Stuck? A Roman Catholic?

[JW55]

Many people regularly attend EC divine liturgies without making an “official” switch. If you feel truely compelled to make an official switch do so. However, as mentioned above if this is not a possibiity, attend when you can an incorporate some of the practices into your private devotions.

 

[cmodrmac]

an honest question from a Non catholic

if it is the same universal Church-but different expressions of worship-why would anyone need to give permission for one to move from One Rite to another-given they all are in Union with Rome-? what is the concern

 

[Peter_J]

an honest question from a Non catholic

if it is the same universal Church-but different expressions of worship-why would anyone need to give permission for one to move from One Rite to another-given they all are in Union with Rome-? what is the concern

Hi cmodrmac. I think you’ve got it backwards. When someone wants to move from one Church (and note that I say Church, not Rite) to another within the Roman Communion, permission is required not in spite of the fact that the Churches are in full communion, but because they are in full communion. On the other hand, if you wanted to join the Roman Communion, you would not be told “You need permission from your old bishop first” precisely because he is not in communion with us.

 

[damooster]

Hi cmodrmac. I think you’ve got it backwards. When someone wants to move from one Church (and note that I say Church, not Rite) to another within the Roman Communion, permission is required not in spite of the fact that the Churches are in full communion, but because they are in full communion. On the other hand, if you wanted to join the Roman Communion, you would not be told “You need permission from your old bishop first” precisely because he is not in communion with us.

Here’s another question:

I am currently living in Vietnam and will live here for at least another year (if not longer). I will then (probably) move to the Philippines (but it’s undecided). The chances of me returning to the US are unlikely.

There is no Eastern Catholic Church here in Vietnam and I’m pretty sure there isn’t one in the Philippines.

If I really wanted to change to an Eastern Church, would an eastern bishop deny my request since I don’t have access to an Eastern Church here?

I know you’re wondering: why change to the Eastern Church if there isn’t one here? To put it simply, my reason is this: I understand the importance of remaining in communion with Rome but I’m having a difficult time remaining in the RC. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Peter_J]

Here’s another question:

I am currently living in Vietnam and will live here for at least another year (if not longer). I will then (probably) move to the Philippines (but it’s undecided). The chances of me returning to the US are unlikely.

There is no Eastern Catholic Church here in Vietnam and I’m pretty sure there isn’t one in the Philippines.

If I really wanted to change to an Eastern Church, would an eastern bishop deny my request since I don’t have access to an Eastern Church here?

I know you’re wondering: why change to the Eastern Church if there isn’t one here? To put it simply, my reason is this: I understand the importance of remaining in communion with Rome but I’m having a difficult time remaining in the RC. I hope that makes sense.

For what it’s worth, I don’t encourage people to convert in either direction, Catholic-to-Orthodox or Orthodox-to-Catholic. (Not that that helps you, I just wanted to make that clear.)

Having said that, I definitely think that one of the functions of Greek Catholic and Oriental Catholic churches is helping some of us stay Catholic, rather than going Orthodox. But if there’s no EC parish where you live, then becoming EC is a no-go … one of the minimum requirements for switching is attending for at least a year.

 

[5Loaves]

H

There is no Eastern Catholic Church here in Vietnam and I’m pretty sure there isn’t one in the Philippines.

I believe you’re right, tho Fr Olexander Kenez of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania if I recall correctly has been working with a group in the Philippines interested in a mission there. If you’re on Facebook Father is on there, as is the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. His email is listed on the Eparchy website, also.

 

[damooster]

For what it’s worth, I don’t encourage people to convert in either direction, Catholic-to-Orthodox or Orthodox-to-Catholic. (Not that that helps you, I just wanted to make that clear.)

Having said that, I definitely think that one of the functions of Greek Catholic and Oriental Catholic churches is helping some of us stay Catholic, rather than going Orthodox. But if there’s no EC parish where you live, then becoming EC is a no-go … one of the minimum requirements for switching is attending for at least a year.

Then they risk people going Orthodox. I understand the concept behind the requirement to attend an EC parish for a year, but less patient people may throw up their hands and just go Orthodox.

 

[PennyinCanada]

My husband was baptized in the Latin Rite but has been in the Eastern Church for over 25 years with me. No permission was asked, he just started coming and receiving the sacraments.

I am especially fond of vespers and in the winter with the long nights, the candle light. The hymnology is beautiful and full of catechism. If you’re able, see if you can make vespers on the Saturday night.

 

[malphono]

Then they risk people going Orthodox. I understand the concept behind the requirement to attend an EC parish for a year, but less patient people may throw up their hands and just go Orthodox.

If I may, let me toss in my :twocents:

The thing is that one cannot really be an EC or OC without being able to practice and express it. The example of emigrés comes to mind. They leave the “homeland” (wherever that might be) and often find themselves in places where there is no place to worship in the manner to which they are accustomed. What happens then? Sure, they remain ascribed to their proper Church, and if there’s an Orthodox community in reasonable proximity, some may go in that direction. But for most, their practice often becomes Latin out of desperation, and slowly but surely, after a while they begin to identify as RC and move farther and farther away from their roots.

 

[Peter_J]

Then they risk people going Orthodox.

Well yeah. (I’m not trying to sound trendy or anything. )

Look at it this way: We certainly encourage Catholics to stay Catholic, but there’s always the risk/possibility of a Catholic leaving Catholicism for Orthodoxy, or for Anglicanism, or Lutheranism, or Methodism, or Presbyterianism, or Baptist-ism, or Pentecostalism. (In my few decades as a Catholic, I’ve met ex-Catholics in each of those denominations.) Which is just another way of saying that we don’t *make *anyone stay Catholic.

 

[15Lk_clu]

I could be wrong, but doesn’t a switch from one to the other require approval from someone very high up in the hierarchy? I’d read somewhere that only the Pope has the authority to grant the switch.

As far as I’ve heard, (mostly coming from some pretty knowledgeable people on the reddit Catholicism board), it’s a matter of having your local Bishop that you’re under approve it, as well as the “new” Bishop you are going under the authority of.

 

[Francis_C_1]

Since we are all in full communion I don’t see why you really need to change rites. For example my parish (Latin Rite) is joined with another parish close by also Latin Rite our parish priest is parish priest for both parishes. The other parish has a very large Syro-Malabar community and just recently an assistant Syro- Malabar priest has come to the parish. There is a mixture of Latin Rite and Syro-Malabar mass said. Both communites attend both of the rites. I have attended the Syro- Malabar mass as well and it is a very beautiful mass. My point is as Catholics we can attend and fully participate in all the rites in communion, so is there really a need to Change rites, just go if you prefer that particular type of mass.