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Teresa T. wrote:

Hello.

I have two questions. I grew up Roman Catholic and was Catholic until I was about 23 years of age. At that time, I converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church (Antiochan), was chrismated, and became a member. 

Now, at 26, I'm going back to Roman Catholicism; that's where I want to be and stay.

Before I talk to my parish priest about coming home, I just want to be prepared before I speak with him.

  • Is there is anything that I will have to do? 

I don't feel right receiving the sacraments even though I've read it's OK for me to do so. To me it's a little like trespassing.

Also, I was married in the Orthodox Church (my husband is also returning to Catholicism, we were both Catholic, both converted together to Eastern Orthodox, and are now returning to the Church).

  • That said, will my marriage still be valid?

I considered not saying anything about it and just say I'm a Catholic, but I figured it might bring up problems when we have children and want to get them baptized in the Roman Catholic Church. I hope this isn't considered one of those counseling questions that falls outside your focus. I just want to be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks for your help,

Teresa

  { Since I was raised Catholic but converted to Eastern Orthodox, what's needed to come home? }

John replied:

Hi, Teresa —

Welcome home!

Assuming you joined a legitimate Orthodox Communion, with Apostolic Succession, you simply went into schism and not heresy.

We don't deny the sacraments to any member of a legitimate Eastern Orthodox Church. It's right in the front cover of our Catholic missalette. In your case, since you left the Church to become Orthodox, you need to start with the Sacrament of Confession. That's assuming this is your first marriage and there are no other canonical impediments.

The Chrismation you received is the what we call Confirmation in the Western Catholic Church.
If you were confirmed as a Catholic, then the Sacrament can't be repeated, hence the ceremony was just an anointing. If you hadn't been confirmed as a Catholic, then the Sacrament was valid.

At any rate, your smooth return to the Church should be relatively simple.

John

Teresa replied:

Thank you!

I appreciate the answer.

That's what my husband said too, but I had to hear it from an outside source first!

Sincerely,

Teresa

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