Question

[Mike_Dye]

My nephew just returned from Russia last week. His bride to be came here with her mother a few days later. They were married in our local Catholic Parish last Sat.She was recently baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church and intends on attending RCIA this year and becoming Roman Catholic. My question is this. At the Nuptial Mass she did not receive communion but our pastor later (who was out of town at the time of the Mass) said he thought that she could have received if she wanted. Any one know for sure if this is the case?

 

[Steveabrous]

My nephew just returned from Russia last week. His bride to be came here with her mother a few days later. They were married in our local Catholic Parish last Sat.She was recently baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church and intends on attending RCIA this year and becoming Roman Catholic. My question is this. At the Nuptial Mass she did not receive communion but our pastor later (who was out of town at the time of the Mass) said he thought that she could have received if she wanted. Any one know for sure if this is the case?

I know many orthodox groups do not allow communion to be shared between us and them even though we allow it. Much like we don’t allow communion to be shared among us and protestants, even though they allow it. She may have felt she would be being disobedient if she took our communion before she converted

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

If your daughter-in-law was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church, then I assume she also received the other sacraments of initiation. That means that she will not receive these sacraments through RCIA. She will merely make a profession of faith and then will be received into the Russian Catholic Church (not Roman Catholic Church!). The Diocese of Gary has a good explanation here: dcgary.org/pdf/Reception-Orthodox-Christian.pdf

 

[Vico]

My nephew just returned from Russia last week. His bride to be came here with her mother a few days later. They were married in our local Catholic Parish last Sat.She was recently baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church and intends on attending RCIA this year and becoming Roman Catholic. My question is this. At the Nuptial Mass she did not receive communion but our pastor later (who was out of town at the time of the Mass) said he thought that she could have received if she wanted. Any one know for sure if this is the case?

The bride when received into the Catholic Church will be ascribed to the Russian Catholic Church, but may transfer if desired, per CCEO Canon 33. Or the Latin Church Husband could transfer to the Russian Catholic Church. CIC 112.CCEO is eastern Catholic canon law code and CIC is Latin Catholic canon law code.

**CCEO 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.

CCEO Canon 33 - A wife is at liberty to transfer to the Church of the husband at the celebration of or during the marriage; when the marriage has ended, she can freely return to the original Church sui iuris.

**CCEO Canon 36 **- The transfer to another Church sui iuris takes effect at the moment a declaration is made before the local hierarch or the proper pastor of the same Church or a priest delegated by either of them and two witnesses, unless the rescript of the Apostolic See provides otherwise.

**CIC Can. 112 **§1. After the reception of baptism, the following are enrolled in another ritual Church sui iuris: … 2/ a spouse who, at the time of or during marriage, has declared that he or she is transferring to the ritual Church sui iuris of the other spouse; when the marriage has ended, however, the person can freely return to the Latin Church;