Other rites

[Loving_disciple]

Should we encourage people to convert to other rites so they grow and aren’t so small?

 

[Casilda]

So as not to offend, I will simply state, no. Growth for numbers sake is never good.

 

[oliver927]

I do not think the Church would allow a Catholic to change rites simply to increase the numbers of that rite. Nothing is stopping you from going to a church that uses a different rite if you are concerned about them being “small”.

 

[JamalChristophr]

Maybe my suspicion is misdirected, but I get the impression that many switch to different rites for novelty’s sake. I just don’t quite get why people need to switch. All the rites are equally good. All are Catholic.

From a financial perspective, it seems like these small mission churches around the U.S. might have a tough time of it due to small numbers. Their respective Eparchy must carry the weight I suppose.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Some are required to switch for marriage, ordination, baptisms, confirmation, or social reasons like being involved in the specific church in a deeper level.

 

[phil19034]

Should we encourage people to convert to other rites so they grow and aren’t so small?

If you mean recommend the other rites to non-Catholics who have issues with the Roman Rite, then I would say yes.

If you mean Roman Rite Catholics who want to leave the Church for an Orthodox Church, then yes - recommend an Eastern Rite instead of having them leave the Catholic Church

If you mean a Roman Rite Catholic who is “fine” in the Roman Rite and you want to encourage him/her to switch for earthly reasons, no.

If you mean a Roman Rite Catholic who prefers more traditional liturgies, they should attend an Extraordinary Form of the Mass or focus on bringing one to his/her area. They should not be encouraged to switch Rites if the EF will “feed” them.

I pray I’m making sense.

God bless!

 

[Loving_disciple]

Thank you for everyone who responded this will help me in my discernment

 

[Vico]

Thank you for everyone who responded this will help me in my discernment

Latin canon law (CIC) is similar to the eastern canon law (CCEO) on this since a change was made to it in 1992:

CCEO
Canon 30 - Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

Canon 31 - No one can presume in any way to induce the Christian faithful to transfer to another Church sui iuris.

Canon 32 -
§1. No one can validly transfer to another Church sui iuris without the consent of the Apostolic See.
§2. In the case of Christian faithful of an eparchy of a certain Church sui iuris who petition to transfer to another Church sui iuris which has its own eparchy in the same territory, this consent of the Apostolic See is presumed, provided that the eparchial bishops of both eparchies consent to the transfer in writing.

Canon 35 -
Baptized non-Catholics coming into full communion with the Catholic Church should retain and practice their own rite everywhere in the world and should observe it as much as humanly possible. Thus, they are to be enrolled in the Church sui iuris of the same rite with due regard for the right of approaching the Apostolic See in special cases of persons, communities or regions.

 

[5Loaves]

We belong to Churches not to Rites.

“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 1 with Fr. Maximos of Holy Resurrection Monastery

Catherine Alexander speaks with Father Maximos of Holy Resurrection Romanian Catholic Monastery in Newberry Springs, CA about Eastern Catholic identity.

Questions Asked:

1. Some people say Eastern Catholics are Roman Catholics of an Eastern rite, some say they are Orthodox Christians who are currently in communion with Rome, and some say Eastern Catholics are primarily a bridge of unity between East and West. I’d like to discuss each of these three positions with you.
2. I’d like to discuss the title, “Roman Catholics of an Eastern rite.” The emphasis is that they’re Catholic first, and believe all things that the Roman Catholic Church believes, while living out that faith through a different liturgical and devotional framework. Will you discuss what it means to be an Eastern Catholic in light of this title?
3. Some people say that Eastern Catholics are Orthodox Christians in communion with Rome as a means of asserting the Eastern Catholic Churches’ independence from Rome and their unity with Orthodoxy, especially in the areas of history, theology, and spirituality. What do you think the benefits and pitfalls are of using this title to describe the relationship Eastern Catholics have with Rome?