Under Which Rite does a person convert?

[AnglicanForMary]

A question that has occurred to me in connection with the various Rites of the Church, If a Protestant converts to the Roman obedience, what determines which Rite that s/he comes into: i.e. Latin, Byzantine, Melkite, Ruthenian. That is, if I as a non-Roman Christian converted to Roman Catholic living in the United States of America (state of Georgia) converted, am I free to choose the expression of Catholicism I embrace,or must I embrace the rite of the parish in whose bounds I live? For instance, in the Archdiocese of Atlanta there exist alongside the ordinary Latin rite, Syro-Malabar, Melkite, Bzyantine, Ukrainian, and Marionite rites.

 

[MisterCorduroy]

Since Protestant/Evangelical churches derive from the Western tradition, a convert would be received into the Roman Rite. An Orthodox Christian would be received into Communion with Rome through the corresponding Eastern rite church: Antiochian Orthodox to Melkite, Ukrainian Orthodox to Ukrainian Catholic, etc.

Even though I attend a Roman Rite parish, I am technically Melkite since I was Antiochian Orthodox. I often attend Divine Liturgy and services at Eastern parishes to stay “connected” to my roots. If a Lutheran becomes Catholic but prefers the Byzantine Catholic Church, he would still be Roman Rite.

 

[LilyM]

Since Protestant/Evangelical churches derive from the Western tradition, a convert would be received into the Roman Rite. An Orthodox Christian would be received into Communion with Rome through the corresponding Eastern rite church: Antiochian Orthodox to Melkite, Ukrainian Orthodox to Ukrainian Catholic, etc.

Even though I attend a Roman Rite parish, I am technically Melkite since I was Antiochian Orthodox. I often attend Divine Liturgy and services at Eastern parishes to stay “connected” to my roots. If a Lutheran becomes Catholic but prefers the Byzantine Catholic Church, he would still be Roman Rite.

That’s not the whole story, though. Having been received in the Latin Rite they may then, if after serious study they feel called to one of the Eastern Rites, may apply for a canonical transfer to their rite of choice.

In the meantime, as has been pointed out, there is no bar to your attending liturgy or otherwise practicing your Catholicism in whatever Catholic rite you wish.

 

[Semper_Zelare]

Seeing that you’re an Anglican, you might want to look into the Anglican Ordinariate. Yes, they are new, and in the United States it’s even newer than in the U.K. But, there are many people calling this a new Rite of the Church.

So, whereas most Protestants would probably join the Latin Rite, and most Lebanese would join the Maronite Rite, it very well could be the case that in the future an Anglican would join the Anglican Ordinariate. Look to see if there are any parishes near you that are participating in the Anglican Ordinariate.

Again, it is quite new, so right now it’s just in it’s infancy. [But every Easter more people are being officially confirmed into this Rite]

This is the one in the U.S. : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Ordinariate_of_the_Chair_of_Saint_Peter

And this is quoted from their website Q&A

Do all former Anglicans and Episcopalians who become Catholic have to join the ordinariate?

No. They may choose to enter a local diocesan parish as an individual or to join the Ordinariate, whose parishes, while fully Catholic, will retain elements of their Anglican heritage and liturgy.

 

[ChrisRedfield47]

Seeing that you’re an Anglican, you might want to look into the Anglican Ordinariate. Yes, they are new, and in the United States it’s even newer than in the U.K. But, there are many people calling this a new Rite of the Church.

So, whereas most Protestants would probably join the Latin Rite, and most Lebanese would join the Maronite Rite, it very well could be the case that in the future an Anglican would join the Anglican Ordinariate. Look to see if there are any parishes near you that are participating in the Anglican Ordinariate.

Again, it is quite new, so right now it’s just in it’s infancy. [But every Easter more people are being officially confirmed into this Rite]

This is the one in the U.S. : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Ordinariate_of_the_Chair_of_Saint_Peter

And this is quoted from their website Q&A

Hmm quite interesting and recent.