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Hi Merv,
The Greek and Russian Orthodox are
not Catholic. Their sacraments are
valid. They are schismatic, not heretical, (look
up schism and heresy on New Advent),
although there are a couple of doctrinal
differences due, perhaps, to different
understandings and, of course, due to
doctrinal developments since the
split.
You can fulfill your Sunday Mass
obligation only if it is difficult
or impossible to go to a Catholic
Mass of any Rite (Latin, Byzantine,
etc. — the eastern Rites have
nearly the same liturgy as the Orthodox).
To attend otherwise is to partake
of the disunion of the schism, to
witness its validity when it is not
valid. The Mass creates and nourishes
the communion of the faithful in "One
Lord (shepherd), one faith, one baptism". (Ephesians 4:4-5)
So if you like their rite, find an
Eastern Catholic or Uniate version
of the same rite (Uniate refers to those who
came back into union with Rome) or
some other Catholic Rite that has
some of the ritual characteristics. In a case where there is no Catholic community
at all near you, you can attend.
Hope this helps.
Mary Ann Parks, MA Theology
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