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Question for Byzantine Catholics only, please. Roman Catholics and Orthodox, you're on your honor not to answer.

If your BC Church were suddenly to be abolished, would you become Roman Cathlic or Orthodox?

I used to think I'd return to the RCC, but now the more I think about, I honestly believe I'd become Orthodox !!

NEMO

I'd go to a different EC church first.

I would do precisely what I do now. I would attend an Orthodox Church and go to a Latin rite priest for sacraments. When my Orthodox brothers and sisters are willing to accept me in communion, as I am, then I will happily accommodate them by accepting joyfully, and drink with them freely of the cup of salvation.

Eli

I goofed!! What I meant to ask was if "all BC Churches were to be abolished", not just "your BC Church".

NEMO

Dear Nemo,

As I envision your question - should Rome tell all EC's, "You are free to go where you wish, the canonical status of your EC Churches is null and void as such," where would you go?

My Church, the UGCC, would not be abolished in any way - it would continue to affirm its Eucharistic communion with Rome, even if Rome rejected the current EC relationship to itself.

I would stay with my Church, as I always have, as it is MY Church, the Church for which martyrs and confessors bled, including a few people close to me.

The only thing that would change, over time presumeably, is that Church's ability to seek closer relationships with Orthodox Churches, and the Ukrainian Orthodox in particular, including full communion with them.

Nothing would change in the way I believe about everything, including the Papacy.

But I wouldn't be able to attend Holy Communion in a Latin Catholic Church until such time as full corporate reunion is re-established, this time, with all of Orthodoxy.

The Ukrainians have a Latin Catholic tradition of their own now - many EC's under the Soviets, following the pseudo-sobor of 1946, chose to go over to the Latin Catholic Church with the result that generations have grown up within it and now call it home.

That's fine, I've always believed the UGCC should have a "Western Rite Prelature" attached to it!

Alex

Dear Eli,

If it's none of anyone's business, please say so, but I'm intrigued by your statement above.

If you attend Orthodox Divine Liturgy when there are Latin Masses readily available (and I assume so), does not your attendance at an Orthodox parish contradict Catholic rules on this matter?

May I also ask why you refuse to attend either a NO or a Tridentine Catholic Liturgy - or an EC Liturgy?

Isn't your situation a problem for either Church?

Alex

I'm not answering, but just offering a thought. I probably wouldn't have framed this question the way you have, both because abolishment is such a negative idea and is so unlikely.

I don't know exactly what type of insight you're looking for by asking this question, but I personally would move it out of the theoretical. I would ask something along the lines of "if you moved to an area with only a RC or an Orthodox church, what would you do?". Not only does it not engage with the negative implications of churches being abolished, I think it's actually a fairly realistic scenario.

Just a thought.

Andrew

My "situation" is regularized and because it is unusual I shall offer no more detailed or personal particulars at this time.

Furthermore I have not said that I do not go to an EC liturgy when I am able, or to a Latin rite when I am so inclined. I am fully and wholly Catholic.

I know, in charity, you will honor the privacy of particulars that I have requested.

Eli

http://www.cin.org/avatarGI.html on the question of tithing. By a priest of the Eparchy of Passaic, with imprimatur.

Dear Eli,

Absolutely!

Please accept my deep spiritual bow,

Alex

Staryj!! Didn't know you were here too! How have you been. Hear much from Ginnie these days?

Meant to ask, how about you? Orthodox or Latin rite? :p

Eli

Eli.

Yes.

Andrew,

Were I to move to an area with only a Roman Catholic and an Orthodox church, I'd find myself probably spending more time at church than I do now

I'd definitely attend the Roman church for my spiritual nourishment with the Precious Blood and the Most Pure Body.....and I would attend DL at the Orthodox church for my liturgical nourishment

Guess there's no such thing as "dual-citizenship" for RC's and Orthodox, huh?

NEMO

P.S. - Andrew - Thanks for having posed my question in a more positive light.

Yes, folks, I do realize that the "abolition" of a Church would be a very unlikely scenario !

NEMO

Alex,

If I recall correctly, a while back you were asking for our prayers for your discernment re: conversion to "non-papal Orthodoxy"

What happened? Did you start thinking about the issues you've brought up in response to my question (i.e., your family ties to the EC martyrs, etc.)?

NEMO