Switching Rites To Marry?

[notredame_999]

I’m sure I am not the only one who has thought of this, but would it be possible for a Latin Catholic to switch rites into one of the eastern rites for the preference in liturgy, theology, and being able to marry? Thanks.

 

[countertenor]

If you are marrying someone you can automatically switch to their rite if you want at that time.

 

[notredame_999]

If you are marrying someone you can automatically switch to their rite if you want at that time.

I should have added married before priesthood ordination

 

[ConstantineTG]

I should have added married before priesthood ordination

I think there is a rule that you cannot change rites and then get ordained in the new rite. This would prevent those who seek priesthood but also desire a family from switching rites just so they can be admitted to the priesthood with a wife.

You can only be ordained in a rite you were baptized in, unless you have a claim to heritage in a sui juris Church in another rite. For example, you are born in a city without a Byzantine Rite Catholic Church so your family attends a Latin Rite Church where you were also baptized in. In the future, you can seek to return to the Byzantine Rite of one of your parents’ sui juris Church (UGCC, etc.) if you wish. I believe in this case you will also be allowed to seek Orders in that rite.

 

[Nowhere_Man]

I think there is a rule that you cannot change rites and then get ordained in the new rite. This would prevent those who seek priesthood but also desire a family from switching rites just so they can be admitted to the priesthood with a wife.

You can only be ordained in a rite you were baptized in, unless you have a claim to heritage in a sui juris Church in another rite. For example, you are born in a city without a Byzantine Rite Catholic Church so your family attends a Latin Rite Church where you were also baptized in. In the future, you can seek to return to the Byzantine Rite of one of your parents’ sui juris Church (UGCC, etc.) if you wish. I believe in this case you will also be allowed to seek Orders in that rite.

That’s interesting. So if a man were to translate to one of the Eastern Rites, and then seek Ordination, he would be denied?

 

[ConstantineTG]

That’s interesting. So if a man were to translate to one of the Eastern Rites, and then seek Ordination, he would be denied?

I got that from this thread → forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=460562

Reading it again, it seems its not a hard rule. I guess the rule is that you cannot change Rites just so to seek ordination. If the bishop has determined you are changing rites to seek ordination, they may grant you the change of rite but on the condition that you are not to be ordained. I guess this is just a disciplinary measure to ensure there is not an exodus of Latin Rite seminarians who wishes to get married and still become a priest.

 

[Vico]

That’s interesting. So if a man were to translate to one of the Eastern Rites, and then seek Ordination, he would be denied?

1. I believe that you can request a change of ritual church for your spiritual good, because you find it more suitable.
2. After that is complete, you could get married in that Church.
3. To become a married deacon takes about five years, and I think there is a requirement for a batchelor’s degree. Of course you must be approved and there are not always ordinations every year, depending upon the church. Deacons serve without salary, I think, in the Eastern Churches, not like the Latin Church.
4. If you desire to be a priest, it would entail earning a batchelor’s degree, and completing seminary, I think that it takes about nine years total, including the batchlor’s degree. Married priests may have to serve in a parish in Europe or Middle East, depending on the church, before being allowed to serve in the USA or UK.

These requirements may vary with the church, I only know the details for the Ruthenian Catholic.

 

[Theophorus]

I’m sure I am not the only one who has thought of this, but would it be possible for a Latin Catholic to switch rites into one of the eastern rites for the preference in liturgy, theology, and being able to marry? Thanks.

Is it a rite in full communion with the Latin Catholic Church?

If yes I don’t see much of a problem, as long as it is motivated by a desire for truth and a desire to do the will of God

 

[Vico]

Is it a rite in full communion with the Latin Catholic Church?

If yes I don’t see much of a problem, as long as it is motivated by a desire for truth and a desire to do the will of God

If the bishops agree, then it will be approved, or alternately it may be requested from the Holy See (Congretation for Eastern Churches). It has been denied in some regions, mostly Eastern Churches to Latin Church in their original territories. The Eastern Churches comprise about 1.5% of the membership of the Catholic Church.

forums.catholic-questions.org/picture.php?albumid=601&pictureid=7066

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m sure I am not the only one who has thought of this, but would it be possible for a Latin Catholic to switch rites into one of the eastern rites for the preference in liturgy, theology, and being able to marry? Thanks.

I don’t understand the question. Any Catholic otherwise free to marry may do so, with a Catholic of any rite. You will generally be counseled against switching, especially to an Eastern Church with much stricter disciplines than many Roman rite Catholics are used to, unless you are marrying someone of that rite. No it is not possible to switch rites for the purpose of pursuing the priesthood as a married man, and if it is suspected you took that route would quite likely be refused for consideration for the priesthood, if that is your question. Bear in mind that in some countries, America for instance, married priests are still the exception even for Eastern churches.

 

[5Loaves]

Deacons serve without salary, I think, in the Eastern Churches, not like the Latin Church.

The deacon in my Latin Church and the deacon in my Byzantine Church both serve tirelessly without pay.

 

[SonCatcher]

I’m sure I am not the only one who has thought of this, but would it be possible for a Latin Catholic to switch rites into one of the eastern rites for the preference in liturgy, theology, and being able to marry? Thanks.

The decisions to change rites, marry and pursue Holy Orders are all serious and separate.

One should only change rites if the new rite is more in tune with the person’s spirit. Once in that rite, the Catholic should then seek to re-form himself according to the rite’s spirituality prior to making major decisions about religious life or Holy Orders.

One should choose to marry (regardless of rite) if he seeks to form the community of the family, with all the benefits and responsibilities thereof.

One should seek Holy Orders if he is called. In the Latin Rite and some Eastern Rites, married men are, by definition, not called (except in extraordinary circumstances reserved to the Vatican). In most Eastern Rites, married men may be called but generally only in the countries where those rites are dominant (primarily Eastern Europe and the Near/Middle East). In countries where the Latin Rite is dominant (the rest of the world), a married priesthood is generally avoided to prevent scandal among the Latins.

It would behoove you to understand what the priesthood is in your destination rite before making contingent plans like this. I understand that the high regard held for priests in the Latin Rite is reserved to monks in the Eastern Rites. The priest there is primarily to administer the sacraments.

 

[malphono]

No it is not possible to switch rites for the purpose of pursuing the priesthood as a married man, and if it is suspected you took that route would quite likely be refused for consideration for the priesthood, if that is your question.

I do believe that was the intent of the original question, and the answer quoted above is, of course, correct.

It is highly unlikely that any Eastern or Oriental bishop would even consider someone who had transferred Churches sui juris, married, and then expressed a desire for ordination, to be a candidate for Orders. Perhaps yes for someone who was married, then transferred, and then discerned a calling after some years as a member of his new Church sui juris, or someone who transferred, then married, then discerned a calling, after some years, as a member of his new Church sui juris, but certainly not someone who tried to do it all in short-order. I’ll add to that by saying the entire idea of transferring Churches with an ulterior motive (ordination after marriage) is both dishonest as well as distasteful, if not sinful in and of itself.

 

[SonCatcher]

I don’t understand the question. Any Catholic otherwise free to marry may do so, with a Catholic of any rite. You will generally be counseled against switching, especially to an Eastern Church with much stricter disciplines than many Roman rite Catholics are used to, unless you are marrying someone of that rite. No it is not possible to switch rites for the purpose of pursuing the priesthood as a married man, and if it is suspected you took that route would quite likely be refused for consideration for the priesthood, if that is your question. Bear in mind that in some countries, America for instance, married priests are still the exception even for Eastern churches.

(please note, no sarcasm follows)

Oh yes, I remember looking at an Eastern calendar that establishes the time leading up to Christmas as a lesser Lent. I was so excited! For years, I had felt that Advent should be a penitential time but never saw it lived out or discussed among the Latins. The calendar also included prescribed practices (fasting days and multiple levels of food abstinence). The requirements are steeper than Latin requirements for Lent. Great Lent requirements are steeper still.

I’m sure there would be allowance for a former Latin who just wants to do his best but it is still rather discouraging (OP - I suspect a priest, even a former Latin, would be expected to keep liturgical penance properly).

 

[5Loaves]

You will generally be** counseled against switching, especially to an Eastern Church** with much stricter disciplines than many Roman rite Catholics are used to, unless you are marrying someone of that rite.

I’ve never heard of that.
Especially since the Second Vatican Council there is a strong emphasis found in the CCEO and in other Church documents for those of the Eastern Churches to retain their status in the church of their Baptism/Chrismation, against changing their canonical status to the Latin Church. As this has been discussed at length in numerous previous threads about changing “Rites” Churches including the one just cited by ConstantineTG in post #6 here I won’t repeat .

Bear in mind that in some countries, America for instance, married priests are still the exception even for Eastern churches.

Are married priests in Eastern Churches the exception in the US? There was a window of time when that was true, I’m not sure it still is.

A couple of young unmarried men I’ve talked with who were discerning a vocation were feeling torn because of the preference in their Churches for married clergy, and their own desire to marry and have a family. One must marry before beginning any vocation and the years of education thereafter and they as many young people in our culture found they were in mid 20s with no good prospects for a wife in sight. They both also spoke about the serious concerns they felt about how they would support a family as a parish priest here. (We are in a very expensive area for the cost of living.) These concerns were pulling them away from the priestly vocation they felt such a call to.

Prayers for vocations East and West.

 

[Aramis]

That’s interesting. So if a man were to translate to one of the Eastern Rites, and then seek Ordination, he would be denied?

He can be, if the bishop/eparch feels he switched solely for ordination.

If he’s seeking the diaconate, not likely. If he’s seeking the priesthood, possibly, but not automatically. Tho’, in the US, it was formally prohibited for some time.

 

[Vico]

The deacon in my Latin Church and the deacon in my Byzantine Church both serve tirelessly without pay.

I understand.

I guess that was not precise enough. I should have said that Latin Church deacons may receive compensation.

Code of Canon Law (1983)
Canon 281.3: “Married deacons who devote themselves completely to ecclesiastical
ministry deserve a remuneration by which they can provide for their own support and
that of their families. Married deacons, however, who receive remuneration by reason
of a civil profession which they can exercise or have exercised, are to take care of their
own and their families needs from the incomes derived from their profession.”

 

[Aramis]

One should note that some dioceses pay a token salary to deacons with day-jobs… so that they are covered under workman’s comp and liability insurances…

 

[SonCatcher]

I understand.

I guess that was not precise enough. I should have said that Latin Church deacons may receive compensation.

Code of Canon Law (1983)
Canon 281.3: “Married deacons who devote themselves completely to ecclesiastical
ministry deserve a remuneration by which they can provide for their own support and
that of their families. Married deacons, however, who receive remuneration by reason
of a civil profession which they can exercise or have exercised, are to take care of their
own and their families needs from the incomes derived from their profession.”

Basically, if the bishop determines the deacon should work full time in the diocese (thus must give up his regular employment) then he will be paid for it.

 

[Kielbasi]

I’m sure I am not the only one who has thought of this, but would it be possible for a Latin Catholic to switch rites into one of the eastern rites for the preference in liturgy, theology, and being able to marry? Thanks.

Its not necessary to switch rites to marry an Eastern Catholic girl or fellow, and it isn’t necessary to switch rites to attend the Eastern Catholic liturgy regularly or to study its theology.