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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
RE: Greek Orthodox receiving Communion in RCC	Michael	Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Question: I was very alarmed to see the answer you gave to question under the title "Greek Orthodox receiving Communion in RCC." You stated, "...I am not sure of the rules of the Greek Orthodox in terms of going to a Roman Catholic Mass when an Orthodox Mass is available. If your nephew is going to a Roman Catholic Mass INSTEAD OF his own Greek Orthodox Mass when one is available to him, he may be sinning." According to St. Augustine, sin is, “a word, an act, or a desire contrary to the eternal Law." You are saying that someone is sinning by attending Mass in the true Church that Christ founded on Earth instead of going to a Church that is not in communion with Rome? The Orthodox might think he is sinning but he is not. How is his action contrary to the eternal law? His action is actually in full accord with the eternal law.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Michael: Well, first of all, we are not talking about merely "attending" Mass occasionally. We are talking about attending Mass in another Church on an on-going basis instead of one's own Church. There is nothing wrong with an Orthodox person attending Catholic Mass, or a Catholic attending an Orthodox Mass, once-in-awhile. In a Catholic Mass, however, there are some rules about when a non-Catholic person may receive communion; and there are some rules about when a Catholic may receive valid Eucharist a non-Catholic Church. Those rules must be obeyed. To rebel against those rules is the sin of rebellion against valid authority (an violation of eternal law). I have no idea what rules the Orthodox have about this. Secondly, the only True Church in the fullness of the faith is the Catholic Church. The Church that Jesus founded was founded upon Peter. While the Orthodox Church is a true Church it is so by virtue of valid apostolic succession. Technically however, the Orthodox Church is in material schism since it refuses communion with the Vicar of Christ that Jesus appointed to be the leader of his Church. Thus, they split from the Church that Jesus founded. One of the commandments (teachings) of Jesus is to obey the Church. Obedience to valid authority is eternal law. The bible frequently repeats God's opinion about this. We are to obey his teachings and to obey the Church to whom He has delegated authority to govern his people. Jesus gives us the principle of obedience to the Magisterium when he told the people that they were to obey the Magisterium in power at the time -- those who sat in the Chair of Moses: Mat 23:2-3 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do. But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. The principle of obedience to those in authority is also presented by St. Paul to the Romans, concerning civil authority to which he suggests disobedience can lead to damnation: Rom 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to higher powers. For there is no power but from God: and those that are ordained of God. Therefore, he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist purchase to themselves damnation. Jesus establishes that we are to be obedient to all of his teachings, which automatically includes his teachings on the authority of His Magisterium: Mat 7:26 Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't follow them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Joh 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments. Jesus delegates his authority to the new Magisterium that replaces the Chair of Moses with the Chair of Peter: Mat 16:18-19 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Those who are in communion with Jesus' Magisterium are obligated to obey the Magisterium. For a Catholic, it would be a sin of rebellion to abandoned the full communion with the True Church that Jesus established (the Church under Peter) to attend permanently a schismatic Church, even though that schismatic Church has apostolic succession and valid Sacraments. I do not know if the Orthodox Church considers it a sin to abandon their Church in favor of attending a Catholic Church; that is their business. There is one thing that is for sure. This issue is not determined by your opinion (or mine). It is the Magisterium who has the authority over such matters. And the Magisterium has spoken on this issue in Church documents and Canon Law. As Augustine also said (words to this effect): "The Church has spoken, the debate is ended." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

RE: Greek Orthodox receiving Communion in RCC

Michael

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Question:

I was very alarmed to see the answer you gave to question under the title "Greek Orthodox receiving Communion in RCC." You stated,

"...I am not sure of the rules of the Greek Orthodox in terms of going to a Roman Catholic Mass when an Orthodox Mass is available. If your nephew is going to a Roman Catholic Mass INSTEAD OF his own Greek Orthodox Mass when one is available to him, he may be sinning."

According to St. Augustine, sin is, “a word, an act, or a desire contrary to the eternal Law." You are saying that someone is sinning by attending Mass in the true Church that Christ founded on Earth instead of going to a Church that is not in communion with Rome? The Orthodox might think he is sinning but he is not. How is his action contrary to the eternal law? His action is actually in full accord with the eternal law.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Michael:

Well, first of all, we are not talking about merely "attending" Mass occasionally. We are talking about attending Mass in another Church on an on-going basis instead of one's own Church.

There is nothing wrong with an Orthodox person attending Catholic Mass, or a Catholic attending an Orthodox Mass, once-in-awhile.

In a Catholic Mass, however, there are some rules about when a non-Catholic person may receive communion; and there are some rules about when a Catholic may receive valid Eucharist a non-Catholic Church. Those rules must be obeyed. To rebel against those rules is the sin of rebellion against valid authority (an violation of eternal law).

I have no idea what rules the Orthodox have about this.

Secondly, the only True Church in the fullness of the faith is the Catholic Church. The Church that Jesus founded was founded upon Peter. While the Orthodox Church is a true Church it is so by virtue of valid apostolic succession. Technically however, the Orthodox Church is in material schism since it refuses communion with the Vicar of Christ that Jesus appointed to be the leader of his Church. Thus, they split from the Church that Jesus founded.

One of the commandments (teachings) of Jesus is to obey the Church. Obedience to valid authority is eternal law. The bible frequently repeats God's opinion about this. We are to obey his teachings and to obey the Church to whom He has delegated authority to govern his people.

Jesus gives us the principle of obedience to the Magisterium when he told the people that they were to obey the Magisterium in power at the time -- those who sat in the Chair of Moses:

Mat 23:2-3 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do. But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

The principle of obedience to those in authority is also presented by St. Paul to the Romans, concerning civil authority to which he suggests disobedience can lead to damnation:

Rom 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to higher powers. For there is no power but from God: and those that are ordained of God. Therefore, he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist purchase to themselves damnation.

Jesus establishes that we are to be obedient to all of his teachings, which automatically includes his teachings on the authority of His Magisterium:

Mat 7:26 Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't follow them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand.
Joh 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus delegates his authority to the new Magisterium that replaces the Chair of Moses with the Chair of Peter:

Mat 16:18-19 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

Those who are in communion with Jesus' Magisterium are obligated to obey the Magisterium.

For a Catholic, it would be a sin of rebellion to abandoned the full communion with the True Church that Jesus established (the Church under Peter) to attend permanently a schismatic Church, even though that schismatic Church has apostolic succession and valid Sacraments.

I do not know if the Orthodox Church considers it a sin to abandon their Church in favor of attending a Catholic Church; that is their business.

There is one thing that is for sure. This issue is not determined by your opinion (or mine). It is the Magisterium who has the authority over such matters. And the Magisterium has spoken on this issue in Church documents and Canon Law.

As Augustine also said (words to this effect): "The Church has spoken, the debate is ended."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum