Romans and Byzantines

[Yeoman]

I don’t want to start a spat, but can some kind soul summarize the respective positions of the various Orthodox Churches and the ability of Catholics to receive their sacrements, and vice versa?

More specifcally, for example, if I, a Roman Catholic, were at an Orthodox wedding, could I receive communion if it were offered? And could the Orthodox Priest allow me to receive communion? What about the reverse, where, for example, Orthodox were at a Roman Catholic service?

 

[mchale]

I don’t want to start a spat, but can some kind soul summarize the respective positions of the various Orthodox Churches and the ability of Catholics to receive their sacrements, and vice versa?

More specifcally, for example, if I, a Roman Catholic, were at an Orthodox wedding, could I receive communion if it were offered? And could the Orthodox Priest allow me to receive communion? What about the reverse, where, for example, Orthodox were at a Roman Catholic service?

The Catholic Perspective is often spelled out in the Misselettes that are in many Churches. I believe the Catholic perspective is that Orthodox may receive in a Catholic Church and Catholics may receive in an Orthodox church, particularly in an emergency situation. That being said, the Catholic Church also instructs Catholics to respect the discipline of the other Churches and likewise, recommends that the Orthodox respect the discipline of their own Church.

So the Theoretical answer is yes, the practical answer is no… at least if I understand the positions properly.

–
Bill

 

[prodromos]

I don’t want to start a spat, but can some kind soul summarize the respective positions of the various Orthodox Churches and the ability of Catholics to receive their sacrements, and vice versa?

More specifcally, for example, if I, a Roman Catholic, were at an Orthodox wedding, could I receive communion if it were offered? And could the Orthodox Priest allow me to receive communion? What about the reverse, where, for example, Orthodox were at a Roman Catholic service?

Only Orthodox are permitted to receive Holy Communion in an Orthodox liturgy and Orthodox are not permitted to receive Holy Communion in a non Orthodox Church. On a practical level, only those Orthodox who have properly prepared themselves through confession, prayer and fasting are permitted to receive, although this is not always strictly followed.

John