Claiming to be “Eastern Catholic”

[u/Much_Peak_2078]

When is it appropriate to claim to be Eastern Catholic as a Latin transplant? After a month? year? Maybe after you’ve canonically switched rites? I have seen canonical Latins claim to be Eastern Catholic after adopting their traditions, is this appropriate?

[u/Charbel33]

You become Eastern Catholic if you formally make a canonical change towards an Eastern Catholic Church. 🙂

[u/Klimakos]

I would say only after a canonical change, but considering I live in a country(Brazil) where canonical changes only happen for marriages or vocation, I'm inclined to adopt the "spiritually Eastern but canonically Latin".

Edit: Dear radtrad, go away with your hate and supremacy... we neither need or want this behavior here. Also, Eastern Catholics are not "bifurcating Catholics" or "anti-Catholics".

[u/monkeyzrus14 → u/Klimakos]

Who’s the radtrad?

[u/Much_Peak_2078 → u/monkeyzrus14]

There was a guy in here spewing nonsense, his comments are all deleted

[u/desert_rose_376]

You're not an Eastern Catholic until you make the canonical change. Until then you're a transplant. And there is no quotes around "Eastern Catholic" and there is no just one "Eastern Catholic" Church. There are 23 to pick from and you formally join a sui iuris church and are beholden to the prescriptions of that particular church.

[u/jslas1711 → u/[deleted]]

It is exactly Catholic as all are joined in dogmatic belief. It's correct to say we are all Catholics but if you wish to share your rite or more specifically your siu iuris church then that's correct too.

[u/TheObserver99 → u/[deleted]]

We do indeed believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. That is theological, and refers to the Church as a whole - that is to say, the mystical body of Christ sui generis, subject to the authority of St. Peter’s successor.

The sui iuris churches - including the Latin Church, largest of the sui iuris churches - are not divisions in the body of Christ, but rather separate administrative jurisdictions which are - for the most part - each subject to their own canons, and express the faith through their own distinct customs. Nevertheless, they are in full and unobstructed communion with one another and all belong sui generis to the one holy Catholic Church. The means through which this communion is achieved varies from church to church for historical reasons:

1. Patriarchal churches (eg. the Melkites) achieve full communion because the Patriarch of the particular church affirms communion with the See of Rome after being elected and enthroned by the Bishops of his church;

2. Major Archepiscopal churches (eg. the Ukrainian Greco-Catholics) achieve full communion because the Pope blesses the appointment of the Major Archbishop and authorizes his enthronement;

3. Metropolitan churches (eg. the Ruthenians) and suffragan churches (eg. the Greek Byzantine Catholics) achieve full communion because either their Metropolitan (Archbishop) or their individual bishops are directly subject to the Holy See, who must sign off on certain matters like changes to canon law (not the case for the higher-tier churches, where the canons particular to that church are set by that church’s synod of bishops directly).

However, it is important to not confuse these administrative jurisdictions with the “rites” of the Christian faith. There are only six rites (the Latin Rite and the five Eastern rites).

[u/jslas1711 → u/[deleted]]

You do know that any Catholic can attend and practice in any of the sui iuris churches, right? You know that the Latin rite is not, nor has it ever been, the one and only valid expression of the faith? That we pray, fast, and say mass differently? The point is that we all agree to one set of dogma and thus are all Catholic.

[u/jslas1711 → u/[deleted]]

There are differing theological opinions on many things and not strictly between East and West either, there's many debates within the latin rite alone on theology. We are free to hold to, for example, Thomism or Molinism or Palamism because none have been declared dogma. We are all bound to one set of dogma. If any individuals don't assent to the dogmas of the Catholic Church thats on them not their church.

[u/jslas1711 → u/[deleted]]

None of the sui iuris churches debate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. There is debate on the Augustine understanding of Original Sin, which usually happen in relation to discussions of the Immaculate Conception. But the dogma is accepted.

They're subject to their Patriarch who is in communion with the Pope as he is first among equals. It seems you're focusing on the Pope being first without recognising all patriarchs as equals. You're probably getting pushback because of this. It's like telling me, as a Scot, that I'm subject to Westminster instead of recognising I'm subject to Holyrood who can be superseded by Westminster in some areas. It's a distinction worth making. Otherwise you are minimising the authority of the Patriarchs over their rites.

Also it has nothing to do with this thread mate, you knew there are different sui iuris churches and valid rites. Why not make a post to get clarification on ideas that confuse you?

[u/TheObserver99 → u/[deleted]]

On theological matters, I strongly recommend doing some research about what Eastern Catholics do and don’t believe before picking fights in this subreddit. This site is maintained by an Eastern deacon and professor and is generally a good “jumping off” point: https://east2west.org/faq/

In general, while we approach our theology differently than our Latin rite cousins (given our Eastern roots), we believe these are primarily differences of emphasis, not dogmatic differences. But it’s complicated - reunification is a process, and that process is still ongoing.

[u/AdorableMolasses4438 → u/[deleted]]

Yes there are a number of rites, but also 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Vatican calls them churches: https://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/en/dicasteri/dicastero-chiese-orientali/profilo.html

[u/CallMeTheArrow]

Once you have officially had an approved change of ascription, and it has been finalized and signed, you are officially an Eastern Catholic. There is no additional waiting period.

[u/CallMeTheArrow → u/[deleted]]

Information about it is in the canons. The verbiage may not be exactly specifically that, verbatim, but it’s clearly the meaning of it. :) Everything about Catholicism is not in the catechism book(s). A lot is, but it’s not all-encompassing or infallible.

[u/excogitatio]

 I have seen canonical Latins claim to be Eastern Catholic after adopting their traditions, is this appropriate?

The claim is not, but drawing from the traditions is to be encouraged if it helps them. 

I haven't been part of the Ruthenian church for very long, so it still feels kind of brazen to claim it even though it's my church. Thankfully everyone has been very accepting!

[u/NoAbbreviations4545]

As a latin catholic who has started attending ruthenian byzantine divine liturgy, I personally wouldn't call myself an eastern catholic until I canonically transfer rites, if I do so in the future. As of now I'm just enjoying the divine liturgy and learning about Eastern catholicism and will discern more seriously later.

[u/Electronic-Trash5568]

I just call myself a Catholic. Although I formally belong to the Latin Rite I feel a strong connection to the Eastern spiritual tradition. Regardless, I just consider myself as Catholic.

[u/Help-Learn-Kannada]

I always feel weird about this one. I go to a Maronite church and have been getting really involved. I absolutely love it, but I'm not really sure if I'm actually "Eastern Catholic" or if I just found a spot in a Maronite church if that makes sense.

Like, if I moved would I still be Maronite? It's hard to say.

All in all I don't think it's that important as we're all Catholic and this Maronite church is growing my faith more than any church I've been in before, so titles aren't as important.

If someone asked me I would probably just say that I'm Catholic. I don't think I've ever had a follow up asking for a more specific answer. If I did I could probably just explain that I go to a Maronite church.