www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West A confused father seeks advice

My wife and I are both Roman Catholics who attend our local Byzantine Catholic church. We are active members of the parish and our two young children, aged two and a half and 8 months, received their Sacraments of Initiation at our Byzantine parish. As we continue our search for which church God is calling us to, we are wrestling with several immediate questions:

1. Do the sacraments of initiation fall under jurisdiction of our Ordinary (Local RC Bishop)? If so, then,

2. Since our children are canonically Latin Catholic as we are, were their sacraments of Communion and Chrismation illicit? We understand we can't affect past sacraments, but it guides us for future children.

3. What moral responsibility do we have to follow the normative practice of our Church Sui juris i.e. allowing our children to receive sacraments according to the Eastern Tradition, which is clearly distinct from the norms of the Western church?

4. Is it illicit or otherwise inadvisable for our young children to continue receiving Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy?

5. Since our children have been Chrismated and now bear the mark of confirmation as soldiers of Christ, would withholding the grace of the Holy Eucharist spiritually deprive or endanger them?

We began questioning our current practice after reading an article calling on Eastern Catholics to adhere to the Eastern Code of Canon Law regarding reception of sacraments, even when they participate as members of Latin parishes. So we wondered if the same arguments could be made in reverse to us! We would appreciate insight into any of these issues.

Eastward Seeker,

Thanks for your post. I must first state that only your pastor can provide you with official guidance and that you should discuss your situation directly with him. Information posted on this forum should not be considered official.

1. Do the sacraments of initiation fall under jurisdiction of our Ordinary (Local RC Bishop)?

Yes. If you and your wife are canonically Roman Catholics you technically fall under the jurisdiction of the local Roman Catholic bishop.

2. Since our children are canonically Latin Catholic as we are, were their sacraments of Communion and Chrismation illicit? We understand we can�t affect past sacraments, but it guides us for future children.

The Sacraments of Initiation are licit, although there may be an irregularity in process. This assumes that both parents freely chose to have the Sacraments of Initiation administered in the Byzantine Catholic Church. It is most likely that your children are technically Roman Catholics (since you, their parents are Roman Catholics) unless you specifically intended to enroll them into the Byzantine Catholic Church and he followed the appropriate norms to do that. If you intend to raise your children in the Byzantine Church you should really make an official change of Church suri iuris (change of ritual Church) yourselves.

3. What moral responsibility do we have to follow the normative practice of our Church Sui juris i.e. allowing our children to receive sacraments according to the Eastern Tradition, which is clearly distinct from the norms of the Western church?

None. Any Catholic is free to join any other Catholic Church and worship there as long as they wish.

4. Is it illicit or otherwise inadvisable for our young children to continue receiving Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy?

No. It is perfectly acceptable for your children to continue receiving Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy. If you intended to switch back to the Latin Church it would be confusing to them but it would not be illicit.

5. Since our children have been Chrismated and now bear the mark of confirmation as soldiers of Christ, would withholding the grace of the Holy Eucharist spiritually deprive or endanger them?

Yes, it would spiritually deprive them. It would not endanger them.

The canons exist to keep good order in the Church. In general people should follow the canons of their own Particular Church.

Again, my words are unofficial. Please talk with your pastor about these issues. You will not be the first parishioners in this situation and he has the experience to best advise you.

Admin

I have a question abou Roman Catholic's first communions and the cases when children from the Western Church receive the initiation sacraments in the Eastern Rite, as it was posted before.

A Ceremony of "First Communion" is technically not "another sacrament" or a "rule" in the Western Church, so any kid can receive communion (and given that he's older so that he would be admitted to communion in the Roman parish) without problems? Or is it a requirement for RC children to have a certificate of "first communion talks" or any paperwork stating that they can receive communion? or they can just go there and take communion when they are older without any ceremony or "talks"?

Are Eastern children who are less than 7, allowed to receive communion in a Roman parish when there's no Eastern church in their town?

(sorry maybe these questions are silly, but I am curious about it)

Remie,

It would be good to discuss it with the priest before hand so he is aware that one is Eastern Rite. This avoids any confusion at the time of Communion.

Rose

Dear to Christ Adminstrator,

Technically, Children who fall under Roman Canon Law should not be Communicated until the age of reason.

per Roman Canon Law

So, for a member of the Latin Church to communicate young children would incur the Sin of Disobedience.

This can, of course be adverted by obtaining a Dispensation. If this Dispensation is something granted by a Parish Priest, or the local Ordinary, I'm not sure.

The Sacrements recieved are fully Valid and Licit however.

Yours in Christ,

Brendan

Scotus,

Thank you for your post. Parents have the choice to choose the Church suri iuris they wish their children to be baptized in. If they have a �track record� in the Byzantine Catholic Church (i.e., are known members of the local community) then the local pastor may administer the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist) without problem and these Sacramental Mysteries are completely valid and licit.

There is no sin of disobedience involved. Roman Catholic parents may enroll their child into the Byzantine Catholic Church (and vice versa). Even if they choose not to enroll their child into the Byzantine Church (wishing the child to be enrolled into the Roman Catholic Church) the Byzantine priest may administer these Sacraments. Should there be any conflict of the Eastern and Western Canons on the issue dispensations are automatic unless the local Ordinary has reserved such dispensations to himself for each case.

Again, I recommend that Eastward Seeker consult his pastor for appropriate advice.

Admin