what would happen?

[countertenor]

I’m not sure why I was thinking about this, but I thought I’d ask people’s opinions, just to do it.

What do you think would happen if there were a call for and it was followed, for Latin Rite Catholics in areas that are traditionally territories of other sui juris Churches to switch Churches or return (if they are historically from that area) to the given Eastern or Oriental Catholic Church?

Also what about people who may technically belong to and Eastern or Oriental Catholic Church but have only ever known the Latin Church? I know in many areas a person might not be able to find a particular Eastern/Oriental Church near them, or even a closely related one. But perhaps a program that would inform them and help them to recover some of their personal history and learn the theologies/spiritualities of their Church.

I think of areas like India where the Thomas Christians existed for centuries and then the area was flooded with Latin missionaries, who converted/translated both pagans and Christians into Latin Catholics, rather than helping the Indian Catholics who were already there to bring more people into the Church with the particular Syriac traditions of that area.

I know there are many political/social reasons for what happened there, but I’m thinking now. I also realize people who have grown up in the Latin Church might not want to translate themselves into another form of Catholic spirituality but I’m just wondering what people think would/could happen.

 

[malphono]

… What do you think would happen if there were a call for and it was followed, for Latin Rite Catholics in areas that are traditionally territories of other sui juris Churches to switch Churches or return (if they are historically from that area) to the given Eastern or Oriental Catholic Church? … but I’m just wondering what people think would/could happen

My opinion? Total disaster. The thought of such a thing sends shudders down my spine, and unless I completely misunderstand the intent of the thought, it’s absolutely contrary to the most ancient principles of the Church.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems that this would mean those of Roman Rite who happen to be (for whatever reason) in the old “Imperial East” would be forced to adopt an Eastern or Oriental usage. Similarly, it would mean that an Easterner or Oriental who happen to be (for whatever reason) in the old “Imperial West” would be forced to adopt the Roman usage. I’d jump ship and “go Orthodox” before I did that. The Church cannot and (by the Grace of God will not) force that sort of thing on the faithful.

 

[Aramis]

I agree with Maphono. it would be a disaster.

 

[countertenor]

Thanks for the replies. That’s the kind of thing I wondered about. And no I didn’t really mean I thought people should be forced to change rites, but more that if it were made more commonly available to them.

I agree that if people where forced to change based on the current geography that it could be disastrous. Of course there would be a need in Eastern Lands for Latin Churches, just as there is a need for Eastern Churches in the West.

When I said a call for, I guess I was more thinking that if say the Pope called for people to become more aware of the non Latin Churches in areas that were traditionally not Latin and see what happens. Obviously there would be plenty of Latins who would want to stay Latin, just as there are Latins who become Eastern when they are made aware of those Churches.

I grew up somewhere where many of the people had/have never heard that there are Catholic Churches other than the Latin Church. This is changing now with EWTN exposing Latins to the Eastern Churches. But these same people are the type of Latin who could go to another country and try to “convert” Catholics just because they wouldn’t realize/believe that these Catholics are Catholics. This is something that could cause concern, because this type of thing can and in the past did lead to Latinizations/Proselytizations and the introduction basically of the Latin Church into non Latin areas sort of falsely.

Anyway these are just random thoughts, and an interest in seeing the other Catholic Churches brought to more prominence in Western thought I guess.

 

[mariyka]

I am lucky to be living in a state with many Ukrainian Catholic churches. If I had to relocate to, say, Mississippi, I would not have as many options. The Eastern Catholics probably lose many members this way.

 

[Diak]

Tak pravda, Mariyka - I spend much of my time here in Kansas trying to find and contact our Ukrainian Catholic people as well as reaching out to new people. Many of our Ukrainian Catholic people have joined Latin parishes, in a few cases Orthodox parishes since until fairly recently we had no presence.

It can be quite a balancing act.