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The Eastern Catholic Church


oiccic

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moving on from CDs... what is the Eastern Churchs realtionship to the Roman Church? i have read that they are in full communion with the Pope and are recognized as Catholic. so are they just a denomination of the Catholic church, like the Fransiscans? thanks

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There are 2 types of Eastern Churches; Catholic and separated. The Eastern Catholic Churches are those who follow Eastern Rites and recognise the Pope as the Vicar of Christ. They are in Communion with the Latin Rite (Roman Catholic) but have their own structures of government. Originally, they were the patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, Today the five principal rotes are the Byzantine, Alexandrine, Antiochene, Armenian and Chaldean. I am told the best represented in the US is the Ukrainian Rites. In Australia it is the Maronite and Melkite Rites (mostly from The Middle East).

The Eastern (separated) Churches are ones who have become separated from Rome. There separation occurred in 1054 in what is historically called the Eastern Schism. The Orthodox Churches are the largest of these churches. They hold in common with their Eastern Catholic counterpoints many matters of faith and morals, valid orders and sacraments and a rich liturgy. They accept only the first seven ecumenical councils of the Church, and do not acknowledge or hold communion with the Pope.

From: The Catechism Of The Catholic Church

[u][b][B]Who belongs to the Catholic Church? [/b][/B][/u]
836 "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God's grace to salvation."320
837 "Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who - by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but 'in body' not 'in heart.'"321
838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord's Eucharist."324
320 LG 13.
321 LG 14.
322 LG 15.
323 UR 3.
324 Paul VI, Discourse, December 14, 1975; cf. UR 13-18.

On the other topic.... I don't know whether to laugh or cry. As a Capuchin Franciscan I can assure you the Franciscans are an order in the Catholic Church not a denomination :rolling: :D :lol:

Edited by cappie
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