www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Converting to Maronite Church

I know that I should contact that actual church in my area as they probobly differ from church to church, but does anyone know the general process of joining the Maronite church?

A little background:
Born in Florida
Raised Protestant
Baptised Methodist (tripple emersion)
Have been attending a RC church for 1 year.
Have been studying the Orthodox church for about 4 years and the Catholic church seriously for 1.5 years.

Does the Maronite church have a sort of RCIA or is it more like some other churches where one is expected to attened for a period of time and talk with the priest for a while and then there is the Baptism and/or Christmation?

Thanks for any information that anyone can give me!

In His Name,
Stephen

Stephen, with the newer Eastern Code of Canons the process has been greatly simplified. You simply write to the bishop of the church sui iuris you wish to be received by stating your request, and they will take it from there. The receiving bishop will share your request with the RC diocese, to assure there are no canonical impediments to your transferral.

Eventually a rescript is prepared which you sign with witnesses in the church that is receiving you, and copies are sent to the Latin diocese you are transferring from.

Diak,

Thanks for the speedy reply! Does it matter or is the process the same if I am not Catholic (RC or EC)? I am still Protestant as I have not been initiated or recieved into the RC church, I have just been attending for the last year.....

Thanks!!!!

In His Name,
Stephen

Seems to me, given that you are formally, canonically, and technically Protestant and not Latin, you can just contact your local Maronite parish priest and ask for:

-Instruction (however they do it at that parish) and

-Reception into the Catholic Communion in the Maronite Church.

You need not, imo, contact the bishop at all. I believe that that only is requisite if you are an RC or are transferring from one autonomous Catholic church to another Catholic Church.

So what's your local Maronite parish like?

What attracts you to the Maronites?

You have you been attending the Latin Church, have you also been attending the Maronite Church too?

Christ is Baptised!

Herb

Steve,

Herb is correct. There is no need to involve the bishop. I suspect the Maronites have a catechetical process similar to most of the Eastern Churches, which is more one-on-one generally with the priest (the smaller numbers usually don't justify an RCIA-type group process).

You don't say whether or not you've been attending the Service of the Holy Mysteries in a Maronite parish during your time of discernment. If not, the priest would likely suggest that you do.

If you've been attracted by the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church, you may find the Maronite Church more westernized than you are used to (unless you've been attending a Western Rite Orthodox church). You might want to look at Captivated by Your Teachings: a Resource Book for Adult Maronite Catholics, by Fr. Anthony J. Salim. I think it's available directly from Father Anthony salim48@aol.com

Many years,

Neil

Well, there are several reasons for choosing the Maronite church over other EC's in my area. First off, I have not actually attended their services as of yet, I have read much about them including their history and particular expression of the Catholic faith. I have been interested and studying the Eastern traditions for several years (culminating in contacting a priest from the Coptic church but not converting for several reasons).

I knew of the Eastern Catholics through my studies, but have come closer to the Catholic church due to my becoming engaged to a RC in April of last year. I personally am more comfortable with the Eastern way of explaining things and worship. I know that the Maronite church is very similar to RC in the style of worship, but with a Eastern flavour. I feel that for my famiarity and Eastern leanings this would be a good church to at least start a contact with.

Another particular advantage for me is that the nearest EC church to me is the Maronite mission here in Tampa. To be honest, this is how I came to learn about the Maronites to begin with. I would very much like to join this church after what I have studied, but I still must attend their service.

I am familiar with and have attended Orthodox services (Russian, and Coptic) as well as the RC service. I am fine with a more Latin approach than a typical Orthodox DL; as Neil has explained the Maronite DL to be.

From what I read the DL is very similar to a Latin NO Mass. If this is so I would very much like it. I personally love both the NO and the DL at Russian services, true they are very different, but there is assuridly beautiy in both.

So, any help on converting or simply anything on what to expect would be very welcome! Oh, the church that the mission is meeting at used to be a RC parish, so I expect that it will still be very Latinized as it were.

In His Name,
Stephen

Sorry for the confusion, Steve. I should have read your post entirely. I wrongly assumed you were an RC wanting to change churches, as I answer those questions quite frequently. But I see now you are Protestant after actually reading the entire thing.

That's even easier. After catechesis, you get received by Chrismation and Communion (assuming the priest is comfortable with the baptism). No bishop is needed, and you work directly with the pastor of the parish you are joining.

According to the current view of many canon lawyers - a view which I emphatically do NOT share and which I consider to be hopelessly absurd - a Protestant is somehow or other an incipient Roman Catholic, and therefore the Protestant needs some sort of permission from the RC bishop before being allowed to join the Maronites! This is completely idiotic (a logical consequence is that virtually no one has an inherent "right" to join the Maronites, since there is no non-Catholic branch of that Church), and it is certainly not consistent with the strong tradition of freedom of religion found in many countries nowadays. My advice to anyone who tries to assert this canonical impediment is to ignore it.

Incognitus

Incognitus,

The Canon Law expert at EWTN Q&A, who is Ukrainian Catholic, makes this case:

Question:
Bob,

A small correction. While the Latin and Eastern Codes require an Orthodox joining the Catholic Church to be enrolled in the appropriate Eastern Catholic Church, a Protestant may choose any sui iuris Catholic Church.

"Canon 30 Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See."

Thank you for good work and I commend you for knowledge of Eastern Catholic Churches.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Answer:
Hi Fr. Deacon,

This is a wrong interpretation of canon law that Eastern Catholics have claimed for a while. The previous law prior to the promulgation of the 1990 Eastern Code permitted this. However, this is indeed NOT the case anymore. Canon 35 of the Eastern Code reads, "baptized non-Catholics coming into full communion with the Catholic Church should retain and practice their own rite everywhere in the world and should observe it as much as humanly possible. Thus, they are to be enrolled in the Church sui iuris of the same rite with due regard for the right of approaching the Apostolic See in special cases of persons, communities or regions."

Again, as a result of this canon, I respectfully disagree with you. There is no canon which says what you have asserted. At the age of 14, anyone can choose which Church sui iuris they join IN VIRUTE OF BAPTISM. The canon you cite only applies when someone is about to be baptized, not when someone HAS BEEN ALREADY BAPTIZED. When someone who has already been baptized wants to become Catholic, we follow CCEO canon 35.

Thank you for your kind words.

Please email us back if anything remains unclear.

Peace and all the best, Bob


However, in the end all this pretty moot. Most Latin priests will accept an Orthodox convert, and most Byzantine priests will accept a Protestant convert regardless of canons and the convert will live his faith life happily and without problems.

ChristianSteve,

Greetings. Please check out the below website. We have many members from Tampa who attend the weekly Divine Liturgy. We are just up the road from Tampa, and everyone is so wonderful. My wife "was" protestant, but was received into the church last Pascha, 2004. Our priest, Fr. Tim, is absolutely fantastic! Also, this Sunday, after Liturgy, will be our Adult Theological Discussion group in the Rectory, starting at 11:30. Would really love to have you attend. We have one of the best Cantors in the Eparchy!

http://www.stanne-byzcath.org

Please feel free to PM if you wish if you have any questions.

Michael (a sinner)

Incognitus, Deacon Lance is right. Would you like the particular canon?
I think we have discussed this in another post somewhere.
Stephanos I

Shlomo Stephen,

I am a Maronite, and if you wish e-mail me, and I will help you out.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

thanks for the reply Yuhannon! I will PM you in a minute!

In His Name,
Stephen

Michael,
thanks for the invite! I might try to make it up there sometime! I will be sure to let you know beforehand if I do!

In His Name,
Stephen

The cannon codes are curious indeed!! Hmm, how does it apply to someone that is of British origin and knows full well of Britains former association with a more "Orthodox" church? Or I should even say their contacts with the Byzantine world? Perhapse I could be said to be going back to my "roots" in the British church that was more "Orthodox" in approach and pratice. !

In His Name,
Stephen