What is Full Communion?

[Silvereel]

From what I can tell being in “Full Communion” with the Catholic Church means that church (insert name here) can share the Eucharist with Catholics. How exactly is this decided, and what else does being in Full Communion do? Do the churches who are in full communion with the Catholic Church have to reconize the authority of the Pope?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Do the churches who are in full communion with the Catholic Church have to reconize the authority of the Pope?

The churches in full communion are the Eastern Catholic Churches (sometimes - improperly - called “Eastern Rite Churches”). These are churches which historically broke away from the unity of Rome, but later rejoined. Being “in full communion” means fully accepting the authority of the Pope and the dogmatic decrees of the Magesterium. Otherwise, these churches are largely autonomous, with their own hierarchy, liturgy, and customs.

 

[Verbum]

Hi, Silver,

From what I can tell being in “Full Communion” with the Catholic Church means that church (insert name here) can share the Eucharist with Catholics

“Full communion” does not refer per se to the Eucharist. It refers to Catholic communities only, especially, as said above, to those who were once separated and have come back. “Communion” here is akin to “community”.

On the other hand, the Church can admit to the sacraments individual members of separated churches. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church :

****1401 ****When, in the Ordinary’s judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions.

Verbum

 

[PJM]

From what I can tell being in “Full Communion” with the Catholic Church means that church (insert name here) can share the Eucharist with Catholics. How exactly is this decided, and what else does being in Full Communion do? Do the churches who are in full communion with the Catholic Church have to reconize the authority of the Pope?

Actually as normally applied to Catholics, it referes to the humble and complete assent of mind and will to All, that is All Catholic Dogmas, Doctrines and Official Papal Teachings on all matters relating to Faith and or Morals. [Cannon Law #'s 752,753, and 754]

It means to be totally in conformity to Papal and Magistrium Teachings. It specifficaly binds Bishops, Priest, religious and all Lay Catholcis.

It means that a great many are NOT in Communion at the present time. Let us pray!

 

[mardukm]

From what I can tell being in “Full Communion” with the Catholic Church means that church (insert name here) can share the Eucharist with Catholics. How exactly is this decided, and what else does being in Full Communion do? Do the churches who are in full communion with the Catholic Church have to reconize the authority of the Pope?

It is exactly as you surmise. The Eucharist is the SOURCE of our ontological unity. The Magisterium is the source of our doctrinal unity. Correct doctrine is the BASIS of our unity, And recognition and acceptance of the primatial authority of the Pope is - AMONG OTHERS - one of the main EVIDENCES of our unity.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[ProlifeMD]

Not all Eastern Catholics were necessarily separated from the church and came back. When the Portugese arrived in India, they found Eastern Christians only separated by distance. There may be other similar cases. Eastern Catholics have a different rite and tradition but are not separated on matters of faith as stated above. They are just as Catholic as Latins, not add ons. Since I can trace my ancestry to Vikings, I am pretty sure that many of these groups were Catholic 500 to 800 years before my English forefathers.

 

[cameron_lansing]

The bonds of full communion are identified in canon 205: Those baptized are fully in communion with the Catholic Church on this earth who are joined with Christ in its visible structure by the bonds of profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance.