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The friend was baptized as a Lutheran in infancy and became Roman Catholic later in life. She's been Orthodox (GOA) about ten years, and her reason for considering the change of churches is the same old ethnic nastiness and tiresome church politics with which she has put up this whole time, which has made her all but lose faith. The nearest EC church would be about four hours away, and she has no desire to move right now. She loves Eastern spirituality, considers herself in practice and belief Eastern Christian to the core, but she would have to fulfill her Sunday Obligation at a Latin parish. So it sounds like, going by the deacon's response, that she may have to settle for the Latin Rite if she returns to Catholicism, given her situation? I suppose that she could still retain her Byzantine outlook and devotions even as a Latin Catholic. She just wants to get away from the endless power struggles in her (the only nearby) Orthodox community, and thinks the best way to do this (and spare her spiritual health and sanity) might be becoming Catholic again.

Thank God your friend is a lay person, since this clears up what could be a very complicated situation. If she wants to be a member of a Latin parish but still practice Byzantine devotions and prayers, she can attend the local Latin parish and still practice Eastern devotions without having to compromise anything. The only reason I first recommended she get received via the Eastern parish is that the Eastern priest would clearly mark it on her baptism certificate or in the parish registry that she wishes to be registered Eastern - the Latin parish may not do this since she was once Latin.. although I am not 100% sure that this would the case.

I bleive if I am correct, once Latin, always Latin, unless she seeks a change of Sui Juris Church.
But she is certainly free to attend an Eastern Church.
Stephanos I

The fact that when she was Catholic, she was Roman might make this much more painful. I'm no expert - but people I've known who went from being Catholic to Protestant, and then came back to being Catholic by just going to confession (some also attended RCIA to improve their formation, but I got the impression it was not required of them -- but that parish was all too often sketchy). In short they were treated as if they never ceased to be Catholic. Even if that course was right, Orthodoxy might be different. I imagine the priest at the Eastern parish probably thinks about these things a little more, and would be a better contact than the local Roman clergy. The Eastern parish will also be more knowledgeable about what sort of hassles she'd go through as an Eastern Catholic without an Eastern community. Most Latin priests, in my experience - if they have an understanding of the existence of Eastern Catholics - think of them as "neat ethnic parishes with nifty liturgy". The full ramifications of Eastern Catholic Churches being Churches doesn't really dawn on the average Latin priest. I think I'd definitely give the Eastern parish a call before the local Roman one if I were her.

Ah, phyletism. The curse that will not go away.