www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Dealing with Family who are still RC

Hi, JW. Is it called "conversion" when you switch Rites within the Catholic Church? I always thought it was just called switching Rites...? (Genuinely baffled and clueless here.)

Also--I've been told it's OK to attend a Byzantine parish regularly without ever formally swtiching Rites. Is this true? I understand the Rite-switching process is pretty arduous.

Thanks for any enlightenment you can provide....

ZT

Shlomo (Peace in Aramaic) Zoe,
Actually switching from the Roman Church to an Eastern Church is quite easy, but switching from an Eastern Church is quite hard.

A good friend of mine that I use to live with began to attend Church with me. He was Roman Catholic but never attended services as a teenager or adult. He fell in love with my Church (The Maronite Church) and all he had to do is have the parish priest write a letter to our bishop stating that he has been attending our Church for a number of years and was active in it. Our bishop then contacted his Latin counter-part asking that he be transfered. That bishop consented and the paper work was sent to Rome for a pro forma approval.

Rome and the Latin Church discourage Easterners from becoming Roman on the otherhand since there are so few of us.

I hope this has helped you.

Poosh BaShlomo (Stay in Peace),
Yuhannon

ZT...
I did mention your request to him...I got a smile but no reply. Might I suggest that some of you from up there make the loooooong trek to Cary and ask in person...come Sunday for our New Years Eve party It will be blast.

ZT wrote:
The actual term is "canonical transfer". You're correct - we cannot be converting because we already belong to the Church (just a different Church within the Church ).

Ladyhawke wrote:

I agree... I've seen him and he doesn't look like he could be dragged anywhere very easily

Slava Isusu Christu!

Glenn
;-)##

Hello I'm fairly new here but I wanted to share this with those of you who have RC family. I never knew anything about the Eastern church and
if anyone would have told me that they are just as Catholic as I am I would not have believed it. In the town I live in we have 3 or 4 RC churches so I never knew anything about the Eastern church. One day we got a new Pastor who is bi-ritual. I feel very lucky to have a bi-ritual priest as our pastor but from things he says not everyone is as happy with him as I am. I have gone to a Byzantine Liturgy when he was serving there and it was beautiful but then I love the RC mass also. Father is the best speaker I've ever heard.
If you take the time and teach your family the differences I'm sure they will come around.

I can only add my experience here....I do reccomend the videos that everyone is talking about.


My husband is on paper RC, He has yet to change rites. From what I understand as well, the process is not that hard. I have known a couple of people who have done it. My in laws seem to be ok with it. They are not "so catholic" to begin with. I think they are content that my husband has faith. They have a pretty good understanding of "the other lung" of the Catholic church.

Me, on the other hand... I have a weird story...
My mom is methodist (not practicing) and my father is Serbian Orthodox.(also not practicing) I was never baptised. (until I became Byzantine Catholic in 2002) I haven't experienced any negativity except from a few peers who think that I have given up being Serbian. :p So yes, the church does provide some form identity. I think that is why so many remain RC (or Orthodox) despite the fact that they do not agree with the churches teachings.

Hi Vie!

Yep, I "followed" you here. :p

My family doesn't really care, but I've talked to some RC's who have never heard of the Eatern rites, and some act as if I've left the Church. UGH! Oh well, whaddaya gonna do?

My pastor is also bi-ritual, but because he's the pastor now he's going completely Byzantine.

If I couldn't have Byzantine liturgy, I'd go to a church that offers a licit Tridentine Mass... can no longer participate in the novus ordo Mass with a clear conscience.

Dear: LadyHawk,

Christ Is In Our Midst!


I got my Filipino 78 year old to regonize that Byzantine Catholics were catholics, she goes a majority of the time with me and my mom to divine liturgy and recieves communion there. If i can get my 78 year old Grandma who is Filipino (Known for their hardheadedness) to relized what ByzCaths are, i think you can get your mom to understand, it might take a little bit of slaping her around saying read this and your coming with me, to church. Do what ever it takes. We need to get these Romans out of there Grave of Ignorance. That drives me crazy. I even helped in the conversion of my mom to Byzantine Catholicism, which was a Miricale from God, with the help of our lady of Mt. Carmel who I asked every day for my moms conversion.

In Christ +
Daniel
Any thing is Possiable!

"Slapping her around" because she doesn't understand Byzantine Catholicism? Maybe you meant this to be funny, but it's not.

thats because you have no sense of humor.
wake her up give her a little shake. HEY MOM IM CATHOLIC. thats what i did to my mom, and now she is a faithfully devote byzantine catholic.

In Christ +
Daniel

I find that sad, are you sure it's your conscience that will not let you participate in the Missa Normativa?

Michael

Uh, are you serious, Daniel?

Have you checked out my Avatar?

OK, but you know what i meant, i wouldnt really do
any thing like that to my mom. Give me a break.
I was just trying to emphasize my point.

In Christ+
Daniel

Daniel,

I'm elated that your mom is Byzantine Catholic. But I don't know if we should be praying for Latins to convert to the Byzantine Churches or vice versa, unless of course the person of concern simply cannot forge on in his current sui iuris Church.

Logos Teen