I emailed "Joan's Rome" ... I also informed her that they are Eastern Catholic Church bishops and not Eastern Rite bishops.

I emailed "Joan's Rome" also and asked if they had a Roman Catholic mass. I also informed her that they are Eastern Catholic Church bishops and not Eastern Rite bishops.

Unfortunately these errors go in both directions. In his excellent letter posted here earlier to Metropolitan William, Fr. Tom Loya repeatedly refers to the "Latin Rite", and "Latin Rite Church". There is no Latin Rite or Latin Rite Church. There is the Latin Church which celebrates, most often but not exclusively, the Roman Rite.

MaryLouise,

It's a side issue and this thread isn't the place to pursue it, but I'd have to disagree....
By way of example:

*most Western Catholics belong to the Latin Rite ...

*some Eastern Catholics belong to the (insert the name of the Byzantine/Greek-Catholic Church of one's choice) Church,

Neil-

Can you set up another thread for this, or let me know the appropriate section for further discussion? It seems to me you are using "belongs" one way for the West and another way for the East and I would like to explore that further.

The official line (Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium):

TITLE II. CHURCHES SUI IURIS AND RITES

Canon 27 - A group of Christian faithful united by a hierarchy according to the norm of law which the supreme authority of the Church expressly or tacitly recognizes as sui iuris is called in this Code a Church sui iuris.

Canon 28 - §1. A rite is the liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony, culture and circumstances of history of a distinct people, by which its own manner of living the faith is manifested in each Church sui iuris.
§2. The rites treated in this code, unless otherwise stated, are those which arise from the Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean and Constantinopolitan traditions.


Chapter II. The Observation of Rites

Canon 39 - The rites of the Eastern Churches, as the patrimony of the entire Church of Christ, in which there is clearly evident the tradition which has come from the Apostles through the Fathers and which affirm the divine unity in diversity of the Catholic faith, are to be religiously preserved and fostered.

Canon 40 - §1. Hierarchs who preside over Churches sui iuris and all other hierarchs are to see most carefully to the faithful protection and accurate observance of their own rite, and not admit changes in it except by reason of its organic progress, keeping in mind, however, mutual goodwill and the unity of Christians.
§2. Other clerics and members of institutes of consecrated life are bound to observe their own rite faithfully and daily to acquire a greater understanding and a more perfect practice of it.
§3. Other Christian faithful are also to foster an understanding and appreciation of their own rite, and are held to observe it everywhere unless something is excused by the law.

Canon 41 - The Christian faithful of any Church sui iuris, even the Latin Church, who have frequent relations with the Christian faithful of another Church sui iuris by reason of their office, ministry, or function, are to be accurately instructed in the knowledge and practice of the rite of that Church in keeping with the seriousness of the office, ministry or function which they fulfill.