Question re: Process of Discerning move towards Eastern Catholicism

[SyroMalankara]

Orthodox Church teaches that only those in communion with Orthodox Church are Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox are not only different jurisdiction, they have different teachings on Christ’s dual nature

Not according to the agreed Catholic-Oriental Orthodox dialogues nor the Eastern Orthodox - Oriental Orthodox dialogues.

and they have no all 7 Ecumenical Councils confirmed. They separated from the 5 Patriarchates in 5th century.

Right, yet still considered Orthodox by the Catholic Church and most Eastern Orthodox.

 

[Proton]

Not according to the agreed Catholic-Oriental Orthodox dialogues nor the Eastern Orthodox - Oriental Orthodox dialogues. Right, yet still considered Orthodox by the Catholic Church and most Eastern Orthodox.

I think Roman-Catholic Church doesn’t consider Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox truly to be Orthodox, Rome just calls these 2 communions Orthodox. Every Church believes it is Her who is Orthodox, true-worship, true-glory.

 

[SyroMalankara]

I think Roman-Catholic Church doesn’t consider Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox truly to be Orthodox, Rome just calls these 2 communions Orthodox. Every Church believes it is Her who is Orthodox, true-worship, true-glory.

That’s just an opinion. The Catholic Church as a Communion has officially called both Orthodox, not just in title but also in faith. The stated Catholic view is that the only aspect lacking is union, nothing doctrinal or dogmatic.

 

[Vico]

I think Roman-Catholic Church doesn’t consider Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox truly to be Orthodox, Rome just calls these 2 communions Orthodox. Every Church believes it is Her who is Orthodox, true-worship, true-glory.

The Catholic Church uses these terms:

• Dialogue with the Orthodox Churches of Byzantine Tradition
• Dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox Churches
• Dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued this statement in 1992:ECCLESIAL COMMUNION AND ECUMENISM
17. “The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honoured by the name of Christian, but who do not however profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter”(72).

Among the non-Catholic Churches and Christian communities, there are indeed to be found many elements of the Church of Christ, which allow us, amid joy and hope, to acknowledge the existence of a certain communion, albeit imperfect(73).

This communion exists especially with the Eastern orthodox Churches, which, though separated from the See of Peter, remain united to the Catholic Church by means of very close bonds, such as the apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, and therefore merit the title of particular Churches(74). Indeed, “through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches, the Church of God is built up and grows in stature”(75), for in every valid celebration of the Eucharist the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church becomes truly present(76).

Since, however, communion with the universal Church, represented by Peter’s Successor, is not an external complement to the particular Church, but one of its internal constituents, the situation of those venerable Christian communities also means that their existence as particular Churches is wounded. The wound is even deeper in those ecclesial communities which have not retained the apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist. This in turn also injures the Catholic Church, called by the Lord to become for all “one flock” with “one shepherd”(77), in that it hinders the complete fulfilment of its universality in history.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_28051992_communionis-notio_en.html

*Unitatis redintegratio (1964) has:
** I. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches**

1. For many centuries the Church of the East and that of the West each followed their separate ways though linked in a brotherly union of faith and sacramental life; the Roman See by common consent acted as guide when disagreements arose between them over matters of faith or discipline. Among other matters of great importance, it is a pleasure for this Council to remind everyone that there flourish in the East many particular or local Churches, among which the Patriarchal Churches hold first place, and of these not a few pride themselves in tracing their origins back to the apostles themselves. Hence a matter of primary concern and care among the Easterns, in their local churches, has been, and still is, to preserve the family ties of common faith and charity which ought to exist between sister Churches.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

 

[Ignatius]

Good evening,
This is long and I am appreciative for any help or thoughts on this. Thank you.

I was born to Catholic (Maronite/ Roman) raised parents who converted to Syrian Orthodoxy during their wedding ceremony, but never practiced the Orthodox faith. Upon my birth, they had me baptized Roman Catholic, but I was raised in presbyterian/ evangelical churches.
My husband was raised Calvinist Baptist/ evangelical.
As we journeyed together and tried to find our spiritual “home”, we ended up in a protestant church which had a “covenant renewal” liturgy (similar to a mass with weekly communion) and baptized + communed small children (the pastor has strong affection for EO).
Through several years of the Holy Spirit working on our hearts, we finally saw the need to enter into full communion with the See of Rome. The only church that fit that description in our small rural town, was the Roman Catholic Church. Even though we still desired infant communion, we did not want to drive long distances for church and desired a nearby community, so we decided to attend this parish. We received an abbreviated RCIA course, marriage validation, first reconciliation, confirmation, and first Holy Communion in this parish. We knew full well what both our particular archdiocese and the Latin rite’s rules regarding first communion/ first penance/ confirmation were, but did not think we really had any other choices, since the closest Byzantine churches are several hours away, We tried to see the bright side, saying things like, “maybe it will mean more to them if they are older and able to remember it,” “maybe they will appreciate it more if they can’t have it right now,” “first communion dresses are so pretty!” (well, okay, I said that last one, not my husband).

We are coming up on one year since our confirmation, and have grown increasingly uncomfortable with the way the Latin rite does the sacraments.As we’ve learned and read this past year, we have realized more fully that the three sacraments of initiation are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. It does not make sense to us that our children have to wait to be confirmed until they’re in high school, but will receive penance before the Eucharist.
As we have participated in the Eucharist and fallen in love with this Sacrament, it has become increasingly devastating to us to not be able to share this amazing gift with our little ones, as they were accustomed to receiving the protestant version of the Eucharist every week.

The closest parish to us which communes small children is a Melkite Church which is a 3 hour drive. As I have learned about the Melkite Church, I have also grown to desire to instill in my children an appreciation for their Lebanese/ Middle-Eastern heritage. (I have grandparents & great grandparents raised Maronite Catholic, Melkite Catholic and Syrian Orthodox). I grew up with exposure to Arabic culture and I also feel a desire to pass this onto my children in some way.

I know this would be up to the priests & bishops to decide, but my husband & I were wondering if anyone here had experience, thoughts or advice on making a transition from the Roman church to an Eastern church, especially if the Eastern church is quite a distance from one’s home. We would love for our children to receive confirmation & eucharist while they are still young (they’re 6, 4, and 1 now) and were wondering if it would be possible for us to become Melkite canonically & attend the divine liturgy there periodically but still attend the local latin rite parish for mass on a daily/ weekly basis since it’s only 2 minutes away.

Thank you again for reading.

You can simply join/attend any Catholic parish you like. If you have an Eastern Catholic Church near you, you can simply start attending, there is no formal process needed. God Bless.