C
couponfit
Guest
If a orthodox felt a revelation and calling to the RC or the EC, would he or she have to be baptized, or is the original baptism in the orthodox church considered a valid baptism?
- Status
5
5Loaves
Guest
Every baptism done with water and in the name of the Holy Trinity is considered valid by the Catholic Church regardless of who speaks the prayer and pours the water.
If one has been Baptized/Chrismated in a valid Orthodox Church he can become Catholic by a simple profession of faith and by confession and begin life as a Catholic receiving the sacraments.
A certain period of discussion and possible clarification of the teachings of the Catholic Church would be needed for the person to make an informed profession of faith. The person would be ascribed into the Eastern Catholic Church most closely related to their Orthodox Church. They could with appropriate permission make their profession of faith and confession in a Latin/Roman Catholic Church parish but they would not be Latin Catholic, they would be Eastern Catholic of a particular Eastern Catholic Church and would be recorded as such in the parish record.
If they wanted to change their Church from for example Melkite Catholic to Latin Catholic they would need to petition to the Holy See for a formal change of Church. Such formal changes from an Eastern Church to the Latin Church are seriously discouraged. A Catholic can freely worship and take sacraments in any Catholic Church.
C
couponfit
Guest
Thanks.
S
suissemissed
Guest
Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t that only half true? I thought the Orthodox can indeed commune with us, but only under certain conditions (one of which is that they can’t approach a minister of their own to receive the Eucharist).
N
Nine_Two
Guest
While a bishop can say otherwise, generally it is a blanket ban on the eucharist outside the Church.
B
ByzCathCantor
Guest
Orthodox Christians are indeed permitted to receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, and are often openly invited to do so in Eastern Catholic Churches. However, the are likely unable to do so given the requirements of their own Orthodox Church. They are invited nonetheless.
You are “half correct” in that there are limited circumstances in which an Orthodox Christian would be able to receive the Eucharist and other sacraments in the Catholic Church, with the permission of their own Orthodox Church. These are normally extraordinary circumstances (lack of Orthodox churches or ministers in a given geographic area; imminent death, etc.).
R
RyanBlack
Guest
Catholic Canon Law makes no such requirement. Catholic priests may licitly administer Holy Communion to Orthodox who request it and who are properly disposed (see Canon 844).
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
The Latin Church permits them to receive the Eucharist, but urges them to obey the requirements of their own Church. Similarly for Latins who visit Orthodox Churches. We should be polite guests.
B
ByzCathCantor
Guest
It is understood that the converse is not true; that is, Catholics are not welcome at this time to receive the Eucharist in the Orthodox Churches. We’d ask our Orthodox contributors to confirm this understanding.
B
ByzCathCantor
Guest
Agreed! The clergy must remain obedient, of course. We can only pray for the day this may change, and remain charitable and supportive of our Orthodox brethren in the process.
M
MrPip
Guest
This is, indeed, the “official” position of the Orthodox Church. There are, however, a relatively small number of people in the U.S., Orthodox and Catholic, who do inter-commune with the knowledge and at least implicit permission of their respective priests and bishops. My understanding (from family members who have wide experience there) is that this is also not an uncommon practice in certain parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
Shocking, isn’t it
? Well, maybe mainly to certain strictly juridical Orthodox 
. I don’t mean that to be insulting, especially on this Orthodox Great and Holy Friday, but there are some who are simply appalled that this should happen, even though it represents for some others a step in the right direction towards the reunification of the Church of Christ.A blessed Great and Holy Friday and Saturday to all Orthodox posters!!
In Christ,
Jeff
B
ByzCathCantor
Guest
… and to our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters observing on the Old Calendar!
M
MrPip
Guest
Indeed! (Didn’t mean to leave them out!)
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
Sorry, that is what I meant to say but, think that I garbled my sentence a bit. The Latin Church has no objection to our receiving at an Orthodox Church, but directs us to be good guests and obey the rules of our hosts.
- Status