

“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.”*** (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.) ***

Universal Ordinary Magisterium:

The Sacraments, which some people keep and use outside the unity of Christ, are able to preserve the appearance of piety; but the invisible and spiritual virtue of true piety cannot abide there any more than feeling can remain in an amputated part of your body. (Pope Leo XIII: “Exima Nos Laetitia”)

The Church is built on the Rock of Peter, and he who eats the Lamb outside this holy dwelling has no part with God. ***(Pius IX: "Multis Gravibus”) ***

Against these experienced sophists the people must be taught that the profession of the Catholic faith is uniquely true, as the apostle proclaims: one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Jerome used to say it this way: he who eats the lamb outside this house will perish as did those during the flood who were not with Noah in the ark. Indeed, no other name than the name of Jesus is given to men, by which they may be saved. He who believes shall be saved; he who does not believe shall be condemned.
(Traditi Humilitati- On his program for the Pontificate- Encyclical of Pope Pius VIII – May 1829)

#11. In the words of St. Leo, who continues speaking about the Holy See of Peter: “It is necessary that the Church throughout the world be united and cleave to the center of Catholic unity and ecclesiastical communion, so that whoever dares to depart from the unity of Peter might understand that he no longer shares in the divine mystery.” St. Jerome adds: “Whoever eats the lamb outside of this house is unholy. Those who were not in the ark of Noah perished in the flood.” Just as he who does not gather with Christ, so he who does not gather with Christ’s Vicar on earth, clearly scatters. How can someone who destroys the holy authority of the Vicar of Christ and who infringes on his rights gather with him? It is through these rights that the pope is the center of unity, that he has the primacy of order and jurisdiction, and that he has the full power of nurturing, ruling, and governing the universal Church.
(Commissum Dicinitus- On Church and State- Encyclical of Pope Gregory XVI- May 17, 1835)

#5 “Whoever eats the lamb outside of this house is an impious person.”
(Singulari Quidem- On the Church in Austria- Encyclical of Pope Pius IX- March 17, 1856)

There is no salvation outside the Church, and therefore whatever things of the Church are had outside the Church do not avail unto salvation. (Augustine: “On Baptism, Against the Donatists”)