Q&A: What is the process for receiving Eastern Rite Christians?

7 thoughts on “Q&A: What is the process for receiving Eastern Rite Christians?”

  1. Nick and Diana,

    I am glad for the catechesis for everyone about Orthodox individuals wanting to enter in to Full Communion with the Catholic Church of the Latin Rite. We had a situation with 2 gentlemen this year. As you said they would be “in communion” through a corresponding Eastern Rite. In our diocese we followed all the procedures listed, but with our bishop’s approval, we announced one of the gentlemen as entering in to Full Communion with the Catholic Church (but did not use the word Candidate) as he was un-catechized and was not raised in any faith tradition. He of course, is not to celebrate (repeat) any reception of the Sacrament of Initiation . Our bishop is a Canon Lawyer recognized on the Vatican level so it was only with conversation and permission that we did this.

    We actually did not have an in-person Rite of Election and Enrollment of Names and Calling to Continuing Conversion of the Candidates. These combined Rites were to be celebrated in the parishes.But, since our Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown does have a regularly televised Mass, our Bishop included a full message on the First Sunday of Lent, to the Catechumens and Candidates as part of the Homily and I announced the names of those who would have been participating at our Cathedrals. This Mass is taped so those for whom the message was for could view it later in the day or even another day individually or as a group.

  2. I once had a Greek Orthodox person who wished to receive communion in the Roman Catholic Church, but felt that becoming a Catholic could cause hard feelings in her family. In discussing this our Archdiocesan Chancellor, I learned that she was free to receive communion in our tradition immediately as we recognize the validity of the Orthodox sacraments. No formal profession of faith in the RC was needed. We however are not welcomed to the table in Orthodox Churches.

  3. I am often confused about all the differences among the Eastern Rites…which ones are in conformity and recognized by the Latin Catholic church and which are not. Orthodox, Eastern, Greek, Coptic and so on.
    Could you give us a mini lesson on them?

      1. So I got that Eastern means in union with Rome and Orthodox means NOT in union with Rome.
        So what does Eastern Orthodox mean????This tern is used in the above article.

        1. Hi Marie,

          There are Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic rites. Eastern Catholic rites are in communion with Rome.

  4. So I got that Eastern means in union with Rome and Orthodox means NOT in union with Rome.
    So what does Eastern Orthodox mean????This tern is used in the above article.

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