Dear Fellow Moderator, Bob,

For some reason, I cannot find 'make this topic stick' anymore!
I am missing something?
The only thing I find now is 'unstick this topic' under Manage Topics.

Thanks.
Alice

Sticky topics?!?

Old fogey, your comment that "I didn't know Rome doesn't recognise Orthodox divorce" is only half the story. The pamphlet, which is an excellent introduction to ecclesiastical minefield [I know because I have been through it], does not note [unless I missed it] that the EOC does not recognize Roman annulments. This is due to EOC's view of itself as Christ's Church. I am glad Alice posted this because it is better than anything else I've seen. I do not think the EOc has anything similar.

Good point, John.

However, I did read a few published articles about this matter. Father John Meyendorff's book is an excellent resource. I think the Greek Orthodox and the OCA have published articles on their websites too.

I remember reading that if, for example, a Catholic woman wants to marry a Greek Orthodox man in the Orthodox Church, and if that Catholic has been through two annulments and then lost a third husband through death, all those marriages would probably be counted toward the "three strikes and you are out" rule (as the laity would call it).

During a catechism class, my priest told us that living-in arrangements, common law marriages, and civil ceremonies would also count toward the three strikes. So if a Catholic marries a protestant in a protestant ceremony without a Catholic priest, or if a Catholic ties the knot in a civil ceremony, then those marriages could also be counted toward the "three strike" rule.

Note that the Orthodox Bishop along with the Orthodox Priest must be consulted for a final decision.

Unfortunately, some Catholics have stated that it is not fair because they were ignorant of that rule. In fact, I have met several couples who have left the faith declaring that religion is so political because of these man-made decisions that prevented them from getting married. They seem to miss the point that The Mystery of Crowning is a Holy Mystery. I think it would be good to link to the Holy Service here so that people can study the ceremony and see that marriage is not something to be taken lightly.

Joe, if you want an answer your question, do not rely on what you see here. Contact your bishop!

Dear Joe,I can't speak for your jurisdiction,but I can't see how anything you may have done before being either Catholic or Orthodox could affect your future ordination.What counts is that you are the"husband of one wife" since joining the church,and,God willing" will remain so.

Gee, Father, up until this post, I had always assumed that had I found Eastern Catholicism twenty or thirty years earlier, I would have been a priest.

I have an uncommonly strong and powerful voice, and need no microphone in an auditorium. But I apparently can't carry a tune, and couldn't really tell the difference in tones when they changed for the RDL . . .

hawk, now past practical age for the seminary anyway