Question about converts to Orthodoxy

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BusterMartin

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I’m not sure if this is the right forum, but I was wondering if anyone had information regarding the Church’s viewpoint of Catholics who convert to Orthodoxy (not, Eastern Catholicism, but Orthodoxy).

Since the Orthodox Church is viewed from the Catholic perspective as part of the holy, catholic, apostolic Church, and all sacraments (including holy orders) are valid, would the Catholic Church view someone who converts to Orthodoxy as being excommunicated from the Catholic Church? Or, since they are still part of the Church as a now Orthodox member, would they still be allowed (by the Catholic Church) to receive sacraments in the Catholic Church?

I know these are somewhat weird questions, but I had a high school teacher who did go through this conversion, and it had me wondering what the Catholic Church would think about this. After all, the Catholic Church allows Orthodox who are properly disposed to receive Communion in a Catholic Church…so what if they are a convert from Catholicism? It almost seems like they wouldn’t be excommunicated, but I can’t find documentation about that.
 
As I understand the situation, the Orthodox don’t accept Papal authority, which places them outside of communion with the Catholic Church.
 
Can. 1364 §1. Without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 194, §1, n. 2, an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication; in addition, a cleric can be punished with the penalties mentioned in ⇒ can. 1336, §1, nn. 1, 2, and 3.
 
Doesn’t that seem somewhat contradictory then? I mean, Orthodox who were never Catholic (and don’t accept papal authority) may receive Communion and other sacraments. However, if someone leaves the Catholic Church for the Orthodox Church they are then excommunicated. So then two people (one a former Catholic turned Orthodox, one an Orthodox) with identical beliefs (Orthodox, reject Papal authority) would not have the same availability of the sacraments…one would be able to receive and one wouldn’t. Makes me wonder if this situation would have some sort of exception…
 
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