www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Disappointed with EWTN's Journey Home last night

IS OUTRAGE!

lance, that is VERY much appreciated by the Orthodox on this board. You truly reflect the Spirit of 'Orientale Lumen"

Alex, as a Catholic, I agree- the Orthodox are true churches, and should not from a Catholic point of view, be looked upon as being outside the True Church.

One thing to remember about this guest is she converted from Mormomism to Catholcism this might have thrown a monkeywrench in the whole situation. Also it is quite probable their were no Russian Orthodox churchs in her area. Let's say they are Armenian Syrian Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churchs in her area its not like these churchs are anything close to being Russian Orthodox the are very different spiritualties even though they are Orthodox in some way and many times the intercommunion of these churchs are irregular or nonexistant the so called unity of Orthodoxy is actual quite different in reality Russian Orthodoxy consider themselves more Orthodox than Greeks or Copts etc in practice if not official dogma. Thus if she found other Orthodox churchs in her area that were not Russian she might have easily dismissed them. Also consider the Russian Orthodoxy she knew of was the repressed church under the Soviets I am sure the situation is much improved now so yeah I would agree here view of Orthodoxy is not representative of the situation in the Russia now or is the case in the freedom found in the USA but yeah is some regions it can be hard to find a specfic Russian Orthodox church. Also the Russian Rite in the Catholic Church has virtually dissapeared not only in Russia but in the Catholic Church her best option for her in that regard was be the Ukrainian Catholic Church but since her husband was apparently an RC that might have decided the issue for her. Also in many parts of the USA the Ukrainina Catholic Church has a very week presence and some of the middle eastern catholic rites can be very ethnocentric, so I don't think she would be comfortable there, sorry guys been my experience.
So in short I don't think Russian Orthodoxy got a fair shake on the show but I think we might be to judgemental here as to why she never checked out an Eastern Rite Catholic Church which can be hard to find or virtually unknown in some parts of the USA also her husband seemed to be devout Latin Rite RC and maybe according to canon law that decided it andyways she seems to have to found a home there and its not our spiritual life to please its hers. You guys can apply to the JOurney Home and tell your own story I guess.

Tobit, I would not say we are being judgmental- but somewhat disappointed.

It is true that all the churces in the Catholic Communion are equal in dignity.

But out of vast majority of the billion member world wide Catholic communion, the vast majority are in the Latin Church.

There comparatively only a few million of all of the rest of us in the 20-21 Eastern Churches.

By bringing up an issue like this, we are in obedience to our vocation John Paul II laid out for us in Orientale Lumen, to make our authentic traditions known in the broader church.

Well I wouldn't lay the blame at the convert who might not be aware of the eastern church after all a big part of her conversion was here RC husband and a lot of Latins in the West are just unaware not because of prejudice but ignorance.

However Marcus Grodi as a host on a catholic religious network whould be more aware of the sensitivities of the eastern part of the church and inquired a bit more. If nothing more than to make the guest aware of an equal in dignity presence the Eastern Rites have to offer other potential converts and for just plain moment to educate christians.

Tobit, well said. And again, it is not so much about "blame" no one did anyting wrong, I just wish that the show had made the connection between the guest's Orthodox/Eastern Heritage and Catholicism.

When I married my husband who is Byzantine I still retained my Roman Rite but my children were automatically Byzantine per Canon Law. All of that is conferred through the Father's Lineage (as he is the head of the household). The whole Father bequeths his heritage to the son or child thing. I have a RC Franciscan priest who recently did an entire discussion on this topic for a group of woman. It seems that today with our backwards understandings of gender that we don't understand the significance of lineage.

Holly

I guess we did a big OOOPs then. We got married in the Latin Rite because there were no Byzantine Churches in Southern OH within in a decent distance. It was quite some time before we attended the Byzantine Rite on a regular basis. But at the time it was very clearly explained to us by the RC priest who married us that I had not switched rites unless I filled out the paperwork and that the kids must be baptized Byzantine. My priest new the Canon Law because he read it to us. So some RC priests are correctly informed.

Holly

Holly,

I am not a canon lawyer, so for all I know the canon I was referring to might not be really enforced that seriously. Or, perhaps, they have done away with it. I wouldn't worry about it.

Joe

Actually, the canon in question (112, section 2) says that a spouse may transfer to the Ritual Church sui juris of the other spouse during the marriage. But it must be so declared. It is certainly not automatic. And in fact, the spouse who transferred may freely return when the marriage has ended.

REMINDER:

Deacon Joseph Pasquella, a convert from Holy Orthodoxy, will be the guest on Journey Home today Monday, April 30.

I hope he is fair and doesn't go into polemics.


O Holy Spirit our Lord and God, infuse in Father Deacon your Wisdom to speak appropriately and enlighten the world with the Light of the East. Give him the Grace necessary to educate without derision, enlighten without polemic, and illustrate without division. All Glory be to you O Lord!

Michel,

Can this be viewed on the web? I have to work tonight, so I won't be able to watch t.v.

Joe

Joe,

I think most shows on EWTN can be viewed after their initial broadcast.

Here is the link to the show.

http://www.ewtn.com/journeyhome/index.asp

Thanks Michael for the reminder!

Gordo

Yes, "the Journey Home" program on EWTN is simulcast live on TV, Radio, and on the Internet worldwide!

After each show, it is archived and can be accessed in audio format only through the CHNI website of Marcus Grodi.

The video version goes on sale, unless it was included in the "for free" re-viewing portion of the program.