Should an Eastern Catholic infant receive Communion in a Roman Catholic church?

[mardukm]

Have you dont this in real life?

Yes. As I have a Filipina wife, I actually had an experience with a priest who had doubts whether I was really not a Latin Catholic. I’ve learned to carry a copy of my child’s baptismal papers to prove canonical enrollment for occasions when we travel to a place not likely to have an Oriental or Eastern Catholic Church.

Would it be a sin for me to attempt this in real life for the sake of satisfying curiousity?

Not sure what you mean. Attempt what? Explaining to a priest the spiritual needs of your child as a non-Latin Catholic?

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[babochka]

Yes. As I have a Filipina wife, I actually had an experience with a priest who had doubts whether I was really not a Latin Catholic. I’ve learned to carry a copy of my child’s baptismal papers to prove canonical enrollment for occasions when we travel to a place not likely to have an Oriental or Eastern Catholic Church.

Why would this even come up if you don’t expect or ask for your children to be given Communion? If you always follow the customs of the local parish, they would have no way to know that you were not a Latin rite Catholic.

I’m sorry you’ve had problems with this in your life. Fortunately, most of us have had vastly different experiences. I’ve actually had priests who have been excited to give my children communion. How does your child’s baptismal certificate prove canonical enrollment? It is my understanding that such notations are made in the parish baptismal register. My own family’s baptismal certificates do not provide a place for this information.

I believe that you do the right thing in submitting to the authority of the pastor in his own parish and not insisting that your children be allowed to receive, but I’m not sure why you believe that those of us who have different circumstances should respect the customs of the Latin Rite parish when we are not even asked by the pastor to do so.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Yes. As I have a Filipina wife, I actually had an experience with a priest who had doubts whether I was really not a Latin Catholic. I’ve learned to carry a copy of my child’s baptismal papers to prove canonical enrollment for occasions when we travel to a place not likely to have an Oriental or Eastern Catholic Church.

Not sure what you mean. Attempt what? Explaining to a priest the spiritual needs of your child as a non-Latin Catholic?

Blessings,
Marduk

Go to an RC parish and tell the priest my kids would be receiving for the sake of satisfying this curiosity.

 

[Cinette]

Exactly, should a child be 3-yo and receive in Communion with the host dipped as usual on the tongue, I can’t see how this would be an issue in the Latin Rite as you are in essense going through the same procedure.

*But why should children under 7 receive Holy Communion? They do not understand!!

*

 

[mardukm]

Go to an RC parish and tell the priest my kids would be receiving for the sake of satisfying this curiosity.

Curiosity about what? What an LCC priest would say to you if he doubts your words? Or whether your child as a Latin Catholic will be allowed to receive Holy Communion? I’m not sure if you are canonically enrolled as an Eastern Catholic. If not, are you going to try to tell him you are? Is that what you are asking?

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Cinette]

If I took a vacation in a town with only one Catholic parish and it is RC, and the priest found out I was Eastern Catholic and said I may not receive, then I won’t argue. I’d be pissed off, but I have nowhere else to go. I know I have to go, there is a legitimate Catholic parish there. Or I might go to an Orthodox one instead if one is available. If I’m not receiving anyway.

If the Orthodox can participate in our Mass then more so Eastern Catholics! They are family.

 

[mardukm]

Dear sister Babochka,

I’ve never had a problem with an LCC priest granting the accomodation once they learned I was Oriental Catholic. I only had a problem once with a priest who would not believe I was Oriental Catholic (and thus my child).

Perhaps your post is actually directed to brother ConstantineTG?

Blessings,
Marduk

Why would this even come up if you don’t expect or ask for your children to be given Communion? If you always follow the customs of the local parish, they would have no way to know that you were not a Latin rite Catholic.

I’m sorry you’ve had problems with this in your life. Fortunately, most of us have had vastly different experiences. I’ve actually had priests who have been excited to give my children communion. How does your child’s baptismal certificate prove canonical enrollment? It is my understanding that such notations are made in the parish baptismal register. My own family’s baptismal certificates do not provide a place for this information.

I believe that you do the right thing in submitting to the authority of the pastor in his own parish and not insisting that your children be allowed to receive, but I’m not sure why you believe that those of us who have different circumstances should respect the customs of the Latin Rite parish when we are not even asked by the pastor to do so.

 

[Vico]

Latin priest administers and the Latin faithful receive per Latin discipline in any Catholic ritual Church.
Eastern priest administers and the eastern faithful receive per eastern discipline in any Catholic ritual Church.
“It must be remembered that the law indicates that sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them (CIC c. 843, s1 cf. CCEO c. 281, s2). A fully initiated infant is not prohibited by law from receiving Holy Communion, is properly disposed, 101 and has a right to receive Holy Communion during Mass (appropriate time). An Eastern Catholic infant would certainly be within his/her rights to receive Holy Communion in a Latin Catholic parish when there is no Eastern Catholic parish in the vicinity. In addition this child could and should receive Holy Communion if he/she attends a Latin Catholic school during the week and there are no Eastern Catholic schools in the vicinity.”

“Naturally, out of respect for the Latin Catholic discipline, the parents should discuss these concerns with the Latin Catholic pastor beforehand.”
“Lastly, it should be noted that never should the parents of a fully initiated Eastern Catholic infant, for the sake of mere convenience, attend Mass solely in Latin Catholic parishes when there exists an Eastern Catholic parish in the vicinity and have their child receive Holy Communion on a weekly basis. While the child would be withing his/her rights to do so, such a practice should be strongly discouraged of the parents as it can lead to the Eastern Catholic family allowing themselves to be Latinized … strong leadership from a pastor comes in to play whereby the pastor should properly teach the parents about their duties they owe to their own church sui iuris and their duty to raise their Eastern Catholic child in accord with his/her rights. 102”
Comparative Sacramental Discipline in the CCEO and CIC, edited by Francis J. Marini, p. 48-49.

 

[babochka]

Dear sister Babochka,

I’ve never had a problem with an LCC priest granting the accomodation once they learned I was Oriental Catholic. I only had a problem once with a priest who would not believe I was Oriental Catholic (and thus my child).

Perhaps your post is actually directed to brother ConstantineTG?

Blessings,
Marduk

Yes, of course. Sometimes I don’t pay careful attention when I’m quoting. I must have responded to a post wherein you quoted ConstantineTG and it showed up as responding to you. Sorry for the confusion.