Treatment of Eastern Catholics in North America

[jwinch2]

The problem I see is that we here at CAF are knowledgeable enough that this is a great thing for any member here to have. The rest of the Catholic populace are less educated that there are Catholic Churches other than the Roman Catholic Church and approach the Eastern Catholic Churches with caution and suspicion usually reserved for proselytizing non-Catholic denominations. I hope we do our part in educating the other Roman Catholics out there. I sincerely think that the Eastern faith would help build the one true Church especially with so many falling out of the faith today, perhaps a fresh perspective on the faith would help. Also with so many anti-Catholics out there, it helps to know who are on our side.

I agree with everything you said.

To me, the answer is almost always education and exposure. If we teach people properly to begin with, these things will either A) not happen; or B) get better. If people are exposed to it (whether they like it or not) they will be forced to learn at least the bare minimum.

I have been hoping for some time to see more Eastern Catholic material on EWTN. Priests like Fr. Pacwa who can celebrate in both rites, ought to have a show called “East meets West” (or something like that) were he highlights both Rites and teaches people the truths that exist between the two. There also should be shows that are dedicated Byzantine in focus, particularly with the Eastern Church growing in the US the way it seems to be.

I am hopeful that with the renewal of catechesis that is currently going on, that things will get better.

 

[ciero]

First, let me start off by saying that I’m not starting this thread to say bad things about the Roman Catholic Church or the Orthodox Churches. I just want to put to light the sad and painful truth that Eastern Catholics face in the diaspora where we are the minority.

Anyway, my story is that I have been Roman Catholic for almost all my life until that fateful Sunday in October last year. And I never really looked back since. I’m working on my canonical transfer, but I think from where I stand is pretty much official. I mean, listen to my story:

So before I became Eastern Catholic, my interest in the faith was growing. I felt I had a call to be a catechist because I feel bad for myself for being poorly catechized for so long, and if circumstances were any different I would have never fully returned to the faith. I would have continues on as a liberally minded Catholic as I was in the last half of my life. So I did become a catechist for one year teaching highschool kids. Last year there were no highschool enrollees so I didn’t have a class. And that is the time I transitioned into becoming an Eastern Catholic, as I was drawn immediately by the Divine Liturgy.

Now this year the catechism coordinator called me and asked if I was interested to teach. So I said yes. Again I feel this is my calling and I would love to teach kids the faith. I’m very much in touch with RC teachings being less than a year removed. And of course I get a lot of practice here in CAF. But I haven’t attended that parish since November and I know the priest was ranting before that his catechists were volunteers from other parishes. I understand that he wants active participation from his own parish. So I came clean, so to speak, with the coordinator. Of course I told the coordinator that I am attending a Ukrainian Catholic parish exclusively. I said I am 100% committed to teach, and I will attend Mass if called for. I said my aim is to faithfully teach the Roman Catholic faith and I will not confuse children about East and West. It is already extra effort for me to get out of my busy schedule to teach, so I do not intend to waste anyone’s time, including my own.

I was expecting that I will lose the teaching job because of my parish membership. It would have been fine because of that. Unfortunately I was told that because I was “non-practicing” and because I attended a Church other than the Roman Catholic Church, I cannot teach. I was offended that it was even an issue. I did take my time to explain to the coordinator that I am still Catholic and the Church I go to is Catholic. So I replied that I do not know how the Rite of the Church I go to affects my ability to teach. I don’t know why that is part of the issue. So I wrote to the person in charge of the whole catechism program of the Archdiocese whom I know. And I got the same reply. The person in charge said that teaching First Communion is “not teaching a subject about Communion, but teaching a way of life, including the Roman Rite.” I’m like, “what?” So I replied, “Do you know what the difference is between the sacramental life of a Roman Catholic from a Ukrainian Catholic?” So Communion is a way of life in the Roman Rite, and not in the Byzantine Rite? And this is a person that I have invited, came, and communed with us at Divine Liturgy. And again the email contained things like I have forgotten how it is to be Roman Catholic in 11 months. I guess the incense gives you Latin Rite amnesia. There’s a lot more, let say mind-blowing claims made that makes absolutely no sense. But I won’t elaborate as I’m trying to keep a level of anonymity here.

Is it really this bad for Eastern Catholics here? Is this pretty much the norm? Is this like those merger of gym companies where two brands of gyms merge, but one is a higher end gym and the other is an everyday average gym where the members of the everyday average gym cannot go to the higher end gym, but the high end gym members get to go to the average gym?

Welcome to the Eastern Catholic Church!! We have been treated as second class Catholics since we arrived here in North America…looks like some things never change!!

 

[5Loaves]

But you know what, that is another problem we face today. Even parents do not follow up on what is taught in parish catechesis. They go to Mass and they go to catechesis. Thats is. Sad

I don’t want to open that can of worms, but many parents have had little catechesis themselves. And family attendance at Mass is spotty even when the kids are preparing for their sacraments.

Even though the parish in question is literally a stone’s throw away from where I live, I haven’t been there in at least 6 months.

It sounds like you didn’t really have relationships established with others in the parish at the point where you moved over to the UGCC. Half of what keeps me at this Latin parish is “my peeps” there. We go to coffee after daily Mass. I go to the parish wide events. I’ve presented at the close of Masses to the parish for things like the Bishop’s Appeal and Cathedral Sunday so people know my face and are always friendly towards me.

I’d rather find ways to fix the problem rather than do something that will create more.

If we don’t mix with Latin Catholics how will they come to know us, not just know something about Eastern Catholic Churches?

We’ve talked about this before in the EC section. I don’t check my Greek Catholic self at the door when I come in. When I’m at Mass I cross myself EC style, I cross myself, right to left and bow, when the Mother of God is mentioned and the Holy Trinity, and at special petitions,as I would in the Litanies in DL etc… There is an icon in the church and I venerate it when I come in. I wear my chotki on my wrist. People often comment on the Coptic cross I wear.

I put notices in the parish bulletin, and the Diocese newspaper, about EC programs happening on EWTN, or a particular topic that Fr. Loya has done on his radio show, I post encouraging people to come to Pre-sanctified Liturgy to experience Great Lent in a different way. Our EC parish is doing a Panikhida at the Porziuncola Nuova on the Latin Church’s All Souls day and hopefully a number of Latin Catholic will be there again as they have been in the past.

People have to want to know about us to find out about us around here because we are tiny parishes and mostly hiding our light under a basket. (Hmmm what was today’s gospel in the Roman Rite?!) The UGCC parish here is very tiny like our Russian parish. I’m hoping one of these days our clergy will give the OK for us to get a PSA up on the local Catholic Radio station. St. Basil’s Ruthenian CC has one and I hear it frequently, inviting people to come experience the Divine Liturgy. They also have a Facebook page and Fr. Anthony himself has a FB page he is active on. At a recent “mixer” on the Cathedral Christ the Light plaza six of us were there- two Orthodox, 1 Latin, 3 ECs and we all spoke with the bishop and let him know where we are from. Luckily this bishop has close ties to Fr. Loya and to HRM monks so he knows the ECs well.

I haven’t personally experienced the need to be defensive with Latin Catholics about being EC or about our Churches. (I’m not talking about here on CAF but in person.) People are usually very curious when they learn I’m Greek Catholic and they often have questions or comment that they were once at an Orthodox Church and how beautiful the service was.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I agree with everything you said.

To me, the answer is almost always education and exposure. If we teach people properly to begin with, these things will either A) not happen; or B) get better. If people are exposed to it (whether they like it or not) they will be forced to learn at least the bare minimum.

I have been hoping for some time to see more Eastern Catholic material on EWTN. Priests like Fr. Pacwa who can celebrate in both rites, ought to have a show called “East meets West” (or something like that) were he highlights both Rites and teaches people the truths that exist between the two. There also should be shows that are dedicated Byzantine in focus, particularly with the Eastern Church growing in the US the way it seems to be.

I am hopeful that with the renewal of catechesis that is currently going on, that things will get better.

Right. The most difficult part is the attitude. I don’t know why every time I talk about catechesis on the East people assume I’m going to teach them in-depth Eastern theology (which I myself have to get a firm grasp on). Its a difficult task but we need to start doing something about it otherwise nothing will happen if no one does anything. I met one of our priests over the weekend (UGCC) who does teaching sessions on the Eastern Churches. Too bad he lives far from where I am, otherwise he could do that thing here. But at least he can be a resource in some way.

Welcome to the Eastern Catholic Church!! We have been treated as second class Catholics since we arrived here in North America…looks like some things never change!!

I was very close to getting a life size St. Alexis Toth icon for my home

I don’t want to open that can of worms, but many parents have had little catechesis themselves. And family attendance at Mass is spotty even when the kids are preparing for their sacraments.

This is a universal problem in our Church nowadays. Not only with catechisis, but many parents detach themselves from the life of their children. I’m glad that my wife and I agreed to follow-up on whatever our child learns in daycare. And we do make him pray before meals and before going to bed. He’s 18 months today

It sounds like you didn’t really have relationships established with others in the parish at the point where you moved over to the UGCC. Half of what keeps me at this Latin parish is “my peeps” there. We go to coffee after daily Mass. I go to the parish wide events. I’ve presented at the close of Masses to the parish for things like the Bishop’s Appeal and Cathedral Sunday so people know my face and are always friendly towards me.

I would have said I was close to the priest but now I do not know. There was some kind of purge. The previous pastor was reassigned, the previous catechism coordinator also quit (thats another story) but the other teachers do know me. The priest regularly asks me to fix his computer or cable TV or whatever and I do so for free. I even re-did the parish website.

If we don’t mix with Latin Catholics how will they come to know us, not just know something about Eastern Catholic Churches?

My fear right now is that the parents might react the same negative way and cause issues. I’ll find other ways to help catechize people but being there with people who is suspicious about my Catholicity won’t be healthy, especially for the kids.

We’ve talked about this before in the EC section. I don’t check my Greek Catholic self at the door when I come in. When I’m at Mass I cross myself EC style, I cross myself, right to left and bow, when the Mother of God is mentioned and the Holy Trinity, and at special petitions,as I would in the Litanies in DL etc… There is an icon in the church and I venerate it when I come in. I wear my chotki on my wrist. People often comment on the Coptic cross I wear.

Of course, but those issues are not mine. They’re afraid I’m going to teach Eastern praxis rather than Western. And its not like I’ll be discussing Immaculate Conception with the kids. Even mortal/venial sins might be too much for 8-year olds, I was planning on using the 10 commandments to give them a gauge on whether they did the right thing or not. And I’m not going to discuss Transubstantiation, again its too deep. A simple discussion on the Real Presence I believe is enough at this stage.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I put notices in the parish bulletin, and the Diocese newspaper, about EC programs happening on EWTN, or a particular topic that Fr. Loya has done on his radio show, I post encouraging people to come to Pre-sanctified Liturgy to experience Great Lent in a different way. Our EC parish is doing a Panikhida at the Porziuncola Nuova on the Latin Church’s All Souls day and hopefully a number of Latin Catholic will be there again as they have been in the past.

People have to want to know about us to find out about us around here because we are tiny parishes and mostly hiding our light under a basket. (Hmmm what was today’s gospel in the Roman Rite?!) The UGCC parish here is very tiny like our Russian parish. I’m hoping one of these days our clergy will give the OK for us to get a PSA up on the local Catholic Radio station. St. Basil’s Ruthenian CC has one and I hear it frequently, inviting people to come experience the Divine Liturgy. They also have a Facebook page and Fr. Anthony himself has a FB page he is active on. At a recent “mixer” on the Cathedral Christ the Light plaza six of us were there- two Orthodox, 1 Latin, 3 ECs and we all spoke with the bishop and let him know where we are from. Luckily this bishop has close ties to Fr. Loya and to HRM monks so he knows the ECs well.

I haven’t personally experienced the need to be defensive with Latin Catholics about being EC or about our Churches. (I’m not talking about here on CAF but in person.) People are usually very curious when they learn I’m Greek Catholic and they often have questions or comment that they were once at an Orthodox Church and how beautiful the service was.

Sadly that is not my experience. Everytime I have this urge to share about the Eastern faith, I’m met with suspicion. Like why is a Filipino in a Ukrainian parish (best answer, the cabbage rolls have rice and Filipinos love rice ). The problem now with parents who are nominal Catholics who want their kids to be taught catechesis because they want them to be Catholics as well, to some degree. Now if the teacher is someone who they think may not be Catholic, just imagine how that would turn out.

I was actually thinking about you and how well it works for you. I do not understand why its that case here. Ukrainians first migrated to Canada over 100 years ago. Its either they’ve remained invisible for the last century, or other people just chose to ignore them. But there is a problem right now with how Catholics treat other Catholics. And from the feedback I got speaking with some people, its not an isolated case in my corner of the continent. So I would say that you are one lucky lady to have what you have in your area.

 

[5Loaves]

Sadly that is not my experience. Everytime I have this urge to share about the Eastern faith, I’m met with suspicion. Like why is a Filipino in a Ukrainian parish (best answer, the cabbage rolls have rice and Filipinos love rice ).

Our Russian parish is quite a mix of backgrounds. After all this is San Francisco and we have a lot of ever culture here. I was happy that on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross my “pious son” who is Chinese was serving as altar server when about 16 visitors from the Latin parish a few blocks away came to join us. I think 2 of them weren’t Chinese. They hadn’t been to DL before and it was great how they joined in (no service books) singing the responses, and readily got down for the prostrations. I hope some will come back for more visits!

I was actually thinking about you and how well it works for you. I do not understand why its that case here… So I would say that you are one lucky lady to have what you have in your area.

Well, it hasn’t helped our numbers increase… yet… though we do have a couple of young couples seeming to join us now, and a couple other young singles coming more often.

I would suggest that since I am old enough to be your mom, if not your grandmother, it is quite possible that there is some reverse age discrimination going on in my favor and against you in our circumstances per your main topic.

 

[TimothyH]

I’ll remember your situation in my prayers. Perhaps God is “shutting” this door because he has opened another even better door somewhere else for you.

That’s what I was thinking. Trust God and don’t force the issue.

-Tim-

 

[Vico]

…I’m sorry Vico, I know how much a stickler you are for canon law. But when you are shunned by Roman Catholics, that pretty much says you are not one of them. Canon law at this point is just a piece of paper which has not effect on one’s soul or salvation.

No need to be sorry. You choose to stop going to that parish and although still a member of the Latin Church, you simply cannot quality for catechist. It is not personal.

 

[5Loaves]

It sounds like you didn’t really have relationships established with others in the parish at the point where you moved over to the UGCC. Half of what keeps me at this Latin parish is “my peeps” there. We go to coffee after daily Mass. I go to the parish wide events. I’ve presented at the close of Masses to the parish for things like the Bishop’s Appeal and Cathedral Sunday so people know my face and are always friendly towards me.
ConstantineTG;8380751:

I would have said I was close to the priest but now I do not know. There was some kind of purge. The previous pastor was reassigned, the previous catechism coordinator also quit (thats another story) but the other teachers do know me. The priest regularly asks me to fix his computer or cable TV or whatever and I do so for free. I even re-did the parish website.

I meant close to the ordinary folks in the pews, the general congregation.
I do also definitely have a strong connection with the priest in that parish, and the deacon, and obviously the DRE, but that isn’t really what constitutes a connection to a parish.

They’re afraid I’m going to teach Eastern praxis rather than Western. And its not like I’ll be discussing Immaculate Conception with the kids. Even mortal/venial sins might be too much for 8-year olds, I was planning on using the 10 commandments to give them a gauge on whether they did the right thing or not. And I’m not going to discuss Transubstantiation, again its too deep. A simple discussion on the Real Presence I believe is enough at this stage.

I wouldn’t expect you’d have the option to make up your own lesson plans for children. Our parish has the catechesis laid out for the catechists-- otherwise you’d never get anyone to offer to teach the kids if they had to come up on their own with appropriate, approved materials for lessons. It’s usually connected with weekly scripture and the liturgical year, organized to systematically address the topics that need to get covered before children receive First Communion and Confirmation.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Our Russian parish is quite a mix of backgrounds. After all this is San Francisco and we have a lot of ever culture here. I was happy that on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross my “pious son” who is Chinese was serving as altar server when about 16 visitors from the Latin parish a few blocks away came to join us. I think 2 of them weren’t Chinese. They hadn’t been to DL before and it was great how they joined in (no service books) singing the responses, and readily got down for the prostrations. I hope some will come back for more visits!

Vancouver is quite diverse as well. However I’m starting to believe what they say about how Canada integrates the multi-ethnic people here with the US. The US is a borg style assimilation. Everyone can be -American, but they are still American. In Canada you are not forced to be Canadian. What happens is people of different ethnic groups remain in their ethnic circles. In cases like this, it doesn’t work well. Most people won’t dare go into a place with a certain ethnicity identified with it. This case, a Ukrainian Church.

Well, it hasn’t helped our numbers increase… yet… though we do have a couple of young couples seeming to join us now, and a couple other young singles coming more often.

I would suggest that since I am old enough to be your mom, if not your grandmother, it is quite possible that there is some reverse age discrimination going on in my favor and against you in our circumstances per your main topic.

I mean its working well that no one thinks you’re a Protestant. At least they acknowledge you are Catholic.

Not sure about reverse age discrimination, but truly in places I frequent its very uncommon for those of my age to be so involved. I know in bigger parishes with more active youth ministries, a lot of those involved in youth ministries eventually become Catechists. I meet a lot during the quarterly “Institute” catechist training by the archdiocese.

No need to be sorry. You choose to stop going to that parish and although still a member of the Latin Church, you simply cannot quality for catechist. It is not personal.

Well, like I said, if parish membership was the only issue I wouldn’t have made a fuss of it. But when people make issues about my being a “non-practicing” Roman Catholic or suggest that I cannot teach First Communion because “its a way of life” that is foreign to me, then it is personal and very wrong.

I meant close to the ordinary folks in the pews, the general congregation.
I do also definitely have a strong connection with the priest in that parish, and the deacon, and obviously the DRE, but that isn’t really what constitutes a connection to a parish.

I know quite a number of folks there. My wife was a member of the choir and the regulars of the 9am Sunday Mass know me quite well. A lot of the teachers know me as well, that is why I got some support from them. But the coordinator and the pastor are both new from mid-last year.

I wouldn’t expect you’d have the option to make up your own lesson plans for children. Our parish has the catechesis laid out for the catechists-- otherwise you’d never get anyone to offer to teach the kids if they had to come up on their own with appropriate, approved materials for lessons. It’s usually connected with weekly scripture and the liturgical year, organized to systematically address the topics that need to get covered before children receive First Communion and Confirmation.

Yes, we have approved material and I already have my hands on the teachers manual and preparing for the upcoming school year before what happened, happened. I don’t plan to go away from what is expected from me. I care too much.

 

[ciero]

Vancouver is quite diverse as well. However I’m starting to believe what they say about how Canada integrates the multi-ethnic people here with the US. The US is a borg style assimilation. Everyone can be -American, but they are still American. In Canada you are not forced to be Canadian. What happens is people of different ethnic groups remain in their ethnic circles. In cases like this, it doesn’t work well. Most people won’t dare go into a place with a certain ethnicity identified with it. This case, a Ukrainian Church.

I mean its working well that no one thinks you’re a Protestant. At least they acknowledge you are Catholic.

Not sure about reverse age discrimination, but truly in places I frequent its very uncommon for those of my age to be so involved. I know in bigger parishes with more active youth ministries, a lot of those involved in youth ministries eventually become Catechists. I meet a lot during the quarterly “Institute” catechist training by the archdiocese.

Well, like I said, if parish membership was the only issue I wouldn’t have made a fuss of it. But when people make issues about my being a “non-practicing” Roman Catholic or suggest that I cannot teach First Communion because “its a way of life” that is foreign to me, then it is personal and very wrong.

I know quite a number of folks there. My wife was a member of the choir and the regulars of the 9am Sunday Mass know me quite well. A lot of the teachers know me as well, that is why I got some support from them. But the coordinator and the pastor are both new from mid-last year.

Yes, we have approved material and I already have my hands on the teachers manual and preparing for the upcoming school year before what happened, happened. I don’t plan to go away from what is expected from me. I care too much.

Unfortunately Constantine it’s the kids who will suffer, for them to miss out of having a teacher who actually knows and loves the faith as you do is a big loss they will suffer. It’s just to bad for the kids!

 

[Vico]

…
Well, like I said, if parish membership was the only issue I wouldn’t have made a fuss of it. But when people make issues about my being a “non-practicing” Roman Catholic or suggest that I cannot teach First Communion because “its a way of life” that is foreign to me, then it is personal and very wrong…

I must have misunderstood what you said. I thought I understood that they first want regularly attending members of their parish, and secondly only those that will teach a way of life to the first communion-ers, because you said "The person in charge said that teaching First Communion is “not teaching a subject about Communion, but teaching a way of life, including the Roman Rite.”

My thought is that one would first need to proove that they have been practicing the Latin Church rituals to set the example for the children being instructed. It is similar to the requirement I encountered when I transferred to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I was first required to attended there for the immediate two years before application for tranfer, with a letter of recommendation also.

There must be more to it.

 

[ciero]

I must have misunderstood what you said. I thought I understood that they first want regularly attending members of their parish, and secondly only those that will teach a way of life to the first communion-ers, because you said "The person in charge said that teaching First Communion is “not teaching a subject about Communion, but teaching a way of life, including the Roman Rite.”

My thought is that one would first need to proove that they have been practicing the Latin Church rituals to set the example for the children being instructed. It is similar to the requirement I encountered when I transferred to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I was first required to attended there for the immediate two years before application for tranfer, with a letter of recommendation also.

There must be more to it.

Yeah the lack of understanding of what Catholic means.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I must have misunderstood what you said. I thought I understood that they first want regularly attending members of their parish, and secondly only those that will teach a way of life to the first communion-ers, because you said "The person in charge said that teaching First Communion is “not teaching a subject about Communion, but teaching a way of life, including the Roman Rite.”

My thought is that one would first need to proove that they have been practicing the Latin Church rituals to set the example for the children being instructed. It is similar to the requirement I encountered when I transferred to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I was first required to attended there for the immediate two years before application for tranfer, with a letter of recommendation also.

There must be more to it.

My follow up question to the person that never got answered was what is the difference between the Sacramental life of an Eastern Catholic from a Western Catholic. I mean, we all know and acknowledge in this forum that there is a long list of difference in beliefs between East and West, but Communion as a Christian way of life is definitely one of the things that is the same East and West. Am I right?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Unfortunately Constantine it’s the kids who will suffer, for them to miss out of having a teacher who actually knows and loves the faith as you do is a big loss they will suffer. It’s just to bad for the kids!

Thanks for your vote of confidence. I remember last year you were teasing me that I was Eastern Catholic for all of three days Well I guess this proves that it doesn’t really take a long time for one to be considered “non practicing” Roman Catholic.

The kids will be fine. They might suffer more if they are made to think they were taught by a “non-Catholic” like myself.

 

[Vico]

My follow up question to the person that never got answered was what is the difference between the Sacramental life of an Eastern Catholic from a Western Catholic. I mean, we all know and acknowledge in this forum that there is a long list of difference in beliefs between East and West, but Communion as a Christian way of life is definitely one of the things that is the same East and West. Am I right?

No, although in east and west it is the third Holy Mystery received.

East

The sacramental discipline of the eastern Churches that have infant communion is that the Holy Spirit nuture the child throughout their development, and that they are initiated as soon as possible. We are baptised into the life of the Most Holy Spirit which is only complete by reception of the Body and Blood with the rest of the believing community. That is why we say: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his boood, you do not have life within you.” – John 6:23

St. John Chrysotsom states: “…we baptize even infants, although they are sinless, that they may be given the further gifts of sanctification, justice, filial adoption, and inheritance, that they may be brothers and members of Christ, and become dwelling places of the Spirit.” – John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction 3:6.

If an infant will profit from baptism then also by the Eucharist.

CCEO Canon 697
Sacramental initiation in the mystery of salvation is perfected in the reception of the Divine Eucharist, and thus the Divine Eucharist is administered after baptism and chrismation with holy myron as soon as possible according to the norms of the particular law of the each Church sui iuris.

West

In the western tradition, some have not even included the Holy Eucharist as a sacrament of initiation, rather baptism and confirmation make one fully initiated, and then able to receive the Holy Eucharist, but recently the restored order has been emphasized (1910, Pope Pius X) with Confirmation followed by the first Communion at age of discretion (7), when they can discriminate between bread and the Body of Christ. It is a commitment to Christ and the Church, with understanding, which is a different discipline than that of the east, emphasizing the constant nuturing of the Holy Spirit from infancy. We see it is delayed, along with confirmation, for understanding of the faith to preceed. Then each communicant is enabled to rediscover the meaning of baptism and confirmation. In the west the Holy Eucharist is to be frequently received, even apart from the Mass The Holy Eucharist is the memorial of Christs saving death and resurrection recalling the covenant on Calvary and the perfect fulfillment in the Messianic banquet.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

If that person can teach and has proven that can teach Eastern theology, then why not? Thing is, I wasn’t a stranger who just walked into the parish and volunteered myself. I was part of that parish for a year and a half and was an active catechist. I’m not some random Eastern Catholic they called up from the street.

Fair enough. My questions were to possibly spur thought not to suggest what the policy should actually be.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Very sad. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[TrueLight]

Okay, I’m going to be the lone voice.

First of all Constantine, I am sorry you are experiencing discrimination. I am sure their decision to not let you teach is at least based on ignorance and fear of the unknown.

And I hope you know how much I respect you, so I hope you won’t take too much offense at what I’m about to say, which should come as no surprise.

Based on that long, recently active and contentious thread on mortal versus venial sin, where some Eastern Catholics were retorting that they should keep their own theology, and not abide by Latin theology, why would a Roman Catholic want someone who is transfering to the Eastern Catholic church to teach latin Catholic children theology?

I know you are well versed in Roman Catholic Theology, but how is a Pastor or a Director of Education to be assured that you will not mix up theologies?

What would you say if the child asks, What is the job of the Pope? Or what is the Immaculate Conception or what is a mortal sin? Would you say, in the Roman Church, such and such but in the Eastern Church, such and such.

That is great for adults, but for children? Or will you take off the Eastern hat and put on the Latin hat when teaching?

I know it was pointed out that there are Eastern Catholics who provide catechesis to latin rite Catholics, but you are new to the Eastern Church. And you are transferring for a reason.

 

[kitkatty]

Constantine will obviously answer for himself here but since he taught them before he is obviously qualified. From his posts on this thread he has said he wouldnt try to confuse kids, so I really dont see him putting the Eastern theology along with the Western, particularly since it seems the kids in question are second or third graders.