Sin and Confession in Eastern Catholicism

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nickybr38

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Domnall said:
Well…the subject of “Obligation” in a legalist sense isn’t commonplace in the East as it is in the west.

For example, some Russian Orthodox “Old Believers” don’t even have a priesthood anymore. They do reader services instead.

Angel Gabriel was right about opening up a can of worms on that though! 😃 There’s a lot of debate as to what Eastern Catholics should do. However, since you are a Roman Catholic, and this is a sticky situation, let’s just not concern ourselves with it right now. 🙂
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But I find it all very interesting!

Do they not have the same basic mortal and venial sins that Roman Catholics do?

We’re all Catholic so we should all be bound by the same definition of sins shouldn’t we? AH! NOW I’M SO CURIOUS I COULD BURST
 
nickybr38 said:
Hahah. Well, that’s not likely to happen. This parish only offers Divine Liturgy once a month. Even if I wanted to switch completely I couldn’t.

Query!

If one is exclusively an Eastern Rite Catholic, but the only parish within driving distance (next parish if four hours away) only offers Divine Liturgy once a month, how would one fulfill their Sunday Obligation? Are they required to attend the local Latin Rite the other three weeks when their priest is gone?
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Depends how you want to look at this, best to ask your bishop or priest for advice on what to do. Certainly, whether you guys like it or not, there are Vatican-imposed Canons through the CCEO that says ECs do have a Sunday Obligation. What is interesting about the CCEO is that while it obligates one to attend “Divine Praises” every Sunday (this means Sunday Vespers which is on Saturday evening, or Matins, or Divine Liturgy), the language does not say that it is exclusive to one that is celebrated in a parish in communion with Rome. My opinion here is because there are many places where the only option is an Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodoxy or Assyrian Church. Now this will depend on the agreement of the bishops whether any intercommunion is happening. There are limited intercommunion happening. I know of an EC community who has been allowed by an Orthodox bishop to receive Communion in one of his parishes because the EC community lost their parish. Now, not any RC or other ECs can come there and receive, only those identified members of that parish. So best to ask your bishop and/or priest on how to best deal with this situation and follow their advice.

Of course we also have the Typika, which is the Reader’s version of the Divine Liturgy. As per praxis, Orthodox and ECs of the Byzantine Rite will use the Typika when they are unable to attend the usual Sunday Liturgy. Of course the idea is that you don’t use this every week if you in fact have access to a parish, but again it would depend if your bishop/priest will allow you to do this.

Another option is just go to an Orthodox Liturgy. But again ask your bishop/priest. They may require you to go to a Roman Catholic Mass on top of that, or they may not. It is up to them, not you, not us.
 
nickybr38 said:
But I find it all very interesting!

Do they not have the same basic mortal and venial sins that Roman Catholics do?

We’re all Catholic so we should all be bound by the same definition of sins shouldn’t we? AH! NOW I’M SO CURIOUS I COULD BURST
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No they don’t. The idea that sins can only be forgiven by a priest through confession does not exist in Orthodoxy. Confession isn’t exclusively just for forgiveness of sins. It is meant as a conversation with your confessor who will then give you spiritual advice on how to overcome your sins. It is one thing to recognize your sins and admit to it, it is another to overcome them. Telling a priest behind a screen what your sins are does not help you overcome them and not do them again. This is why in the East, giving anonymity to someone receiving a Sacrament is just unacceptable.
 
ConstantineTG said:
No they don’t. The idea that sins can only be forgiven by a priest through confession does not exist in Orthodoxy. Confession isn’t exclusively just for forgiveness of sins. It is meant as a conversation with your confessor who will then give you spiritual advice on how to overcome your sins. It is one thing to recognize your sins and admit to it, it is another to overcome them. Telling a priest behind a screen what your sins are does not help you overcome them and not do them again. This is why in the East, giving anonymity to someone receiving a Sacrament is just unacceptable.
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But I’m not talking about Orthodoxy. I’m talking about a Catholic Church from the Eastern Rite?
 
nickybr38 said:
But I’m not talking about Orthodoxy. I’m talking about a Catholic Church from the Eastern Rite?
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And therein lies the problem…the Eastern Catholic Churches are supposed to be like Orthodoxy in everything except communion with Rome…however, in practice this is rarely the case…
 
Angel_Gabriel said:
And therein lies the problem…the Eastern Catholic Churches are supposed to be like Orthodoxy in everything except communion with Rome…however, in practice this is rarely the case…
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Oh really? I didn’t know that! Look, I’m learning already. 🙂

The Eastern Catholic Church I went to was very dissimilar to the Roman Rite. The Divine Liturgy was only recognizable to the Mass in that the Confession of faith and some of the prayers were similar. The Confession of faith may have been the Nicene Creed actually… think I was sick during the Liturgy so I could be mistaken.
 
Angel_Gabriel said:
And therein lies the problem…the Eastern Catholic Churches are supposed to be like Orthodoxy in everything except communion with Rome…however, in practice this is rarely the case…
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It certainly **IS **the case where I worship …Orthodox praxis but communion with Rome. 😃
 
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