Polish [National] Catholic Church

[Tomdstone]

If you mean formal change to Antioch Orthodox Church which is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, then yes.

I thought that the excommunications between Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church were lifted by Pope Paul VI and Pat. Athenagoras?

 

[SyroMalankara]

For Catholics, in the eastern canon law (CCEO), we have this canon:

Canon 598 – § 1. Those things are to be believed by divine and catholic faith which are contained in the word of God as it has been written or handed down by tradition, that is, in the single deposit of faith entrusted to the Church, and which are at the same time proposed as divinely revealed either by the solemn Magisterium of the Church, or by its ordinary and universal Magisterium, which in fact is manifested by the common adherence of Christ’s faithful under the guidance of the sacred Magisterium. All Christian faithful are therefore bound to avoid any contrary doctrines.

§ 2. Furthermore, each and everything set forth definitively by the Magisterium of the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals must be firmly accepted and held; namely, those things required for the holy keeping and faithful exposition of the deposit of faith; therefore, anyone who rejects propositions which are to be held definitively sets himself against the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Canon 1436 – § 1. Whoever denies a truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or who calls into doubt, or who totally repudiates the Christian faith, and does not retract after having been legitimately warned, is to be punished as a heretic or an apostate with a major excommunication; a cleric moreover can be punished with other penalties, not excluding deposition.

§ 2. In addition to these cases, whoever obstinately rejects a teaching that the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops, exercising the authentic Magisterium, have set forth to be held definitively, or who affirms what they have condemned as erroneous, and does not retract after having been legitimately warned, is to be punished with an appropriate penalty.

The difference between Eastern and Latin canons, there are no automatic major excommunications in the Eastern code. It would have to imposed by the bishop. Even in cases of Eastern Catholics transferring to their Orthodox sister Church, I’ve never seen this imposed.

I have heard of penalties imposed for apostasy or leaving to protestantism

 

[SyroMalankara]

Eastern Catholic Defection
Question from Anonymous on 3/15/2011:
Hi,

I would like to know my status in the Roman Catholic Church. I had been a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic, but I am planning to be baptized in the Orthodox Church. I am aware that a process for a Formal Act of Defection in the Latin Church is suspended, but Defection is still possible. I have communicated to my bishop, in writing, that I will no longer financially support my Ruthenian parish. I am aware that, to Roman Catholic claims, defection means the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is not that church I am hoping to leave but rather to join that Church.

Thank You.

Answer by Robert J. Flummerfelt, J.C.L. on 3/17/2011:
Glory to Jesus Christ! God is with us!

Hi Anonymous,

Please be aware that in Eastern law, whether Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, there is no such thing as defection by a formal act [or informal act]. So, the phrase once an Eastern Catholic always an Eastern Catholic is stil the norm according to canon law.

In answering you, please know that I do sincerely understand and appreciate your perspective and all that you wrote. But the Eastern Churches do not recognize any ability to defect. Of course, if a person is Eastern Catholic and becomes Eastern Orthodox, the Orthodox would welcome that because ecclesiologically, the Orthodox believe that the person is coming into full communion with the Orthodox Church so it is acceptable. Similarly, an Orthodox Christian seeking to become Eastern Catholic is also acceptable, because even though our Churches are very close theologically, albeit NOT full communion, an Eastern Catholic Church would welcome an Orthodox Christian coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, each Church would NEVER accept that either act is a valid defection from either Church.

I pray for the day that Our Lord’s prayer from John Chapter 17, verse 21, becomes a reality, that all of us may be one. Ut Unum Sint! It is such a scandal and so sad that Orthodoxy and Catholicism are not in full communion. With God’s guidance this too will come to pass.

Peace and blessings, Bob

 

[Vico]

I thought that the excommunications between Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church were lifted by Pope Paul VI and Pat. Athenagoras?

The excommunications were mutually lifted in 1965, but the Catholic and Orthodox are not in full communion with each other.

 

[Vico]

The difference between Eastern and Latin canons, there are no automatic major excommunications in the Eastern code. It would have to imposed by the bishop. Even in cases of Eastern Catholics transferring to their Orthodox sister Church, I’ve never seen this imposed.

I have heard of penalties imposed for apostasy or leaving to protestantism

In the Latin code the latae sententiae is a censure. In the 1983 canon law (CIC) reserved sin code was revised so it is only preserved in the eastern canon law (CCEO).

Eastern Catholic canon law describes three reserved sins, but others can be created.

• Direct violation of sacramental seal - reserved to Apostolic See
• Absolution of an accomplice - reserved to Apostolic See
• Abortion - reserved to Eparchial Bishop

CCEO major excommunication

Canon 1434

1. In addition to all things mentioned in can. 1431, 1, a major excommunication forbids one to receive other sacraments, to administer sacraments and sacramentals, to exercise any offices, ministries and functions, to place acts of governance, which, if they are nonetheless placed, are null by law itself.
2. One punished with a major excommunication is to be turned away from participating in the Divine Liturgy and in other public celebrations of divine worship.
3. One punished with a major excommunication is forbidden to make use of privileges previously granted. He cannot validly obtain dignities, offices, ministries, or any other function in the Church or a pension, and he cannot acquire the revenues attached to them. Moreover, he is deprived of active and passive voice.

CCEO minor excommunication

Canon 1431

1. Those punished with a minor excommunication are deprived of the reception of the Divine Eucharist. In addition they can be excluded from participation in the Divine Liturgy, and even from entering the church while divine worship is publicly celebrated there.
2. The sentence or the decree by which this penalty is imposed must determine its extent and, as the case may be, its duration.

 

[Vico]

The difference between Eastern and Latin canons, there are no automatic major excommunications in the Eastern code. It would have to imposed by the bishop. Even in cases of Eastern Catholics transferring to their Orthodox sister Church, I’ve never seen this imposed.

I have heard of penalties imposed for apostasy or leaving to protestantism

There have been excommunications however. In 2007 The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced the excommunication of a Ruthenian-rite priest Fr. Basil Kovpak in Ukraine.

 

[SyroMalankara]

There have been excommunications however. In 2007 The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced the excommunication of a Ruthenian-rite priest Fr. Basil Kovpak in Ukraine.

That priest was formally censured and excommunicated by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the CDF then excommunicated him again for accepting some clergy ordinations for his schismatic society by SSPX.

 

[Vico]

That priest was formally censured and excommunicated by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the CDF then excommunicated him again for accepting some clergy ordinations for his schismatic society by SSPX.

Yes. Even without formal excommunication it would be a serious sin that should be confessed, if it was not due to it being physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister.

1. Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for any Catholic for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from a minister of an Eastern Church.128

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html

 

[Peter_J]

I thought that the excommunications between Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church were lifted by Pope Paul VI and Pat. Athenagoras?

The 1054 excommunication of Patriarch Cerularius by Cardinal Humbert, and vice versa, have been lifted. I don’t think anyone here is denying that.