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followingtheway
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How does a Western/Latin Rite/Roman Catholic become an Eastern Catholic?
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MrPip
Guest
Well…first of all, a Catholic is a Catholic. As a Roman Catholic you are free and welcome to participate at an Eastern Catholic parish and receive all the Sacraments. And vice-versa. I really don’t understand why one would feel a need to canonically change rites, but that’s just me. My wife and I, for example, are Byzantine Catholics of the Ruthenian rescension and we are full members of and worship at our local Roman Catholic parish.
Having said that, I really don’t remember the details of the process for switching rites. I do know, though, that it involves discussions with your priest and approval (meaning letters to and fro) from the relevant RC and BC bishops. From what I understand it is usually just a formality, but it does have to be formal–if that’s what you really want.
I’m certain there are threads here discussing it, so if you do a search I’m sure you’ll find something. Talk to your priest. Talk to a local ByzCath priest. And take it from there.
God bless, and Merry Christmas!!
Jeff
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anodos
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Cool, I was wondering the same thing. Thanks, MrPip!
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FrDavid96
Guest
There are 2 different ways.
CCOE–Eastern Code
Canon 32
- No one can validly transfer to another Church sui iuris without the consent of the Apostolic See. 2. In the case of Christian faithful of an eparchy of a certain Church sui iuris who petition to transfer to another Church sui iuris which has its own eparchy in the same territory, this consent of the Apostolic See is presumed, provided that the eparchial bishops of both eparchies consent to the transfer in writing.
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.
Canon 36 (CCOE–Eastern Code)
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.
Source: intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PY.HTM
Note that this is not an “official” translation of the code, but it will suffice for what you’re asking.
One should also read the other canons (32-36), which I didn’t bother to cut and paste.
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BVM_1221
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I have no idea. See my signature.
I just started showing up at the Sunday mass, and am learning things slowly. I have not abandoned the Western Rite. :yup:
Note: Roman Catholic = Western Catholic and Eastern Catholic, and/or Lain Rite and Greek Rite.
Of course the “why” is crucial (and without reading anything into the original poster, dissatisfaction with one’s current church is not a valid reason).
One must also be aware that once a canonical switch is made, one becomes bound to the new church’s canon laws. Will one be willing to adhere to a stricter set of fast/abstinence laws, for example (just check a Byzantine liturgical calendar and you’ll see what I mean)?
Further, switching of churches is permitted, IIRC, only once in one’s lifetime.
My thoughts are that unless there is a very serious and compelling reason, do not switch churches at all. Attend the Liturgy if the church you desire, but it’s not a decision to be made lightly.
One must also be aware that once a canonical switch is made, one becomes bound to the new church’s canon laws. Will one be willing to adhere to a stricter set of fast/abstinence laws, for example (just check a Byzantine liturgical calendar and you’ll see what I mean)?
Further, switching of churches is permitted, IIRC, only once in one’s lifetime.
My thoughts are that unless there is a very serious and compelling reason, do not switch churches at all. Attend the Liturgy if the church you desire, but it’s not a decision to be made lightly.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
You need to petition both bishops of the Church you are leaving (the Latin Rite) and the one you are transferring to through a letter. You need to state your intention on why you want to transfer. You need to be a good standing member of the Church you are transferring to and have actively participated in the parish life and Eastern spirituality for some time. In cases like mine where the bishop knows me personally, I do not need an endorsement from our priest. But if you are part of a parish that the bishop does not frequent, then you would need your priest to write a letter to the bishop to endorse you, basically stating that he knows you and you have been a good Easter Catholic 
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Yes you are correct, as Catholics we are free to worship in any Catholic parish but there are some considerations when it comes to the Sacraments.
Eastern Catholics can not be married by a deacon. For a marriage to be valid for an Eastern Catholic it is required that it be blessed by a priest or bishop.
Also there is the matter of Holy Orders. One can only be ordained in the Church where they have membership. Now there are exceptions (I am living one out) but those are not the norm and require a dispensation from Rome.
There is also the fact that a Catholic is bound to the Canons and Calendar of his/her Church. So while you are a Ruthenian Catholic who attends a Roman parish you are still bound by the Eastern Code and the Ruthenian Calendar of Holy Days. For the most part these match up but there are differences (such as during Great Lent when Rutheian’s observe abstinence on Wednesdays and Fridays as opposed to the Roman Church which only observes it on Fridays).
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