what am I?

[lexieG]

My birthparents were married in the Catholic church, even tough my father was Greek Orthodox. Mother made the promises to raise kids Catholic etc, however she passed away shortly after I was born. I stayed with my bio father for about 18 mos, but he then remarried, long story short, he “gave” me to my mother’s family who ended up adopting me (my Parents). We never had contact with my biodad after this, and since there was no certificate of baptism amongst my papers, my parents had me baptized in the Catholic Church. I had all the sacraments. Then recently I met a relative of my bio dad who claims she was my Godmother and that I had been baptized in the Greek church. I consider myself Catholic and am not interested in changing my faith. Does that “other” baptism invalidate my sacraments and do I have to go through any processes to be fully Catholic?
Thanks

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

My birthparents were married in the Catholic church, even tough my father was Greek Orthodox. Mother made the promises to raise kids Catholic etc, however she passed away shortly after I was born. I stayed with my bio father for about 18 mos, but he then remarried, long story short, he “gave” me to my mother’s family who ended up adopting me (my Parents). We never had contact with my biodad after this, and since there was no certificate of baptism amongst my papers, my parents had me baptized in the Catholic Church. I had all the sacraments. Then recently I met a relative of my bio dad who claims she was my Godmother and that I had been baptized in the Greek church. I consider myself Catholic and am not interested in changing my faith. Does that “other” baptism invalidate my sacraments and do I have to go through any processes to be fully Catholic?
Thanks

No, first of all if you were baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church that would be a valid baptism. Second your Catholic baptism was done in good faith as they could not find out if you were baptized.

You could check out the Byzantine Catholic Churches if you wanted to.

But as far as I can tell from what you have told us you are a Catholic.

You might wish to speak with your pastor on this but I doubt he would say anything different.

 

[cristyd]

My birthparents were married in the Catholic church, even tough my father was Greek Orthodox. Mother made the promises to raise kids Catholic etc, however she passed away shortly after I was born. I stayed with my bio father for about 18 mos, but he then remarried, long story short, he “gave” me to my mother’s family who ended up adopting me (my Parents). We never had contact with my biodad after this, and since there was no certificate of baptism amongst my papers, my parents had me baptized in the Catholic Church. I had all the sacraments. Then recently I met a relative of my bio dad who claims she was my Godmother and that I had been baptized in the Greek church. I consider myself Catholic and am not interested in changing my faith. Does that “other” baptism invalidate my sacraments and do I have to go through any processes to be fully Catholic?
Thanks

I have decided recently to change from the Orthodox Church to Catholic. In speaking to the priest about the procedure he told me that my baptism is valid. So I don’t think your “other” baptism invalidates your sacraments.

 

[5Loaves]

Welcome to CAF!

…Then recently I met a relative of my bio dad who claims she was my Godmother and that I had been baptized in the Greek church. I consider myself Catholic and am not interested in changing my faith. Does that “other” baptism invalidate my sacraments and do I have to go through any processes to be fully Catholic?
Thanks

You are fully Catholic.

As Br. David said, if you were indeed Baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church then you were validly baptized. Most probably you received Chrismation (Confirmation) and Holy Eucharist at that same time in the Greek church. Orthodox and Eastern Catholics celebrate all three of these Mysteries/Sacraments at the same time, at any age, including for infants.

One can only be validly baptized one time so if you were baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church (or elsewhere for that matter) then the “baptism” that was done later in your adopted family’s church had no effect- no benefit, no harm- because you already were baptized.

Your Greek Orthodox “Godmother” should be able to tell you where those Sacraments took place. I assume Orthodox Churches keep good records of these Holy Mysteries/Sacraments and so you could get a copy of that record .

If an Orthodox wishes to come into the Catholic Church nothing is required other than the desire to do so, I think usually in conjunction with confession and Eucharist, so you have truly been Catholic during all those years.

If one were baptized Greek Orthodox then normally one would have been recorded as the Eastern Catholic Church counterpart, Melkite I suppose, upon coming into the Catholic Church, even when that occurs in a Latin parish. However being adopted by a Latin Catholic family probably vacates that . Your chancery could answer that, and maybe a canonist here can.

(It is also with permission possible to have Orthodox Godparents in the Latin Church, so a Greek Orthodox could have still been your Godmother at your Baptism in the Latin Church. I assume this isn’t what happened in your case. It sounds like she told you the Baptism was in an Orthodox Church.)

I was at Orthros and Divine Liturgy in a Greek Orthodox Church this morning. Today is a very special day – the Protection of the Mother of God-- and my Eastern Catholic parish was unable to celebrate it. There is such wealth in the Greek Orthodox Church. I hope that this reconnecting with your Greek Orthodox “Godmother” might be a chance to enjoy some of your paternal heritage. It sounds like your birth father did what he felt was best for you, and indeed that you had a faithful upbringing, thanks be to God. May this recent reconnecting with this part of your family also serve to enrich your life in the Most Holy Trinity!

Glory to God in all things!

 

[Bookcat]

My birthparents were married in the Catholic church, even tough my father was Greek Orthodox. Mother made the promises to raise kids Catholic etc, however she passed away shortly after I was born. I stayed with my bio father for about 18 mos, but he then remarried, long story short, he “gave” me to my mother’s family who ended up adopting me (my Parents). We never had contact with my biodad after this, and since there was no certificate of baptism amongst my papers, my parents had me baptized in the Catholic Church. I had all the sacraments. Then recently I met a relative of my bio dad who claims she was my Godmother and that I had been baptized in the Greek church. I consider myself Catholic and am not interested in changing my faith. Does that “other” baptism invalidate my sacraments and do I have to go through any processes to be fully Catholic?
Thanks

If you were baptized Greek Orthodox…then you were also confirmed such (they confirm infants in the East…Chrismation they call it)…but likely the baptism as a Catholic may have been a “conditional Baptism” if they thought you may have been baptized. If you had been baptized and confirmed before…then the second time would not have been valid but rather the first… but it would seem that one could see them as effecting your full communion with the Catholic Church…for your intent (and parents when an infant) was for you to be Catholic…so it would seem you are (even if they were invalid due to the validity of the previous ones) Catholic. But what to do now? I would speak with your pastor and have him call the Chancery…or You can call the chancery to ask…telling them what happened. Even if you are Catholic …it may be that you need to do something more…or even officially change rites to the Roman Rite (Church) …for usually if a person converts from the Orthodox they become Eastern Catholic I believe…and have to ask to change Rites…if they want to be of the Latin (Roman) Rite…

Anyhow I would look further into what may need be done still…

 

[5Loaves]

Even if you are Catholic …

I find nothing at all in lexieG’s post that calls into question her/his begin fully Catholic since childhood. He/she received** valid sacraments**, whether those sacraments were in the Latin Catholic Church or in the Greek Orthodox Church, and by virtue of choosing to worship as a Catholic he/she has been Catholic all these years.

Orthodox do not go through the process that other validly baptized Christians go through of the Rite of Reception of Baptized Christians into the full Communion of the Catholic Church which involves a profession of faith etc. Orthodox simply ask to begin living their sacramental lives in the Catholic Church and then do so, as Catholics.

Catholics can freely worship in any of the Catholic Churches, Latin, or Eastern or Oriental, without any need to change their Church sui iuris, “rite”, status.

OP doesn’t need to have any anxieties about his her status as fully Catholic.

 

[Bookcat]

I find nothing at all in lexieG’s post that calls into question her/his begin fully Catholic since childhood. He/she received** valid sacraments**, whether those sacraments were in the Latin Catholic Church or in the Greek Orthodox Church, and by virtue of choosing to worship as a Catholic he/she has been Catholic all these years.

Orthodox do not go through the process that other validly baptized Christians go through of the Rite of Reception of Baptized Christians into the full Communion of the Catholic Church which involves a profession of faith etc. Orthodox simply ask to begin living their sacramental lives in the Catholic Church and then do so, as Catholics.

Catholics can freely worship in any of the Catholic Churches, Latin, or Eastern or Oriental, without any need to change their Church sui iuris, “rite”, status.

OP doesn’t need to have any anxieties about his her status as fully Catholic.

I did not say she was not Catholic ( I actually argued that I thought she would be) but as to the rite…it may be she needs to do something more(this is an odd situation)…even though a Catholic may freely worship in any Rite …if they were baptized etc into a particular Rite they would be of that Rite/Church…and if they wanted to change Rites they need to go through the canonical procedures. Likewise I …coming from western protestantism would be ordinarily received into the Roman Church and an Eastern Orthodox would be ordinarily be received into an Eastern Church…so I mentioned she should seek to find out more…for even if she is fully Catholic…she may need to formally do something more…(the things regarding East and West are more involved than from Protestant to Catholic)…

I do not have “greatly informed knowledge” here so I could not say anything regarding what you mentioned …but I do know it is more involved from my Melkite Priest Friend …who was a Roman Catholic and now is a Melkite Catholic. hence I said…check it out…with the Chancery…and maybe a Priest from the Greek Catholic side of things…or their chancery…

 

[lexieG]

Thanks for the responses. I will definetly talk to my parish priest and if needed contact the Chancery. Thanks again!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

But then you can change you regligion to Catholic! Instead of Catholic, sort of

Blessings:thumbsup: