www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West eastern or western identity???

If one's Father was baptized a Byzantine Catholic does this identity carry over to the son? I was baptized in a RC Church, but was told that I am considered to be Byzantine because of my Father's baptism and identity???

Yes. I had the exact opposite happen to me, I was born to a RC father and a Byzantine mother. I was baptized in a Byz. Church. I was told by a Byz. priest that even though I had been baptized and gone to a Byz catholic church the majority of my life, I was RC. I just changed my Rite to Byzantine recently.

In your case, it's a good thing

Indeed. I have a friend whose mom is Indian-Syrian Orthodox. Her parents joined the Catholic Church upon their migration to Malaysia. This would effectively, while participating in the ecclesial life of the Latin Church, are effectively, Syro-Malankara Catholics.

By Canon Law you would be considered Roman Catholic, unless at the time of your Baptism your parents somehow officially stated that you are a member of the Ruthenian Catholic Church (which I assumed from your colloquial use of "Byzantine Catholic"). THis is not something worth losing any sleep over because your record of Baptism is kept in the Parish you were baptized so for all practical and Spiritual reasons you are a member of whatever Church your were baptized into.

Why on earth would a Syro-Malankara Christian assert some sort of connection with the Ruthenians?

Back to reality - the mere fact of Baptism in another Local Church, whether by choice or by necessity, does not affect anyone's canonical affiliation. Thus the Catholic in question is properly a Syro-Malankara Catholic, unless a dispensation of some sort was obtained.

I hasten to add that I personally believe in freedom of religion, and find the notion of "legislating" what Church someone willy-nilly belongs to is repugnant. But the canonical rule is as I have stated it.

Fr. Serge

Bless, Father,

Two separate points are getting intermingled here. Collin is speaking of someone who translated to Catholicism from the Indian Syriac Orthodox Church but, for lack of a Syro-Malankara presence, is in the position of participating as a Latin - albeit effectively a Syro-Malankara by reason of the Canon ascribing those from Eastern/Oriental Churches of the Orthodox Communions to the counterpart Catholic Church. He raised this point as an example supporting what had been said to the OP by others.

Many years,

Neil

Erie,

Welcome to the Forum. As Father Serge has pointed out, this is not the case.

Canon 29 of the Eastern Code



As you can see, ascription of the child to a Church sui iuris other than that to which the father is ascribed occurs only if a request is made that such be done - it requires an affirmative parental assertion in favor of doing otherwise than follow the paternal enrollment NOT a parental request to follow such enrollment.

Many years,

Neil

I'm sorry that I used the term "request," but I chose to use a colloquial term.

The term "request" is not colloquial and there is no need to apologize for using it.

Fr. Serge

I appreciate all the feedback. But that isn't what I had originally asked.

W

Your question might have been better phrased, but what you asked was whether you are canonically a Byzantine Catholic, because that is what your father is/was, even though you yourself were baptized in a Roman Catholic ceremony. The very first response to your question answered, quite correctly,
"Yes".

Fr. Serge

Thank you Fr. Serge, that is exactly what I meant. Accept my apologies for not phrasing it accurately.

Walter

Sergius locutus est; causa finita est!

Blahoslovy!!!

Are you quoting St. Augustine, Fr. Serge?

Your Unworthy Son,

Eric