www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West different church for each spouse???

I hope this is the right place for this question. How do the two churches (RC and EOC) handle a situation if one spouse wishes to remain Roman Catholic but the othere feels led into the EOC??

Thanks for any replies.

Walter

Canonically, as far as I know, if 1 spouse transfers into an Eastern Catholic Church, this of itself, does not change the church membership of the other spouse, who might remain a member of the Latin church.

It may however affect the membership of the children, who would, in default of other factors, generally be members of the father's church.

Better check this one with knowledgeable priest. Somewhere I read recently that in the case of spouses where they both start out as Latin there is some obstacle to the man translating to another sui juris Church unless his spouse agrees. And this might negate the rule about the children being of the sui juris Church of the father.

BOB

The original post says one spouse is Roman Catholic and the other is called to the Eastern Orthodox Church (EOC)--not Eastern Catholic Church.

That's the way I read it too

And I suspect the answer is still talk to a priest

Very delicately.

This happened to me. I wanted to convert to Orthodoxy from the Roman Catholic Church along with my son who was a minor at that time, but I could not do so until my husband agreed to convert to Orthodoxy along with us. The Orthodox Priest did not want to be a stumbling block for our marriage, which was given first priority. In the mean time, the Orthodox Priest encouraged us to continue attending Divine Liturgy at the Byzantine Catholic Church. He told us to pay attention to the sermon too. It helped that he was friends with the pastor.

My husband talked with the Orthodox Priest at length, and then decided to become a catechumen along with us in one ceremony. We were all chrismated together into the Orthodox Church with my husband being the first one to be anointed with Holy Chrism.

RECLUSE:

Christ is Risen!! Indeed He is Risen!!

You're right. I read the original and then the second post and made my reply based on confusing the two.

I'd still say this one is a delicate one since you might end with two parents fighting over a minor child.

BOB

I appreciate everyone's response. This is a very difficult decision for us. After taking this to prayer, there still does not seem to be a "clear" answer for us. God Bless you all for your responses.


Walter

Dear Walterm,

The issue was not clear for us for about two years. We struggled and prayed all during that time. For a time, it looked like we were going to stay Catholic. Then at other times, things looked very bleak, but our faith in God and repentance were rewarded in the end as we came to love the Holy Orthodox Church more each day.

I will pray for you.

In the Risen Christ,
Elizabeth

WALTER:

Chrsit is Risen!! Indeed He is Risen!!

Often when we take thins to prayer the answer does not come for a long period of time. Often one needs to continue to ask for something for a long period of time so that one receives his answer because of his focus and committed determination. And it may not be the asnwer one wishes. Another answer might be the lack of a granting of what one so earnestly prays for. Have had all these answers at one time or another. Have even had the experience, "Please don't pray that prayer again," just before beginning a prayer I'd been praying for some time.

BOB

Remember that St. Monica pestered all the Priests and Bishops she met for 17 years, to ask them to pray for her son, who followed in his pagan father's footsteps.

Her prayers were answered when her son, Augustine, encountered St. Ambrose.

I had a Catholic parent and an Orthodox parent. It was awesome. Very spiritually and culturally fulfilling as a child. Wouldn't have had it any other way.

Dear Annie,

I think that it would be awesome if you could share some memories of growing up with the two traditions!

Regards,
Alice